Timetables announced ahead of ‘unprecedented’ rail strikes

Passengers have been urged to only travel if ‘absolutely necessary’ during planned rail strikes next week.

Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) are planning three separate 24-hour walkouts on June 21, June 23 and June 25.

The strikes have been called due to fears over job cuts and disputes over pay and terms and conditions.

South Western Railway said it will be operating a ‘severely reduced’ timetable on strike days.

This will include four trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Windsor via Hounslow between 7.15am and 6.30pm.

Customers are advised not to travel by rail and should expect severe disruption if they choose to do so.

A late-starting Sunday level of service will be operating on nonstrike days on June 22, June 24 and June 26.

Claire Mann, managing director at South Western Railway, said: “The sheer scale of this planned industrial action severely limits the number of trains we can run and routes we can serve.

“With this disruption set to be so considerable, I regretfully urge customers to only travel by rail if absolutely necessary between Tuesday, June 21 and Sunday, June 26.”

Great Western Railway has announced it will be operating a very limited service between London Paddington and Slough between 7.30am and 6.30pm on the planned strike days.

The rail operator said only 30 per cent of its normal timetabled services are expected to run on strike days.

GWR is aiming to run 50 per cent of its normal services on non-strike days.

Transport for London has announced there will be a reduced service on the Elizabeth line on strike days.