PASSENGERS have been urged to only use trains if necessary, as upcoming rail strikes are set to cause disruption.

South Western Railway (SWR) has announced that there will be further strikes starting this weekend.

Industrial action will take place on November 5, 7 and 9 as RMT and TSSA union workers are striking over pay and working conditions.

Days between and after strike days will also be significantly impacted by the strike; first trains across the network will start much later than usual and are likely to be very busy.

On strike days, significant parts of the network will be closed entirely and those trains that are running will be far less frequent and much busier compared to normal.

On Guy Fawkes Night, Saturday, November 5, last trains will depart at around 5pm and customers are urged to check journey planners to avoid getting stranded

The reduced timetable will consist of:

  • 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 Windsor & Eton Riverside 
  • 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

There will be no SWR services across the rest of the network.

South Western Railway’s Performance and Planning Director, Steve Tyler, said:  “I’m sorry that due to strike action we must urge our customers to only travel by rail if absolutely necessary from Saturday 5 to Thursday 10 November. 

“Large parts of our network will be closed on strike days and there will be a late start up on the morning after. Those who must travel are urged to carefully check the times of first and last trains and avoid them if possible.

“We appreciate that customers will be eager to enjoy the fireworks for Guy Fawkes Night, but last trains for the day will depart early at around 1700 and will be very busy. Please check train times carefully to avoid getting stranded as the network will be shut for the rest of the evening.

“We are grateful to our customers for their continued cooperation, patience, and understanding as the rail industry works to bring this damaging nationwide strike action to an end.”