Rail strikes this weekend: Here's how to claim a refund on your ticket

Rail passengers in Dorset are once again being told to only travel by train if absolutely necessary this weekend.

Rail strikes by members of the RMT union are taking place on Saturday 5 November, and again on Monday and Wednesday next week.

Both South Western Railway and Greatest Western Railway are warning of widespread disruption, with no trains running between Weymouth and Southampton.

SWR has published its strike day service levels for Saturday 5 November, Monday 7 November, and Wednesday 9 November, which will provide a severely reduced service on the routes Network Rail has made available.

Significant parts of the network will be closed entirely and those trains that are running will be far less frequent and much busier compared to normal.

Due to the impact of the strike days, customers are also urged only to travel if absolutely necessary on Sunday 6 November, Tuesday 8 November, and Thursday 10 November, when first trains will start much later than usual across the network and are likely to be very busy.

Staff at Network Rail are set to take strike action on 5, 7, and 9 November, significantly limiting the rail infrastructure available, causing severe disruption. On 5 and 9 November, more than 2,100 SWR members of the RMT union will join the strike action. On 9 November only, SWR members of the TSSA union will also strike.

Find out how to claim a refund on South Western Railway.

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

“I’m sorry that due to strike action we must urge our customers to only travel by rail if absolutely necessary from Saturday 5 to Thursday 10 November.

“Large parts of our network will be closed on strike days and there will be a late start up on the morning after. Those who must travel are urged to carefully check the times of first and last trains and avoid them if possible.

“We appreciate that customers will be eager to enjoy the fireworks for Guy Fawkes Night, but last trains for the day will depart early at around 1700 and will be very busy. Please check train times carefully to avoid getting stranded as the network will be shut for the rest of the evening.

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

Great Western Railway say customers who have already purchased tickets for strike days can claim a full refund or amend their ticket; those who travel and are delayed may be entitled to delay repay compensation if they are delayed by 15 minutes or more. Season ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme.

To help customers, tickets will be valid for travel on alternative days as follows:

• Tickets for travel on 5 November are valid for travel on 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 November

• Tickets for travel on 6 November are valid for travel on 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 November

• Tickets for travel on 7 November are valid for travel on 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 November

• Tickets for travel on 9 November are valid for travel on 8, 9, 10 and 11 November