Services Limited by More Train Strikes This Week

SWR announces revised timetables for Friday and Saturday

There will be a limited service on strike days. Picture: SWR

August 27, 2023

South Western Railway (SWR) is advising passengers to travel only if absolutely necessary this Friday 1 and Saturday 2 September.

It is one of 14 train companies nationally that is being hit by strikes by both the RMT and ASLEF unions on these days.

Disruption will be particularly severe on Friday when ASLEF members are striking with the majority of the network closed and no service on the Hounslow Loop including at stations such as Brentford, Kew Bridge and Chiswick. Putney and Wandsworth Town will be served by a half hourly service running between Twickenham and Waterloo. Wimbledon will be served by trains between Woking and Waterloo with 4 trains per hour each way at peak times and 2 trains per hour off peak.  Trains will only run between 7am and 7pm.

The strikes on Friday are having more impact on SWR than before because previously the dispute only involved depot drivers but now line drivers are participating.

On Saturday there will be two trains per hour on the Hounslow Loop with stations such as Brentford, Kew Bridge and Chiswick being served by trains to Windsor and from Ascot in the direction of Waterloo. These trains will also call at Putney and Wandsworth Town. Wimbledon will be served by trains from Woking every 15 minutes. Trains will only run between 7am and 7pm.

Journey planners are now up to date and the latest information is available at southwesternrailway.com/strike.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said, “The government is not serious about settling this dispute which is leading to further disruption for passengers.

“Rail operators are not being given a mandate to make a new offer that we can put to members in a referendum to settle this dispute.

“Meanwhile, our campaign to save ticket offices will reach new levels with a rally outside Parliament on the 31st of August, where we will tell ministers in no uncertain terms that ticket offices must be kept open and our communities preserved.

“Our industrial campaign will continue as long as it takes to get a negotiated settlement, and to save as many ticket offices as possible.

“RMT members remain committed to winning a pay rise, securing their future employment and maintaining good working conditions.

"And they have shown tremendous resolve in the face of a government that is playing politics and refusing to do a deal.”

A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said, “The industry will be working hard to keep as many services running as possible. There is no question the strikes called by the RMT and ASLEF leaderships are deliberately designed to target passengers who want to enjoy various sporting events and festivals during the bank holiday and at the end of the summer holidays, disrupting their plans, hurting local economies and forcing more cars onto the road.

“This, despite the RMT having repeatedly refused their memberships a vote on offers of up to 13% for the lowest paid over two years, which could easily settle this dispute.”

Stuart Meek, South Western Railway’s Chief Operating Officer, said, “This is the first time our network has been subject to full strike action by members of the ASLEF Union and, as a result, we are only able to offer an extremely limited service on Friday 1 September.

“Friday 1 September will be different to previous days of strike action with a lot fewer trains running and with the majority of the network closed. Our advice to customers is to not travel unless your journey is absolutely necessary. The few services we will be running are likely to be extremely busy and we may have to use queuing systems and crowd control measures.

“A significantly reduced service will operate the following day, Saturday 2 September, with more lines open but with large parts of the network still closed. Trains will only run between 0700 and 1900 and so our advice, again, is to only travel if journeys are absolutely necessary.

“If customers must travel on either day, they should check their entire journey before travelling, with other operators also impacted by strike action. We're really sorry for the disruption."