With the RMT union calling for another day of nationwide strike action next Saturday, 26 August, South Western Railway (SWR) in line with other train operators has announced a severe reduction in train services.
The reduced service will only operate on a limited number of lines and between 07.00 and 19.00, and the last trains will depart at around 1700. Large parts of its network will be closed completely. Further strikes are due to take place on Friday, 1 and Saturday, 2 September, and details of services for those dates will be announced nearer the time.
Unfortunately, the strikes will affect a number of major events on South Western's network including Southampton Pride; the Victorious Festival; football matches at Southampton and Brentford; rugby at Twickenham for England v Fiji; cricket at the Oval for The Hundred Eliminator; and horse racing at Windsor.
Up-to-date details of services for Saturday Journey planners are on the railway's website, and Journey Planners have been updated accordingly. Services with other train operators will also be affected, so intending passengers should check their journey details before they travel.
Because of engineering work in the Staines area, services on strike days that usually run to Ascot and Windsor & Eton Riverside will terminate at Feltham.
Island Line services will run as normal.
On the day after the strike, Sunday, 27 September, services will start later than usual at around 07.00, and again, passengers should check their journey before travelling at southwesternrailway.com/strike
The following week, the ASLEF union has called for strike action on Friday, 1 September and an overtime ban on Saturday, 2 September, whilst the RMT union will also hold another day of strike action on Saturday, 2 September. Details of services on those dates will be announced nearer the time.
Stuart Meek, Chief Operating Officer at South Western Railway, commented: “We're sorry that customers will once again face disruption due to strike action by the RMT union.
“Once again, I must ask our customers to only travel if absolutely necessary on Saturday 26 August. If you do have to travel, please check your entire journey as these strikes also affect other train operators.
“A large number of events take place on Saturday 26 August and while some trains will be running we expect them to be very busy. If you're travelling to one of those events, please check before you travel and consider alternative transport if possible.
“We're still to confirm our services for the ASLEF union strike on Friday 1 September and the RMT union strike on Saturday 2 September. We will announce details for these dates as soon as we can.
“We're thankful for our customers' patience during these latest RMT and ASLEF union strikes.”
Same could be said about the delays to their new Class 701 Arterios which should of started operating on the London Waterloo-Hampton Court, Shepperton, Chessington South, Reading, Windsor & Eton Riverside, Weybridge, Epsom, Wimbledon, Chertsey, Twickenham, Strawberry Hill, Woking and Bracknell inner-suburban and outer-suburban services earlier this year. But somehow these new trains are expected to enter service from December this year or early next year. And would have replaced the Class 455, Class 707 (cascaded to Southeastern) and Class 458.