South Western Railway to run more than 70 percent of services on RMT strike days

South Western Railway to run more than 70 percent of services on RMT strike days

Thursday 04th January 2018
  • South Western Railway (SWR) announces contingency timetable for RMT strike dates (Monday 8, Wednesday 10 and Friday 12 January) 
  • SWR plans to run more than 70% of its normal Monday – Friday timetable  
  • There will be more and longer trains than previous weekday strikes called by the RMT 
  • Rail replacement bus services and ticket acceptance on other train companies also in place

The RMT strike will affect services on Monday 8, Wednesday 10 and Friday 12 January but SWR has plans in place to get passengers moving.

South Western Railway has announced its contingency timetable for the forthcoming RMT strike dates and is confident it will run more than 70% of the normal Monday – Friday timetable.

SWR stated it will be able to lengthen trains in some areas and that there will also be rail replacement bus services on some routes and ticket acceptance agreements with other train companies.

Andy Mellors, Managing Director for South Western Railway, said:

“We are sorry that our passengers will once again suffer due to this unnecessary strike action called by the RMT executive. Our passengers just want to get to work in the morning and back home on time in the evening to see family and friends.

“We have repeatedly guaranteed that no one will lose their job and that we will roster a second person on board every train, however what we have been trying to talk to the RMT about is what happens if a Guard is unavailable at short notice, perhaps due to illness or disruption; and how we might keep passengers moving rather than leave them stranded.

”We are determined to provide the best possible service to our customers during next week’s strikes and will run more than 70% of our normal weekday service. We will operate more and longer trains than on the previous weekday strikes called by the RMT. However, we are advising passengers to check their journey before they travel as they will find trains busier than normal and that, in some places, replacement bus services will run instead of trains.”

Details of rail replacement bus services and ticket acceptance agreements in place can be found on South Western Railway’s website and passengers are advised to check their journey before they travel:

https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/rmt-strike