Passengers have been told not to travel on trains unless absolutely necessary during the train strikes next week.
Railway workers from thirteen companies including Southeastern, and Network Rail, which manages the railways themselves, are walking out on Tuesday, June 21, Thursday, June 23 and Saturday, June 25.
Southeastern said that the vast majority of its trains will not be running on the strike days, and that there will be “significant” disruption on Wednesday, June 22, Friday, June 24 and Sunday, June 26.
The only Southeastern services that will be running on the strike days are:
- From central London to Orpington (six trains an hour between 7am and 7pm)
- From central London to Woolwich (two trains an hour between 7am and 7pm)
- From central London to Bexleyheath (two trains an hour between 7am and 7pm)
- From central London to Sidcup (two trains an hour between 7am and 7pm)
- Highspeed to Ashford (two trains an hour between 7am and 7pm)
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Workers are set to go on strike over a pay dispute and possible redundancies. The RMT union, which is organising the strike, said the aim was to bring the railway network to its knees.
Scott Brightwell, Southeastern’s operations and safety director, said: “We want to avoid industrial action, because we know it’ll be really difficult for our customers. If these strikes go ahead there’ll be significant disruption to our services between Tuesday and Sunday.
“The number of train services we’ll be able to run will be extremely limited. Many of our routes will have no trains and most stations will be closed. So, we’re advising passengers to only travel if necessary, and if you do travel, expect severe disruption and plan ahead on Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 June.
“We want to make sure you’re fully refunded if you’re unable to travel. Information on how to claim refunds is available on our website.
“I’d like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience and frustration this industrial action will cause. We urge the RMT to call off the industrial action, and work with us to find a resolution as we look to rebuild the railway together.”
RMT secretary-general Mick Lynch has called for a meeting with transport secretary Grant Shapps and treasury secretary Rishi Sunak in a bid to come to an agreement.
next Tuesday, June 21, Londoners are set to be hit with yet more travel misery later as Tube workers are also to walk out yet again – this time on the same day as a massive railway strike.
Unite workers at Transport for London (TfL) are walking out over a pay, pensions and jobs dispute. Services could also be affected on Wednesday June 22, the union warned.
Londoners to be hit with another Tube strike this month – on the same day as rail strike