NO main line trains in Cornwall as biggest rail strikes in decades get underway
Both Great Western Railway and Cross Country have cancelled services in the Duchy
Last updated 21st Jun 2022
The next train to arrive in Cornwall will not be until Wednesday, as the BIGGEST rail strikes for three decades get underway.
Great Western Railway and CrossCountry have cancelled all main line services in the Duchy on Tuesday 21st June, Thursday 23rd June and Saturday 25th June.
Thousands of staff across the country are walking out in a row over pay, jobs and conditions.
GWR says branch lines will be affected too and both GWR and CrossCountry say there will be no replacement bus services either.
On strike days GWR will aim to provide about 30% of its usual timetabled services across the network and about 50% on non-strike days.
GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: "Any strike will impact on customers’ journeys and can only damage the post-covid recovery everyone at GWR has been working to win back, while at the same time making it more difficult to deliver the changes we need to secure jobs and services for the future".
He continued: "Colleagues have been working hard to put contingency plans in place and give certainty to customers who need to travel.
"The priority will be to keep trains running and customers moving safely, but changes will be needed to allow that to happen and customers may wish to alter their plans".
On its website, CrossCountry said: "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".
How will strikes affect GWR services?
A GWR spokesperson said: "Customers who have already purchased tickets can claim a full refund or can amend their ticket; those who travel and are delayed may be entitled to delay repay compensation if they are delayed by 15 mins or more. Season ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme.
"To help customers, GWR is allowing people with tickets for travel on strike days to be able to travel on the day before and up to two days after.
"Our Refund and Book with Confidence policies will remain in place and we will update this page with more information if the current situation changes".
You can find more information on how the strikes will affect GWR services on its website.
How will strikes affected CrossCountry services?
A CrossCountry spokesperson said: "Due to industrial action by RMT union we will run a significantly reduced service on Tuesday 21 June, Thursday 23 June and Saturday 25 June.
"The industrial action also affects staff due to work overnight shifts and this means that the days following the industrial action are also affected, with services starting later than normal (after 07:45) on Wednesday 22 June and Friday 24 June.
"There will be no road transport running in replacement of train services".
They continued: "We have suspended Advance tickets for the three strike dates (21, 23 & 25 June), please continue to check our website and other train operator websites for updates.
"Customers with Anytime, Off-Peak or Advance tickets dated June 21, June 23 or June 25 are permitted to travel the day before and up to two days after the date on their ticket".
They added: "You will need to travel at a similar time to your original ticket, following any time restrictions associated with it".
More information on how the strikes will affect CrossCountry services can be found on the company's website.
Both GWR and CrossCountry say for services which are running, there could be last-minute changes to the timetable and customers are advised to check before they travel.