Rail strikes: How are services in the East affected?

Rail union members are walking out for three days this week

Author: Matt SoanesPublished 25th Jun 2022
Last updated 25th Jun 2022

Thousands of workers on Britain's railways are walking out for a third time today (June 25) as a bitter industrial dispute continues.

RMT members took part strike action on Tuesday (June 21) and Thursday (June 23).

The dispute centres around proposed reforms to the railways, as well as pay and job conditions.

The train drivers union, ASLEF, has also announced walkouts affecting Greater Anglia services today.

Talks between the Network Rail, railway operators and unions in an effort to avoid another round of industrial action have previously broke down.

Network Rail's hinted at progress from talks with unions over pay and conditions.

But RMT general secretary Mick Lynch says there's "a long way to go yet".

RMT members at a picket outside Norwich Station

Operators want to make efficiency savings, especially as fewer passengers are travelling by rail post pandemic, with many more working from home.

Unions argue that their members worked throughout the pandemic but now face job cuts, changes to their working conditions and pay rises well below the rate of inflation following years of wage freezes.

Between 2,000 and 2,500 jobs are believed to be at risk.

The walkouts are expected to cause widespread disruption across East Anglia, although some services will still be running - these are listed below:

Greater Anglia:

Greater Anglia will be running a reduced service on the days of the strikes and is advising passengers not to travel, if possible.

The first trains will depart around 07:30, with the final trains finishing their journeys around 18:30.

No branch line or regional services will be operating.

There's no trains back from London after 5.30pm and they are not being replacing with buses.

While there's no early morning trains on Sunday morning due to Saturday's strike.

Sign at Ipswich Station on the first day of strike action

Daily tickets dated for 25 June, can be used to travel the day before a strike day up to and including 28 June.

Tickets can also be changed without the need to pay an admin fee.

Norwich - London Liverpool Street:

One per hour. First trains at 08:00 from Norwich and 08:30 from London. Final trains 16:00 from Norwich, 16:30 from London.

Ipswich - London Liverpool Street:

One per hour. First trains at 07:41 from Ipswich and 08:30 from London. Final trains are 16:42 from Ipswich and 17:25 from London.

Colchester - London Liverpool Street:

One intercity service per hour + one slower service stopping at more stations. First train is 07:30 from Colchester and 08:00 from London. Final trains 17:01 from Colchester. 17:25 from London.

Southend Victoria - London Liverpool Street:

Two trains per hour. First trains are 07:30 from Southend, 7:47 from London. Final trains are 17:13 from Southend, 17:30 from London.

Lowestoft - Norwich:

No service.

King's Lynn - London Liverpool Street:

No service.

Stansted Express:

Two trains per hour tomorrow. First services are 7:42 from Stansted, 8:10 from London. Final services are 17:12 from Stansted and 17:40 from London.

Strikers outside Ipswich station

Great Northern:

Staff at Great Northern, which serves King's Lynn, are not taking part in strike action. However the company will be affected by the walkout of Network Rail staff.

There will no Great Northern services from King's Lynn on the affected days. One train per hour will run between Ely and London King's Cross.

East Midlands Railway:

East Midlands Railway will not be running services to or from Norwich on the days of the strikes, with large parts of its network closed due to walkouts at Network Rail.

Ticket holders will be able to travel the day before any strike action, through to June 28.

c2c:

c2c, which serves the line between London Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, will be operating less than a third of its normal services.

A reduced service will run between 07:30 and 18:30. Delays are also expected on the days surrounding the strikes.

No services will run via Ockendon or Chafford Hundred.

Shoeburyness - Fenchurch Street via Laindon:

Two services per hour. First trains are 07:30 from Shoeburyness, 07:30 from London. Final trains are 17:00 from Shoeburyness, 17:05 from London.

Pitsea - Fenchurch Street via Rainham:

Two trains per hour. First trains are 07:44 from Pitsea, 07:35 from London. Final trains are 17:39 from Pitsea, 17:00 from London.

Grays - Fenchurch Street via Rainham:

Two trains per hour. First trains are 07:36 from Grays, 07:30 from London. Final trains are 17:36 from Grays, 17:37 from London.

TfL:

London's transport networks are expected to be hit hard by the strikes, with bus services likely to face exceptional demand as parts of the tube and overground are out of action.

Tube:

Limited service on Bakerloo line as it partly uses Network Rail infrastructure. Other lines facing minor delays.

London Overground & Elizabeth Line:

Overground services will run 07:30 - 18:30 today. The Elizabeth Line will run a reduced service as part of the network uses track run by Network Rail.

Disruption following strikes likely on parts of the Tube, Elizabeth line and London Overground on Sunday.

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