With the RMT union staging strike action this Thursday, 20th, and on Saturdays 22nd and Saturday 29th July, there will be considerable disruption to train services operated by Great Western Railway (GWR) and other operators.
Train union ASLEF is also holding industrial action every day this week until Saturday, 22nd July, which will probably result in some short-notice alterations or cancellations. Anyone intending to travel this week or next, should check their journey before setting out.
On the days when the RMT union is holding a strike, most train operators including Great Western Railway will operate a revised timetable with significantly reduced services. There will be no service on many parts of the Great Western Railway network. Those services that do run will start later, finish much earlier, and only operate for a limited period during the day.
Anyone who intends to travel to Newbury on Saturday, 22nd July for the horse racing meeting or the Tom Jones concert should note that there will be no train service to or from the event, and should therefore look for alternative means of transport.
On those days when there is action short of a strike, and the days after strikes, there may be a limited number of short-notice cancellations and alterations that could affect services. Also, the Night Riviera Sleeper service will not run in either direction from Sunday, 16th to Friday, 21st July, with services resuming on Sunday, 23rd July.
Anyone intending to travel where trains are running should note that trains will be busier than usual as the normal service frequency cannot be maintained. The strike action will also affect other train operators which may also affect passengers' onward travel. Where trains are cancelled, there will be no rail replacement but services.
Customers who hold tickets for strike days will be able to use them on alternative dates as follows:
- Tickets for travel on Thursday, 20th July and Saturday, 22nd July will be valid for use the day before or up to and including Tuesday, 25th July;
- Tickets for travel on Saturday, 29th July can be used on Friday, 28th July or up to and including Tuesday, 1st August.
Customers who have purchased tickets but do not travel can claim a full refund of the purchase price or amend their ticket for travel on a different date.
Anyone who does travel but is delayed may be entitled to Delay Repay compensation if the Tlay is for 15 minutes or more.
Season Ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme.
GWR's Refund policy will not be affected by the strikes. Anyone holding a return ticket can claim a refund of their unused full fare, even if only one leg of their journey is affected.
Online journey planners have been updated to take account of the industrial action, and full details are available online at https://www.gwr.com/strike#passenger-information
