Limited trains in Hampshire and Dorset for five days
Various strike action means many services won't be running here
Many train stations across Dorset and Hampshire will be effectively closed until Sunday (5th January) due to industrial action, by different unions.
No services will run through Weymouth, Upwey, Dorchester South, Moreton, Wool, Wareham, Holton Heath, Hamworthy, Poole, Parkstone, Branksome, Bournemouth, Pokesdown or Christchurch stations.
South Western Railway will run two fast trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Southampton Central but virtually all other services will not operate.
Members of the RMT are walking out today and tomorrow (Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th), and again on Friday and Saturday (6th and 7th January).
But ASLEF members are also striking on Thursday 5th January, which will 'significantly limit the number of trains that can be brought into service'.
As a result, South Western Railway is urging people to only travel if absolutely necessary throughout this week.
Customers are also advised to check before travelling on Sunday 8th January, when first trains will start from around 7.30am and are likely to be very busy.
A regular weekend timetable will operate after that.
South Western Railway’s Managing Director, Claire Mann, said:
"I’m sorry that due to the damaging, national strike action by both the RMT and ASLEF unions, a severely reduced service will operate on our network. We must urge our customers to only travel if absolutely necessary between Tuesday 3 and Sunday 8 January.
"Large parts of our network will be closed between Tuesday 3 and Sunday 8 January. On Sunday 8 January there will be a late start to services and so we urge our customers to carefully check their journeys, before they travel, using journey planners.
"We share our customers’ frustration over this nationwide strike action and the impact it has on our network and services. We are grateful to our customers for their continued cooperation, patience, and understanding as the rail industry works to bring this damaging strike action to an end."