GWR ask passengers to find alternative transport amid strikes and engineering works

There are more rail strikes today and tomorrow - with disruption set to last all weekend because of planned engineering work

Strike action continues across the rail network
Author: Oliver MorganPublished 6th Jan 2023

Great Western Railway are renewing calls to passengers that engineering works and strike action across much of the network will be causing lots of disruption to services this weekend.

Major disruption continues this weekend following another week of strikes by a number of unions, who have been walking out over pay and conditions.

Tomorrow (January 7), the industrial action is set to continue with members of the RMT walking out.

Alongside the strike action - which already means there will be a disruption to services across the South West - planned engineering work over the weekend will also be taking place in parts of the region.

This means only extremely limited services will run, and customers are advised to avoid travelling if you can on the rail network.

On January 7, a very limited service will operate, with no direct trains between London Paddington and Bristol, and between London Paddington and south Wales.

Services will only operate on the following routes from 0730 and journeys must be completed by 1830:

  • London Paddington and Oxford
  • London Paddington and Didcot Parkway
  • London Paddington and Reading
  • Slough and Windsor
  • Maidenhead and Marlow
  • Twyford and Henley-on-Thames
  • Reading and Basingstoke
  • Didcot and Oxford
  • Cardiff Central and Westbury calling most stations
  • Bristol and Plymouth

On Sunday 8 January, there will be a reduced level of service throughout the day.

Due to the planned engineering work, that means there will be no trains between Didcot Parkway and Bristol Parkway or Bath Spa.

Trains will start later and there could be short-notice cancellations and alterations - but these are expected to be 'extremely busy', with those taking the train strongly advised to check before you travel.

Trains between London and Bristol or South Wales will use a different route – not stopping at Didcot Parkway, Swindon or Chippenham, whilst shuttle trains will run between Swindon and Cheltenham Spa.

Buses will replace trains for stations between Reading and Bath Spa, and between Didcot Parkway and Bristol Parkway.

Great Western Railway are advising that other train operators are also affected by this action, so onward travel could also be affected. 

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.

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

Tickets for 6, 7 January can be used the day before, or up to and including Tuesday 10 January.

Season-ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme.

For more detailed information, including when journey planners will be updated with the latest train times, click here.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Greatest Hits Radio app.