Unfortunately, it is unlikely that agreement will be found with the RMT union to avert industrial action over the Christmas period. This will mean that UK railway services will be significantly limited on the 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 24th and 27th of December, and the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th of January.
On strike dates on the 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th of December many routes will be entirely closed. Where routes are open, first trains will be from 07:15, with last trains from 16:30 and running to a limited frequency.
On the day after each strike date (the 15th and 18th December) first trains will be from 07:15, followed by the start-up of the normal service for that day. First trains, especially on the Thursday, will be very busy and we are encouraging anyone that can to travel later in the morning. At some stations, the first train will be later in cases where the train is travelling a considerable distance from its starting location before arriving at the station.
The advice regrettably is to travel by rail only if absolutely necessary. Many customers will need to make alternative arrangements.
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.
Service summary for RMT strike dates (13th, 14th, 16th & 17th December)
Services between London Bridge / London Victoria and the south coast:
London Victoria and Brighton
Two trains per hour will run between London Victoria and Brighton, calling at London Victoria, Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport and Brighton only.
London Bridge and Brighton
Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Brighton, calling at London Bridge, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Balcombe, Hayward’s Heath, Wivelsfield, Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Preston Park and Brighton only.
London Bridge and Gatwick Airport via Redhill
Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport, calling at London Bridge, Norwood Junction, East Croydon, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley and Gatwick Airport only.
London Bridge and Three Bridges via Redhill
Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Three Bridges, calling at London Bridge, Norwood Junction, East Croydon, Coulsdon South, Merstham, Redhill, Horley, Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges only.
Brighton and Hove
Two trains per hour will run between Brighton and Hove only.
Services between London Bridge / London Victoria and South London:
London Victoria and Sutton
Two trains per hour will run between London Victoria and Sutton, calling at London Victoria, Clapham Junction, Balham, Mitcham Eastfields, Mitcham Junction, Hackbridge, Carshalton, and Sutton only.
London Victoria and Epsom Downs via Selhurst
Two trains per hour will run between London Victoria and Epsom Downs, calling at London Victoria, Battersea Park, Clapham Junction, Wandsworth Common, Balham, Streatham Common, Norbury, Thornton Heath, Selhurst, West Croydon, Waddon, Wallington, Carshalton Beeches, Sutton, Belmont, Banstead and Epsom Downs only.
London Victoria and West Croydon via Crystal Palace
Two trains per hour will run between London Victoria and West Croydon, calling at London Victoria, Battersea Park, Clapham Junction, Balham, Streatham Hill, West Norwood, Gipsy Hill, Crystal Palace, Norwood Junction and West Croydon only.
London Bridge and Tattenham Corner
Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Tattenham Corner, calling at London Bridge, East Croydon, South Croydon, Purley Oaks, Reedham, Coulsdon Town, Woodmansterne, Chipstead, Kingswood, Tadworth and Tattenham Corner only.
Services between St Pancras International and Bedford:
St Pancras International and Bedford
Two trains per hour will run between St Pancras International and Bedford, calling at St Pancras International, West Hampstead Thameslink, St Albans City, Harpenden, Luton Airport Parkway, Luton, Leagrave, Harlington, Flitwick and Bedford only.
St Pancras International and Luton
Two trains per hour will run between St Pancras International and Luton, calling at St Pancras International, Kentish Town, West Hampstead Thameslink, Cricklewood, Hendon, Mill Hill Broadway, Elstree & Borehamwood, Radlett, St Albans City, Harpenden, Luton Airport Parkway, Luton.
Services between King’s Cross and Peterborough / Cambridge / Ely:
King’s Cross and Ely
One train per hour will run between King’s Cross and Ely, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Potters Bar, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn North, Knebworth, Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Baldock, Ashwell & Morden, Royston, Meldreth, Shepreth, Foxton, Cambridge, Cambridge North, Waterbeach, Ely only.
Cambridge and Ely
In addition to the above, one train per hour will run between Cambridge and Ely, calling at Cambridge, Cambridge North, Waterbeach and Ely only.
King’s Cross and Cambridge
One train per hour will run between King’s Cross and Cambridge, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Baldock, Ashwell & Morden, Royston and Cambridge only.
King’s Cross and Peterborough
Two trains per hour will run between King’s Cross and Peterborough, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Stevenage, Hitchin, Arlesey, Biggleswade, Sandy, St Neots, Huntingdon and Peterborough only.
King’s Cross and Welwyn Garden City
Two trains per hour will run between King’s Cross and Welwyn Garden City, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Harringay, Hornsey, Alexandra Palace, New Southgate, Oakleigh Park, New Barnet, Hadley Wood, Potters Bar, Brookmans Park, Welham Green, Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City only.
King’s Cross and Stevenage via Hertford North
Two trains per hour will run between King’s Cross and Stevenage, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Harringay, Hornsey, Alexandra Palace, Bowes Park, Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill, Grange Park, Enfield Chase, Gordon Hill, Crews Hill, Cuffley, Bayford, Hertford North, Watton-at-Stone and Stevenage only.
Further industrial action
Currently, services are set to be affected by three further periods of industrial action:
- 18th December – 2nd 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.
- 24th - 27th December: a strike by RMT union members at Network Rail. Services are likely to be severely impacted.
- 3rd & 4th and 6th & 7th January: national strike by RMT members at Network Rail and train companies. As with the service on the 13th & 14th and 16th & 17th December, there will be far fewer trains, starting much later and finishing much earlier each day. Customers are advised to travel only if absolutely necessary in this period.
Should this later action take place, the plan for the January RMT strike dates will be as next week.