Transport for Wales will see the majority of its services throughout Wales and the Borders suspended on Thursday the 18th and Saturday the 20th of August
The rail operator is not part of the dispute with RMT but will be affected as the union continues their dispute with Network Rail and therefore Transport for Wales cannot operate services using their infrastructure throughout the industrial action.
A significantly reduced rail service will be in operation on Thursday the 18th and Saturday the 20th of August with passengers advised not to travel by train.
Services that are able to operate will be on the Core Valleys Lines in South Wales alongside a Cardiff to Newport shuttle which will see just one train per hour in both directions between 07.30 and 18.30.
No other Transport for Wales services will be able to operate across Wales and the Borders network.
Trains will operate between Cardiff Central and Rhymney, Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil and each hour in both directions between 07:30 and 18:30 hours.
Trains can be operated between Radyr and Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil before 07:30 hours and after 18:30 hours but will not run past 20.30 on Thursday the 18th of August, this is due to engineering work. Road transport will be available to support customers' journeys between Cardiff Central and Radyr in both directions outside of these hours.
Customers are being advised that road transport capacity will be extremely limited with all train and road-based transport services anticipated to be very busy because of the greatly reduced frequency.
Further disruption as a knock-on effect of the strike action is expected on Wednesday the 17th, Friday the 19th and Sunday the 21st with customers advised to only travel if absolutely necessary on these dates.
Friday the 19th of August:
- Will see further disruption due to the shift patterns of Network Rail's signallers which will lead to difficulties in moving trains and crew members to operate services in the days between strike action.
Core Valley Lines on Friday the 19th of August:
- The first services of the day will be timed to leave Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil so that they arrive into Radyr after 07:00 hours. No trains will operate before 07:00 on any lines except between Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil to Radyr.
- No pre-planned road transport services will operate before 18:30 hours.
- Services are expected to be extremely busy, especially the first services of the day.
All other Transport for Wales services on Friday the 19th of August:
- No trains will operate before 07:00 hours and are anticipated to be much busier than usual, especially the first services of the day.
Customers are advised to check their travel plans using the Transport for Wales website, app or social media ahead of making their journey.
Customers who hold non-season tickets that are valid for travel on Thursday the 18th and Saturday the 20th of August are able to use those tickets anytime between Wednesday the 17th and Tuesday the 23rd of August. Customers are advised to only travel if absolutely necessary on Friday the 19th and Sunday the 21st of August as services are expected to be very busy.
Full refunds can be claimed by customers with no administration fee charged. Season ticket holders are able to apply for compensation using Delay Repay.
