Next week, most rail services across the Wales and Borders network will be severely disrupted because of strike action by two rail unions, with some parts of the rail network having no services at all.
On Tuesday, 3rd and Wednesday, 4th, and Friday, 6th and Saturday, 7th January, the majority of rail services across the Wales and Borders network will be suspended because of industrial action by the RMT union.
An extremely limited service will operate on the strike days, but the first trains will not run until after 07.30, and the last trains will depart much earlier, and all passengers must complete their journeys by 18.30. Services will be limited to a reduced service operating between Cardiff Central and Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr, and Rhymney.
During the strikes, thousands of specially trained and fully qualified back-up staff will step in to keep vital services running. However, around half of the network will shut down, and only about 10% of normal services will be operating across Wales.
On Thursday, 5th January, train drivers who are in the ASLEF union will go on strike, and there will be very limited services as a result, with no GWR, Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, or West Midlands Railway services operating on the Wales and Borders network.
More information on how train services will be affected is available at the train operators' information pages below:
Transport for Wales is not involved in the industrial action, but because the dispute is between the unions and Network Rail, services will not be able to run on Network Rail infrastructure on days when members of the RMT union are on strike.
On Sunday, 8th January, there is also likely to be disruption to early morning services as strikers return to work. There may be cancellations or alterations at short notice as the railway recovers from the previous days' strikes.
Anyone planning on travelling on the Wales and Borders network on strike days is advised to only do so if absolutely necessary and to check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk
In addition to the strikes detailed above, the RMT has an overtime ban in place at 14 train operating companies until 2 January, which will affect the level of cancellations and the punctuality of some services. This action may particularly affect anyone planning to travel out of London on New Year's Eve and passengers should plan their journey in advance.
Throughout the period of disruption, passengers are advised to check with their train operators for the latest information on services, ticket acceptance, and how to claim a refund, and to check for service updates on the National Rail Enquiries website at https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/.
Nick Millington, interim route director at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said: “It's disappointing that, once again, we're having to ask passengers not to travel by train unless absolutely necessary in the first week of the new year, due to further strike action by both the RMT and ASLEF trades unions.
“As a result of this industrial action, train services will be severely disrupted, starting Tuesday 3 through to, and including, Saturday 7 January – another near weeklong period of disruption for passengers.
“I'd like to apologise to passengers for this latest period of disruption which nobody wants to continue. Our offer to the union still stands, and our door remains open for constructive conversation.”
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