Railway Operator Outlines Train Services on Forthcoming Strike Days

Published on: 28 May, 2023
Updated on: 1 Jun, 2023

South Western Railway (SWR) has outlined its services during upcoming strike action on Wednesday, May 31, Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3.

On Wednesday 31 May, a nationwide strike by ASLEF union members will affect SWR’s network-wide depot drivers, who bring trains in and out of service, as well as drivers on the Island Line on the Isle of Wight.

Contingency timetables are still to be confirmed however SWR can announce the following service changes:

There will be a reduced service between London Waterloo and Chessington South; Dorking; Hampton Court; London Waterloo via Hounslow; London Waterloo via Kingston; Reading; Shepperton; Twickenham; Weybridge; and Windsor & Eton Riverside
A shuttle service will operate between Basingstoke and Exeter St Davids, with customers travelling between Exeter St Davids and London Waterloo required to change at Basingstoke
A reduced service will operate in the Romsey area
There will be no service on the Island Line

Customers are advised to check their journeys before they travel. Journey planners for Wednesday 31 May will be up to date on Saturday 27 May.

Friday, June

On June 2 a nationwide strike by RMT union members will severely reduce the number of trains SWR can run and the hours in which they can operate.

A significantly reduced service will operate between 0700 and 1900 only and large parts of the network will be closed. There will be no train services outside of these times.

The following services will operate:

Guildford to Woking (1 train per hour)
London Waterloo to Woking (4 trains per hour)
London Waterloo to Southampton Central (2 trains per hour)
London Waterloo to Basingstoke (2 trains per hour)
London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside via Hounslow (2 trains per hour)
London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside via Twickenham (2 trains per hour)
Salisbury to Basingstoke (1 train per hour)

Customers are advised to only travel if their journeys are absolutely necessary. Journey planners for Friday 2 June will be up to date on Saturday 27 May.

Customers travelling to Epsom Downs Racecourse for Epsom Ladies Day are advised that there will be no services in the Epsom area.

Strike action will also affect other train operators and customers are advised to check their entire journey before they travel at nationalrail.co.uk.

Saturday, June 3

On June 3 a nationwide strike by ASLEF union members will again affect SWR’s network-wide depot drivers, who bring trains in and out of service, as well as drivers on the Island Line.

RMT strike action the day before will also mean services will start at the later time of 0730. Contingency timetables are still to be confirmed however SWR can announce the following service changes:

There will be a reduced service between London Waterloo and Chessington South; Dorking; Hampton Court; London Waterloo via Hounslow; London Waterloo via Kingston; Reading; Shepperton; Twickenham; Weybridge; and Windsor & Eton Riverside
A shuttle service will operate between Basingstoke and Yeovil Junction, with customers travelling between Yeovil Junction and London Waterloo required to change at Basingstoke
A reduced service will operate in the Romsey area
There will be no service on the Island Line

Customers are advised to check their journeys before they travel. A significant number of suburban services will be cancelled, however, it will not be possible to fully update journey planners until Friday 2 June. Customers should check their journeys before they set off.

Customers travelling to Epsom Downs Racecourse for the Epsom Derby are advised that Epsom station will not be served.

Steve Tyler, SWR’s Planning and Performance director, said: “I’m sorry to say that due to strike action we will be forced to make changes to our services on Wednesday May 31, Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3. We are still working to confirm our services but able to advise customers of what to expect.

“The majority of our network will see a normal service on Wednesday, May 31 and Saturday, June 3, but there will be some areas where a reduced service will operate – suburban routes, on the West of England Line and in the Romsey area. There will be no service on the Island Line on these two days.

“Services will also start at the later time of 0730 on Saturday, June 3. On both days of ASLEF strike action, in the event of disruption, services may be subject to short-notice delays and cancellations. Customers should check before they travel.

“On Friday, June 2, we will operate a significantly reduced service on a limited number of lines. Train services will only operate between the hours of 0700 and 1900. For this reason, we are asking customers to only travel if their journeys are absolutely necessary.

“We’re sorry for the disruption that our customers will experience and we strongly advise they check before they travel.”

On May 17, in ASLEF’s latest press release, Mick Whelan, general secretary, said: ‘Subject to the decision of our members – and because, as a trade union, we are a very democratic organisation, it is their decision – we have successfully negotiated significant pay increases for our members with the governments of the devolved nations [Wales and Scotland].

“Sadly, this is in stark contrast with the response from the Westminster government. The 15 train companies with which we are in dispute – because they have not offered their drivers, our members, an increase in salary since 2019 – and the Tory government that stands behind them, do not appear to be interested in getting a resolution that serves passengers and businesses as well as staff and will help to get Britain’s railways back on track.”