SECOND rail strike this week hits Cornwall
No GWR services are running in the Duchy on Saturday, with disruption expected on Sunday too
Last updated 30th Jul 2022
Great Western Railway says industrial action by train drivers will severely affect its services this weekend, with no trains running on many popular routes - including in Cornwall.
Aslef members from seven operators are walking out in a row over pay, including GWR.
On Saturday 30th July, an extremely limited service will operate between 0700 and 1900 and last trains will leave much earlier.
Due to the timing of the strike action, services on Sunday will also be significantly affected.
Passengers are being urged to find alternative ways to travel on these days.
The advice is to only travel if absolutely necessary and check your journey before travelling.
How will the train strikes affect Cornwall?
GWR will operate as many trains as possible during the strike action, however the following travel advice is in place over the strike period:
Saturday 30th July: Most parts of the GWR network will have no train service. Please make alternative travel arrangements and only travel if absolutely necessary. An extremely limited service will only operate on the routes below. Services will start later and finish much earlier than normal:
• Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
• Reading to Oxford
• Reading to Basingstoke
No other GWR services will run.
Sunday 31st July: Trains will continue to be disrupted. Please make alternative travel arrangements and only travel if absolutely necessary. Services will start later and finish earlier than normal and are expected to be extremely busy. There will be no service on the following routes:
• Swindon to Gloucester
• Oxford to Worcester/Hereford
A reduced service frequency will operate on other long-distance routes:
• London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
• London Paddington to Swansea
• London Paddington to Plymouth/Penzance (inc via the Kennet Valley)
• London Paddington to Oxford
Local services will start later than usual but will run to their usual frequency.
What is the travel advice for passengers?
GWR says: "Customers who have already purchased tickets for travel on the strike day 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.
"Where GWR is able to run services, they are expected to be extremely busy. They are not able to provide bus replacement services. To help customers, GWR is allowing people with tickets for travel on strike days to be able to travel on the day before and up to and including Tuesday 2nd August.
"The company is working to update journey planners with the changes to the timetable as soon as it can. Online journey checkers are expected to be updated with the latest timetable information.
"GWR's refund policy and Book with Confidence policy remain in place. If you hold a return ticket, you can claim a refund of your full fare, even if only one leg of your journey is affected.
Aslef has announced a further strike date for Saturday 13th August and the RMT has announced strike dates on Thursday 18th and Saturday 20th August. Travel advice for those dates will be published closer to the time.