Rail operator South Western Railway (SWR) has announced a timetable of reduced services during the upcoming rail strikes this week.
Members of the RMT Union are set to strike on Thursday 18 and Saturday 20 August amidst an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions.
The strikes will see widespread disruption across the SWR network – with large parts closed completely – and the operator is encouraging passengers to only travel if their journey is essential.
Disruption is also expected on Friday 19 and Sunday 21 August, with first trains expected to start much later.
SWR’s Commercial Director Peter Williams said: “We know that a combination of sunny weather and school holidays make a day trip to one of the brilliant beaches on our network a tempting prospect.
“That’s why we’re sorry to have to ask our customers to only travel if absolutely necessary over the forthcoming strike period.
“The scale of the action will be incredibly disruptive for our customers with large parts of our network closed on strike days and a late start up on the morning after each strike day.
“First trains will run much later than usual and are likely to be very busy, so if you have to travel, please do so later if you can.
“We are sorry that strikes will again cause such disruption.”
SWR services will run between 7.15am and 6.30pm on the strike days on the following routes:
- Four trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Windsor & Eton Riverside via Hounslow
- Two semi-fast trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Basingstoke
- Four trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Woking
- Two fast trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Southampton Central
Trains will not stop at every station on these routes, and there will be no other SWR services across its network apart from the Island Line – which is completely unaffected.
Passengers to London are encouraged to check further for information about TfL services.
Featured image: SWR
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