News / Transport
The Bristol services set to be crippled by rail strikes
Bristol rail workers are expected to strike in the UK’s most widespread industrial action in decades – with only 30 per cent of GWR services operating on strike days.
The walkouts, led by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union, will be in protest of pay, jobs and conditions.
On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, there are strikes planned when an “extremely limited” service will operate between 7.30am and 6.30pm. On these days, there will be no services running on the Severn Beach Line, and between Bristol to Worcester and Gloucester.
is needed now More than ever
There is expected to be knock-on disruption on Wednesday and Friday, where no services will run before 7am.
People are being warned to only travel by train if necessary, with train operators not providing rail replacement bus services.
Limited services are shown in green while no services at all will be available on the lines in red – image GWR
No rail services operate on strike days on the following routes:
- All lines in Cornwall, including all branch lines
- All branch lines in Devon (Barnstaple, Exmouth, Paignton, Okehampton)
- South Wales main line (Carmarthen/Swansea – Cardiff Central)
- Heart of Wessex line (Castle Cary – Weymouth)
- Severn Beach line (Bristol Temple Meads – Severn Beach)
- North Cotswolds line (Hereford/Worcester – Oxford)
- South Cotswolds line (Cheltenham – Swindon)
- Worcester/Gloucester – Bristol
- Kennet Valley (Reading – Pewsey)
- North Downs line (Reading – Gatwick Airport)
- South Coast (Westbury – Southampton/Portsmouth Harbour)
- Greenford branch line (Saturday only)
On days when strike actions are not taking place (Wednesday and Friday), GWR will be operating a reduced service – image: GWR
On Saturday, union leaders confirmed that rail and tube strikes would go ahead after talks failed to resolve a bitter dispute over working conditions, redundancies and pensions. The country has not seen a rail strike on this scale since 1992.
More than 40,000 rail staff are set to walk out from GWR and 13 other train operators.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said thousands of jobs were being cut across the rail networks and workers were facing below-inflation pay rises.
He said: “It has to be restated that the source of these disputes is the decision by the Tory government to cut £4bn of funding from our transport systems – £2bn from National Rail and £2bn from Transport for London.”
⚠️Due to industrial action there will be a very limited service this week
⚠️Only travel if necessary
⚠️If you travel expect severe disruption & plan ahead
?See below for routes that WILL NOT OPERATE on strike days. Please check carefully
?Info at https://t.co/xXlLvV31A8 pic.twitter.com/JArVsiiO5v
— GWR (@GWRHelp) June 19, 2022
GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said: “We very much welcome the opportunity to continue to talk with the RMT to avert strike action.
“Any strike will impact on customers’ journeys and can only damage the post-covid recovery everyone at GWR has been working to win back, while at the same time making it more difficult to deliver the changes we need to secure jobs and services for the future.
GWR is advising customers who have already purchased tickets they can claim a full refund or can amend it. Those who travel and are delayed may be entitled to compensation if they are delayed by 15 mins or more.
For more information on refunds and booking policies, visit www.gwr.com/strike
Main photo: Barbara Evripidou
Read more: Bristol Temple Quarter gets £94m of government funds to level up
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
