London train strike: new service timetables for SWR, AWC and CrossCountry as rail worker action to begin

The UK is bracing itself for the biggest rail strike for over three decades, as it’s reported around 50,000 rail workers are set to join the upcoming strikes.

The strike, the biggest since 1989, is set to take place over three days and will see rail companies all over the UK revert to a heavily reduced timetable, with disruption also expected in between the strike dates.

With London having a number of major stations such as Waterloo, Paddington and more, here’s the new and reduced timetable.

South Western Railway

Out of the 50,000 RMT workers striking, 2,100 of them are from South Western Railway, which connects a large portion of the country to London.

According to the rail company, the strike is causing “A severely limited service will run between 07:15 and 18:30 on some routes for those who have no choice but to travel”

On their website, SWR say: “Due to the planned national strike, SWR customers are urged only to travel by rail if absolutely necessary between 21 and 26 June”.

SWR’s reduced timetable will run from 07:15 to 18:30 on the three strike days, and will consist of:

• Four trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Windsor via Hounslow 
• Two semi-fast trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Basingstoke  
• Four trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Woking 
• Two fast trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Southampton 

South Western Railway’s Managing Director, Claire Mann, said: “The sheer scale of this planned industrial action severely limits the number of trains we can run and routes we can serve, which is reflected in the reduced timetable we have published today.

“With this disruption set to be so considerable, I regretfully urge customers to only travel by rail if absolutely necessary between Tuesday 21 and Sunday 26 June.

“I am sorry these strikes will cause such disruption and am grateful to our customers for their patience and understanding as the rail industry works to bring this damaging nationwide action to an end.”

Avanti West Coast

Another major rail company, Avanti West Coast connects two major cities in the UK, Birmingham and London.

The new timetable, as per the Avanti West Coast website, will see one service per hour running from London Euston to Birmingham New Street.

On their website, AWC says: “Due to strike action by the RMT union, we’ll be operating a significantly reduced timetable on Tuesday 21 June, Thursday 23 June and Saturday 25 June.

“This means fewer trains will run and some stations and destinations will have no service on the strike days. Our services will also start later and end much earlier.”

Also available on the website, is an FAQ section that covers most questions regarding the strikes, such as your options if you’re travelling on a day when the strikes are planned.

Cross Country

Cross Country operates all over the UK, and does routes that covers as far as Edinburgh to Penzance, which is a direct route, and takes over 11 hours.

A major route that Cross Country covers is London Eustice to Manchester Piccadilly.

The strikes will see reduced timetable on the days of the strikes, and the last train departing London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly on 21 June at 3:40pm.

The Cross Country website says: “We’re disappointed with this action by the RMT which we believe to be premature, and we are very sorry for the inconvenience it will cause”.