December strike action service levels

Thursday 08th December 2022

Class-444_Train_Platform_ 19

  • Due to the planned national strikes, SWR customers are urged only to travel by rail if absolutely necessary from Tuesday 13 December to Sunday 18 December   
  • Strike days (13, 14, 16, and 17 December) will see a severely reduced service between 07:15 and 18:30 on a limited number of routes for those who have no choice but to travel 
  • Thursday 15 December and Sunday 18 December 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 
  • Customers should also expect disruption during the RMT overtime ban from Sunday 18 December to Monday 2 January 

South Western Railway (SWR) is urging customers to only travel if absolutely necessary from Tuesday 13 December to Sunday 18 December due to the planned national RMT industrial action.  

Members of the RMT at Network Rail are set to take strike action on 13, 14, 16, and 17 December, significantly limiting the rail infrastructure available to run services. More than 2,100 SWR members of the union will join the strike action. 

Customers should expect severe disruption on strike days. Significant parts of the SWR network will be closed entirely and those trains that are running will be far less frequent and much busier compared to normal. 

On Thursday 15 December and Sunday 18 December, the knock-on impact of the strike days means first trains will start much later than usual across the network and are likely to be very busy – customers are asked to avoid these if they can. 

SWR’s reduced timetable will run from 07:15 to 18:30 on Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Friday 16, and Saturday 17 December and will consist of:   

  • Four trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Windsor & Eton Riverside   
  • 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 Woking  
  • Two fast trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Southampton Central 

Trains will not stop at all the stations on these routes. There will be no SWR services across the rest of the network. 

In addition, the RMT has announced that its members at SWR and other Train Operating Companies have been instructed not to book on for any overtime from Sunday 18 December to Monday 2 January. 

SWR will update customers once it has confirmed what service levels it can provide during this period from Sunday 18 December to Monday 2 January. 

Customers are urged to check the SWR website for latest information here

South Western Railway’s Performance and Planning Director, Steve Tyler, said:  

“We appreciate that customers will be eager to enjoy the festive season, so we’re really sorry that we must urge them to only travel by rail if absolutely necessary from Tuesday 13 December to Sunday 18 December. 

“The nationwide strike action means we can only operate a severely reduced timetable from 07:15 to 18:30 only, with much of the network closed entirely.

“The strike period will be followed by two weeks of further disruption on the network, as the RMT has instructed their members not to book any overtime until 2 January. 

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

Further information 

Journey planners are likely to be updated 2-4 days in advance of the strike period. 

The Island Line will be operating a normal service during the strike period. 

Summary of the services running on Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Friday 16, and Saturday 17 December: 

Waterloo to Southampton

Waterloo to Woking

Waterloo to Basingstoke

Waterloo to Windsor

2 fast trains per hour each way

4 trains per hour each way

2 trains per hour each way

4 trains per hour each way

First train from Waterloo: 0730

First train from Waterloo: 0720

First train from Waterloo: 0715

First train from Waterloo: 0715

Last train from Waterloo: 1700

Last train from Waterloo: 1750

Last train from Waterloo: 1745

Last train from Waterloo: 1722

First train from Southampton: 0730

First train from Woking: 0718

First train from Basingstoke: 0724

First train from Windsor: 0730

Last train from Southampton: 1659

Last train from Woking: 1748

Last train from Basingstoke: 1654

Last train from Windsor: 1730

Services will call at:

London Waterloo

Clapham Junction

Woking

Basingstoke

Winchester

Eastleigh

Southampton Airport

Southampton Central

Services will call at:

London Waterloo

Clapham Junction

Wimbledon

Surbiton

Esher

Hersham

Walton-on-Thames

Weybridge

Byfleet & New Haw

West Byfleet

Woking

Services will call at:

London Waterloo

Clapham Junction

Surbiton

Woking

Brookwood

Farnborough

Fleet

Winchfield

Hook

Basingstoke

 

Services will call at:

London Waterloo

Vauxhall

Clapham Junction

Wandsworth Town

Putney

Barnes

Barnes Bridge

Chiswick

Kew Bridge

Brentford

Syon Lane

Isleworth

Hounslow

Feltham

Ashford

Staines

Wraysbury

Sunnymeads

Datchet

Windsor & Eton Riverside