South Western Railway Details Services During Strikes


Three days of disrupted services ahead due to industrial action

Unlike other companies many SWR drivers are RMT members
Unlike other companies many SWR drivers are RMT members

May 28, 2023

South Western Railway (SWR) has provided more information the level of service it will be providing during forthcoming industrial action by the RMT and ASLEF.

Unlike many other train operating companies, most of its drivers are members of the RMT union rather than ASLEF. This means that the worst hit day for the service will by Friday 2 June during the RMT strike.

On Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June there will be a reduced service, but most trains are expected to be operating.

On Friday 2 June, a nationwide strike by RMT union members will severely reduce the number of trains SWR can run and the hours in which they can operate.

A significantly reduced service will operate between 7am and 7pm only and large parts of the network will be closed. There will be no train services outside of these times.

There will only be two trains an hour on the Hounslow Loop line which serves stations such as Brentford, Chiswick, Kew Bridge, Syon Lane and Isleworth.

The following services will operate:
• London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside via Hounslow (2tph)
• London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside via Twickenham (2tph)
• London Waterloo to Woking (4tph)
• London Waterloo to Southampton Central (2tph)
• London Waterloo to Basingstoke (2tph)
• Salisbury to Basingstoke (1tph)
• Guildford to Woking (1tph)

Passengers travelling to Epsom Downs Racecourse for Epsom Ladies Day are advised that there will be no services in the Epsom area.

On Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June, nationwide strikes by ASLEF union members will affect SWR’s network-wide depot drivers, who bring trains in and out of service.

Contingency timetables are still to be confirmed however SWR has announced that there will be a reduced service between London Waterloo and Chessington South; Dorking; Hampton Court; London Waterloo via Hounslow; London Waterloo via Kingston; Reading; Shepperton; Twickenham; Weybridge; and Windsor & Eton Riverside.

On Saturday 3 June, RMT strike action the day before will also mean services will start at the later time of 7.30pm. A significant number of suburban services will be cancelled, however, it will not be possible to fully update journey planners until Friday 2 June. There will be no services to Epsom on Derby day.

Steve Tyler, SWR’s Planning and Performance Director, said, “I’m sorry to say that due to strike action we will be forced to make changes to our services on Wednesday 31 May, Friday 2 June and Saturday 3 June. We are still working to confirm our services but able to advise customers of what to expect.

“The majority of our network will see a normal service on Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June, but there will be some areas where a reduced service will operate – suburban routes, on the West of England Line and in the Romsey area. There will be no service on the Island Line on these two days.”

SWR is advising passengers only to travel if absolutely necessary on Friday 2 June and check services before travelling on the other strike days.

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