South Western Railway (SWR) has confirmed that its services will be greatly reduced as the ASLEF and RMT trade unions continue their campaign of industrial action to achieve a pay rise and job security.
From Monday (17 July) to Wednesday (19 July), ASLEF train drivers will refuse to work overtime on SWR and other train operating companies.
As SWR depends on drivers working more than their contracted hours to maintain its full service, the overtime ban will have a significant impact, with the operator confirming that most of its services will be reduced to one per hour outside peak periods. It will cancel some trains during the evening peak period, and may also cancel some first and last trains.
SWR advises passengers to check before travelling.
On Thursday 20 July, RMT – which organises all grades of railway workers – will strike on train operating companies around the country. SWR will run a significantly reduced service on only a limited number of lines. Trains will only run only between 07:00 and 19:00, with last trains departing at around 17:00.
SWR recommends that passengers travel only if absolutely essential.
The strike on Thursday 20 will have a knock-on effect the following morning, with train services starting later than usual, at around 07:30, on Friday 21 July. SWR will run fewer trains than usual as ASLEF continues its overtime ban.
RMT will strike again on Saturday 22 July, which will again significantly reduce services. Trains will only run between 07:00 and 19:00, with last trains departing at around 17:00.
Although SWR states that it will run a normal Sunday timetable on Sunday 23 July, it also admits that it will cancel some trains due to the previous day's strike.
RMT will hold a further strike on Saturday 29 July, for which SWR will announce its detailed arrangements in due course. It has already confirmed that its services will be significantly reduced, likely to be similar to the service on Saturday 22.
On the Island Line, an hourly service will operate between Monday 17 and Saturday 22 July. On Saturday 22, an hourly service will operate, ending at around 2100.
Stuart Meek, Chief Operating Officer at South Western Railway, commented: “We're sorry that customers will again face disruption due to industrial action by the ASLEF union and strike action by the RMT union.
“Anybody planning to travel on days affected by the ASLEF union's industrial action should check their whole journey before they set off and be aware that services are likely to be busier than usual.
“As with the last ASLEF overtime ban, instead of making numerous short-notice amendments and cancellations to our standard timetable, we will operate an amended timetable that we have a high degree of confidence we can reliably and safely deliver. We hope this will give our customers greater certainty when planning their journeys.
“On days of strike action by the RMT union we are sorry to ask that customers should only travel if absolutely necessary. We have worked hard to improve our service offering during RMT strike action and are pleased to confirm that we will operate services to and from Ascot on Thursday 20.”
ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan said, ““Train drivers don't want to be inconveniencing the public. We want to resolve this dispute.
“We have given the government and rail operators plenty of opportunities to come to the table but it remains clear that they do not want a resolution.
“Our members – the drivers who keep the railway running day in, day out – will not accept the government's attempts to force our industry into decline. Rail travel is a vital part of the fight against climate change. Rail connectivity is essential to the country's economy.
“It's time for a fair deal and a resolution so we can grow our railway and improve it for the future.”
That includes Island Line doesn’t it.
how does the unions justify a ten % rise when the rail staff i.e.foot plate staff are on 60 k a year?the man doing the talking is on £153.000 a year!!