Travel by rail only if it is ‘absolutely necessary’

Rail services have been facing significant disruption on both strike days and nonstrike days this week.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) went on strike on Tuesday and Thursday with more set for Saturday.

Great Western Railway (GWR) is operating a ‘significantly reduced timetable’ with only 30 per cent of services able to operate between 7.30am and 6.30pm on Saturday.

GWR ‘will operate as many trains as possible’ however, most services will be affected.

Due to the timing of the strike action, services on Sunday will also be affected.

On Sunday the operator is aiming to provide about 50 per cent of its usual timetabled services, with a later startup than usual and the need to rebalance the fleet to provide full services again from

Monday, June 27.

Where trains are able to run, they are expected to be extremely busy and replacement bus services are not able to be provided.

The Elizabeth line is also impacted. Customers travelling between Paddington to Reading are advised to complete their journey by 4pm.

The Paddington to

Reading and Heathrow branch will run a reduced service from 7.40am.

On non-strike days, services will start later than usual.

On strike days, South Western Railway is operating on a ‘severely reduced’ timetable. The company has more than 2,100 RMT members who are eligible to strike.

Four trains are in operation per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Windsor via Hounslow between 7.15am and 6.30pm.

Many routes are closed and train services that are running finish early, by 6.30pm.

South Western Railway also operated a Sunday level of service on Wednesday and Friday. On Sunday, the network will not be operational before 7.30am.

All train lines urge customers only to travel by rail if absolutely necessary during the strike period.

Bus services have also faced disruption during the strike action. Delays are expected due to extra traffic on the roads and an increase in passenger numbers.

This week, live updates from Reading Buses and Thames Valley Buses showed a number of delays due to heavy traffic, echoing AA warnings of increased congestion this week.