Passengers reminded to check before they travel and prepare for disruption as members of the RMT and Aslef unions set to strike next week
- Aslef is due to hold further strike action on Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June, and RMT plan to strike on Friday 2 June.
- The levels of disruption will vary across the country, so passengers are being asked to check before they travel.
- Timetables for 31 May are live on journey planners now. Timetables for 2 and 3 June will be published on Saturday 27 May.
- Aslef will impose an overtime ban across 15 train operators on 1 June which may lead to short-notice cancellations with wide regional variations.
Passengers are reminded that due to industrial action by Aslef and the RMT unions, there will be reduced services across the rail network between Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June. Those travelling during that period are advised to plan ahead and check first and last train times.
Aslef strikes are taking place on Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June, and RMT is taking action on Friday 2 June which will affect services on 15 train companies, with trains due to start later and finish much earlier than usual - typically between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
It is expected that nationally services will be severely reduced with variations across the network and no services at all in some areas. On RMT strike day, around half of the network will shut down, with around 50% of normal services running. On Aslef strike days around 40% of trains will be running but there will be wide regional variations with some operators running no services at all.
It is likely that evening services on some lines will be affected on the days before each strike, so passengers should also check the last train times on the evenings before strike days and the mornings following strikes.
Aslef also will impose an overtime ban at 15 train operating companies on 1 June that will affect the level of cancellations and the punctuality of some services. This action may particularly affect those travelling in and out of London and passengers are advised to plan their journey in advance.
Passengers can check for latest updates at www.nationalrail.co.uk/industrialaction or with their train operator.
Travel advice for those travelling to FA Cup final
The disruption will affect football fans travelling from Manchester to London for the FA Cup final on 3 June at Wembley Stadium. Fans wishing to travel to the game by train from Manchester should not attempt to do so on Saturday 3 June.
Please note there will be a limited service on Friday 2 June due to the RMT industrial action. Passengers are advised to plan ahead and check before they travel with their train operators. The Football Association has also confirmed it will also be running its own coach operation to replace the rail services.
Industrial action on 3 June will also impact more than 100,000 people travelling to the annual Epsom Derby as well as fans travelling to Beyoncé ‘Renaissance’ world tour concert at Tottenham Hotspurs stadium and cricket enthusiasts travelling to watch England v Ireland Test match at Lord’s.
Passengers planning to use the train to travel to these events are advised to check with their train operator for more details and go to https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ for travel updates as many trains across the network will be affected.
A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said:
"The upcoming rail strikes called by the Aslef and RMT leadership will not only affect our passengers' daily commute, but will also impact those travelling from to the FA Cup final and other events across the country, causing disappointment and frustration for tens of thousands of people. It will also inconvenience families who have been looking forward and have planned their half-term holidays. It will also further burden our people who have already lost thousands of pounds at a time of financial strain.
“We understand the impact of these strikes on individuals and businesses alike, and we can only apologise for this unnecessary and damaging disruption. While we are doing all we can to keep trains running, unfortunately there will be reduced train services between Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June, so our advice is to check before you travel. Passengers with Advance tickets can be refunded fee-free if the train that the ticket is booked for is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled.”
Ticketing and refund information
Customers with Advance, Anytime or Off-Peak tickets for travel on a strike day can instead use their ticket on an alternative date:
- Tickets for Wednesday 31st May can be used on the day before the date on the ticket or up to and including Friday 2 June.
- Tickets for Friday 2 June and Saturday 3 June can be used on the day before the date on the ticket or up to and including Tuesday 6 June
Passengers with Advance tickets can be refunded fee-free if the train that the ticket is booked for is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled.
If the Advance ticket is for a train scheduled for a strike day, but it is not cancelled, delayed or rescheduled, and a customer prefers not to travel, they should contact their ticket retailer.
Customers with 2 x Advance tickets (an outbound and a return), to be used as a return journey, may be able to get a fee-free refund or change of journey for any unused legs/tickets, if either of the legs is scheduled for a strike day. Customers should check with their ticket retailer.
Season Ticket holders (flexi, monthly or longer) who cannot travel, can claim 100% compensation through Delay Repay for the strike dates of Wednesday 31 May, Friday 2 June and Saturday 3 June.