AROUND half of the normal Saturday train service in the region is not expected to run tomorrow in the second day of strike action this week.

South Western Railway (SWR) has announced it will be running a reduced service on most of its lines during the RMT strike, with around 50 per cent of normal services expected to run.

The company will provide longer trains to deliver additional seating, but advises passengers to check their journey before they travel.

Bus replacement services and ticket acceptance on other rail and bus networks are in place on a number of routes, and tickets for Saturday will also be honoured on Friday, 27 July, Sunday, 29 July or Monday, 30 July.

In the RMT strike on Thursday this week, nearly 70 pre cent of normal services were run as only one in four guards scheduled to work reported for duty.

A South Western Railway spokesperson said: “It is frustrating and disappointing that the RMT union has decided to go ahead with plans to strike on our network. This is despite proposals we have put forward which are similar to that of another train operator, Greater Anglia, which the RMT has recently agreed to. We are urging the RMT to return to talks and end this damaging disruption to passengers.

“We are sorry that this industrial action is inconveniencing many of our passengers, and will continue to do everything we can to keep passengers moving.”

Full details of services, including alternative travel arrangements, can be found at southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/rmt-industrial-action.