Govia Thameslink Railway travel advice for this Friday and Saturday

Roger Smith - Contributor Add a Comment 3 Min Read
Lewes station // Credit: Janine Booth

In line with other train operators, Govia Railway (GTR) train services will be severely disrupted this coming weekend because of strikes and industrial action by members of the and unions.

This Friday, 1 September, because of industrial action by the ASLEF union, there will be no train services on nearly all , Thameslink, and routes.

GTR strike day map 2 Sept 2023 updated

There will be a very limited shuttle service between Victoria and , but these trains will be very busy and will not stop at any other stations.

Where possible, passengers should not attempt to travel to or from Gatwick by train if they have an alternative transport option. If they do need to travel by train, they should leave plenty of extra time for their journey.

On Saturday, 2 September, the RMT union is holding a strike and ASLEF is banning overtime. That will result in very limited services across the network, and some locations will have no services at all.

The first trains of the day will depart later than normal and the last trains much earlier, and they are likely to be particularly busy. Once the last trains have departed, there will be no alternative transport available.

Lower concourse of London Bridge station.. // Credit:

Passengers should expect longer waiting times for those services that do run, and they will be busier than normal. Some stations may also have queuing systems in place at stations.

Because of the industrial action on Saturday, 2 September, there may be delays or cancellations to services before 9 am on the following day, Sunday, 3 September.

Thameslink train. // Credit: Thameslink

Details of services this weekend can be found on Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and websites., and train times have also been updated on journey planners such as Enquiries.

Jenny Saunders, GTR s Customer Service Director, said: “We're really sorry for the inconvenience this industrial action is causing to our customers. If trains are running on your route, they are likely to be busier than normal, with longer waiting times.

“First and last trains will be particularly busy, so please travel later and return earlier if you can. Please plan all your journeys carefully in advance, and check again before you set off.

“We strongly advise you to make sure you know the times of your last trains including any connections to make sure you can get home before services finish.

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