Rail strike expected to cause disruption to trains across South West
A limited service will operate across many parts of Network Rail's Western route
Last updated 19th Nov 2022
Network Rail are warning of disruption on its Western route today - covering between Penzance and London Paddington - due to strike action.
RMT members at the Thames Valley Signalling Centre (TVSC) including signallers, shift signaller managers, electrical control operators and level crossing keepers are walking out.
Network Rail say TVSC at Didcot Parkway plays a "critical role" in the safe and reliable running of trains between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads, Westbury, South Wales and Cheltenham and Gloucester. This means that strike action will particularly affect passengers in the South West, West of England, Oxfordshire, Thames Valley and the Cotswolds.
Train service overview
Differently to previous strike action, the whole of the Western route will remain open on the two strike days, bit will run a limited service.
Services in Devon and Cornwall including branch lines will continue to operate to a near normal frequency.
A normal CrossCountry service will be available for most of the day but will not be able to operate at Bristol or Reading after 6.30pm.
A limited GWR service will run on the following routes between 07.30am and 6.30pm unless otherwise stated:
- London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads
- London Paddington and Swansea: after 6.30pm trains run between Cardiff Central and Swansea only
- London and Bristol Parkway/Cardiff
- London Paddington and Hereford/Worcester
- London and Plymouth: after 6.30pm trains run between Westbury and Plymouth
- Cardiff and Portsmouth Harbour: after 6.30pm trains run between Westbury and Plymouth
- Cardiff to Taunton/Plymouth: after 6.30pm trains run between Weston-super-Mare and Taunton/Plymouth
- Westbury to Swindon via Melksham
- Between St Austell and Penzance all day
- Devon and Cornwall branch lines to operate as normal
- Westbury and Weymouth all day
- London Paddington and Oxford/Didcot
- Twyford and Henley
- Slough and Windsor
- Maidenhead and Marlow
- Reading and Basingstoke
- Reading and Redhill
Network Rail’s interim Western route director, David Davidson, said: "I’d like to sincerely apologise to passengers for this latest disruption.
"It's really disappointing that the RMT has decided to call this needless strike action which will severely impact passengers over a four-day period, starting this Saturday 19 November.
"This strike action will have a significant impact on passengers travelling from the South West and West to watch the England vs New Zealand rugby match at Twickenham. There will be no train services travelling West after the game, so we are asking those passengers not to travel by train.
"We have been working closely with the train operators to agree the services they will be able to operate during this time but please continue to check with your train operator on the services they are running or visit the National Rail Enquiries website for more information."
Earlier this week, RMT members voted in favour of more strike action, meaning they will be able to take industrial action for potentially another 6-month period.
Across both Network Rail and 14 train operating companies, the average turnout was 70.2% with a 'yes' vote of 91.7%.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "The National Executive Committee will now look at these fantastic results and negotiations will continue with Network Rail and the train operating companies.
"This union is determined to continue with this campaign until the employers understand that they need to respond to our members' aspirations on job security, pay and working conditions."