Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), is advising passengers to travel only if absolutely necessary during industrial action in December.
Planned strikes by the RMT Union on 13 and 14 and 16 and 17 December will affect Thameslink and Gatwick Express services.
There will be far fewer trains than usual and services will start later each day and finish much earlier than normal (from 7.30am to 4.30/6.30pm).
Additionally, services will also start later on the day in between each 48-hour strike, on 15 December and the day after, Sunday 18 December.
GTR say that first and last trains will be particularly busy. “If passengers absolutely have to travel, they should consider going later or returning earlier if possible, especially as no alternative transport can be made available,” said a statement.
“School children and students returning from university, in particular, should plan ahead and check online at National Rail Enquiries where updated train times will be available from 9 December.”
Currently, services are set to be affected by three further pieces of industrial action:
- 18 December – 2 January: a national train company overtime ban by RMT union members. More information will be available in the coming days but trains may be subject to change and cancellation on the day.
- 24-27 December: a strike by RMT union members at Network Rail. Services are likely to be severely impacted on 24 and 27 December when we would normally run trains (there are no trains on Christmas Day and Boxing Day).
- 3 – 4 and 6 – 7 January: national strike by RMT members at Network Rail and train companies. As with the service on 13 – 14 and 16 – 17 December, there will be far fewer trains, starting much later and finishing much earlier each day. Passengers are advised to travel only if absolutely necessary in this period.
Online journey planners will be updated for this further industrial action when details of the impact have been worked out. Passengers should double-check their journey each day before setting off, including the return journey.
GTR Chief Operating Officer Angie Doll said: “We’re really sorry for the enormous inconvenience this RMT action will cause to all of our customers during next week’s two 48-hour strikes. Regrettably, we are asking customers to travel only if absolutely necessary, and check service information for their local station as some routes, once again, won’t have trains at all.”
Steve Montgomery, chair of the Rail Delivery Group which has been leading negotiations for train companies, said: “Regrettably, the RMT leadership’s refusal to put our proposed 8% pay offer to its membership means we are unable to reach a resolution at this stage, although we remain open to talks.
“With the deadline having passed where disruption could be avoided even if strikes were called off, our focus is on giving passengers the maximum possible certainty so they can make their festive plans.”
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “We have rejected this offer as it does not meet any of our criteria for securing a settlement on long term job security, a decent pay rise and protecting working conditions.
“The RDG and DfT who sets their mandate, both knew this offer would not be acceptable to RMT members.
“If this plan was implemented, it would not only mean the loss of thousands of jobs but the use of unsafe practices such as DOO and would leave our railways chronically understaffed.”
