Rail strikes: Dates for disruptions in October and which routes are affected

Thousands of rail workers are set to go on strike in October – bringing many services to a standstill as a longstanding dispute over wages and working conditions continues to cause disruption.

rail strikes are currently planned October 1st, 5th and 8th.

Rail operators are advising customers using the rail network on the days of the strike to carry out regular checks before setting off in light of likely further service changes.

Saturday October 1st

East Midlands Railway – Connections only operate between 07:30 and 18:30. This includes one train per hour in both directions between Nottingham and London and Sheffield and London. There will also only be hourly services between Nottingham and other key locations such as Derby and Leicester, but other routes will be closed.

Great Western Railway – “extremely limited service” operating from 7.30am to 6.30pm. Rail services only operate on the routes between Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington; reading and didcot; and Reading and Basingstoke.

Avanti West Coast – no services.

LNER – No service to/from North York stations and LNER advises customers not to travel to/from North York stations. Limited service is only available on these routes: London Kings Cross and York, and Doncaster and Leeds

cross country – no services.

TransPennine Express – “Very Limited Service” on the route between York and Huddersfield and Edinburgh and Preston

Greater Anglia – Services will be severely restricted and disrupted. There are no Greater Anglia services between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street or on regional/branch lines.

c2c – “Significant disruptions expected on all lines” with reduced service between 07:30 and 18:30. Two trains per hour from London Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness via Laindon. Two trains per hour from London Fenchurch Street to Pitsea via Rainham.

Chiltern Railway – no service on all routes.

Southern, Great Northern, Thameslink, Gatwick Express – The railway will have limited opening hours, with trips starting later than normal and ending in the late afternoon. Gatwick Express services are not running.

West Midlands Railway – no services on all routes.

southeast – no services are running.

North – no services are running.

Südwestbahn – Between 07:30 and 18:30, heavily reduced service will operate on a limited number of routes including: Two trains per hour between Waterloo and Feltham; two trains an hour between Waterloo and Basingstoke; four trains an hour between Waterloo and Woking; two trains an hour between Waterloo and Southampton Central.

Wednesday October 5th

East Midlands Railway – No services are running on any part of the network.

Great Western Railway – “extremely limited service” from 07:30 to 18:30. Rail services only operate between Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington; Reading and Oxford; and Reading and Basingstoke.

Avanti West Coast – no service.

LNER – Services are expected to run as October 1st, but customers are encouraged to check the company’s website for updates.

cross country – no services.

TransPennine Express – “Very limited service on some lines”, with customers advised to only travel “if travel is absolutely necessary”. The company will continue to provide further updates “as soon as possible”.

Greater Anglia – People have been urged, “Avoid traveling with us. Our services will be severely restricted and disrupted. It is likely that there will be no replacement for trains or buses on most routes”.

c2c – The operator says this day’s action will ‘not affect services’ but adds that ‘trains may be busier than usual’.

Chiltern Railway – no service on all routes.

Southern, Great Northern, Thameslink, Gatwick Express – expected to be “extremely busy” due to the strikes.

West Midlands Railway – no services on all routes.

southeast – no services are running.

North – no services are running.

Südwestbahn – SWR drivers “will not interfere in today’s strike”.

Saturday October 8th

East Midlands Railway – The Services will only operate between 07:30 and 18:30.

Great Western Railway – Limited service with later start and earlier end. Further details will be published promptly.

Avanti West Coast – Only travel if necessary.

LNER – more updates expected “in the coming days”.

cross country – a “significantly reduced” timetable.

TransPennine Express – “Very limited service on some lines”, with customers advised to only travel “if travel is absolutely necessary”. The company will continue to provide further updates “as soon as possible”.

Greater Anglia – The firm reiterates its previous advice to “avoid travel” and that services will be “severely curtailed and disrupted”. Most routes “will not have a replacement for trains or buses,” he adds.

c2c – “Significant disruptions expected on all lines” with reduced service between 07:30 and 18:30.

Chiltern Railway – “A significantly reduced timetable is expected”.

Southern, Great Northern, Thameslink, Gatwick Express – More information will be provided “in the coming days”.

West Midlands Railway – A “significantly reduced service” will operate from 07:30 to 18:30.

southeast – Customers have been instructed to travel only “if necessary”. A limited service, but “some routes” will be closed.

North – “Very limited” services are running and customers are advised not to travel.

Südwestbahn – The operator says that in due course they will “release information about the service that we hope to be able to run”.