Will my train be running during the rail strikes?

The most protracted and disruptive national rail strikes since 1989 begin on Tuesday 13 December. They involve walk-outs on a total of 12 days, stretching into the New Year, by the RMT union as well as some industrial action by the TSSA and Unite unions.

The strikes that will disrupt passenger trains the most involve a series of four 48-hour stoppages:

Some trains will be affected on the evening before strikes, and many will be disrupted on the days after strikes.

The RMT leadership has also imposed an overtime ban across 14 train operators from 18 December until 2 January, which will disrupt travel during the festive period.

In addition, RMT members working for Network Rail will walk out for 60 hours from 6pm on Christmas Eve until 6am on 27 December, but they are aimed at scuppering engineering projects scheduled for Christmas Day and Boxing Day rather than passenger trains.

What’s the national advice?

Passengers are being warned by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), representing train operators, “to plan journeys in advance and only travel by train if absolutely necessary due to 48 hour strikes on 13, 14, 16 and 17 December”.

In many parts of Great Britain there will be no trains at all. Around 20 per cent of normal services will operate.

What’s your advice?

So long as you plan carefully, there is no reason to avoid the trains on strike days – thousands of them will be running.

Rail firms have now published their schedules for the initial bout of disruption. But the RDG warns: “Passengers who must travel should expect disruption, plan ahead and check when their last train will depart.”

These are the key services on the main train operators that will run on strike days, going clockwise from Kent around Great Britain. Assume that trains will run only 7.30am-6.30pm unless otherwise stated and check before travelling.

Southeastern

Some routes will operate to/from London between 7am and 6pm: the High Speed 1 line from London to Ashford and suburban trains to Dartford (via both Bexleyheath and Sidcup) and Sevenoaks.

Southern

Trains every half-hour from both London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton via Gatwick Airport, with a shuttle running between Brighton and Hove.

Some south London suburban trains will run.

South Western Railway

Four trains per hour from London Waterloo to…