A NEW timetable has been released as thousands of rail workers are set to strike next week.

South Western Railway (SWR) is urging customers to only travel by rail if "absolutely necessary" during the action on June 21, 23 and 25. 

More than 2,100 SWR staff are due to take part in the strike which was announced by transport union, RMT. 

As a result, significant parts of the railway network are due to be closed entirely with a small number of services continuing but less frequently. 


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The reduced timetable will run from 7.15am to 6.30pm on all three days and will see only two SWR trains from Southampton each hour. 

Running between Southampton and London Waterloo, two fast train services will be run every 60 minutes in both directions.

Other services running across the network are: 

  • Four trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Windsor via Hounslow 
  • Two semi-fast trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Basingstoke  
  • Four trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Woking 

Trains will not be stopping at all stations on these routes and there will be no other services from SWR across the rest of the network. 

South Western Railway’s Managing Director, Claire Mann, said: “The sheer scale of this planned industrial action severely limits the number of trains we can run and routes we can serve, which is reflected in the reduced timetable we have published today.  

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

“I am sorry these strikes will cause such disruption and am grateful to our customers for their patience and understanding as the rail industry works to bring this damaging nationwide action to an end.” 

Significant disruption is also expected on Wednesday 22, Friday 24 and Sunday 26, when the network will not be operational before 7.30am and a Sunday level of service will run throughout the day. 

Daily Echo: Southampton Central train station.Southampton Central train station.

Network Rail will be providing contingency cover for critical roles including electrical control room operators, signallers, maintenance and response teams, but will not be able to cover the whole day. 

Network Rail route director Mark Killick apologised for the disruption adding "we know how difficult this will be for our customers so soon after the pandemic".

"We’ve trained 250 staff so we can keep some of the busiest lines open, focussing our resources on the routes that can keep the largest numbers of customers and freight moving and serving vital locations such as hospitals.

"That said, we will not compromise on safety and the strike does mean that large parts of the network will be closed. 

"We are continuing to work with unions to find a solution and will keep doing so. But we also have to be honest and accept that we have to change the way we work, to reflect the changes in society and travel patterns post pandemic."

Train users are being urged to check the SWR website for the latest information.

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