Rail disruption continues into the weekend in Salisbury

Great Western Railway will have significantly reduced services as industrial action from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers will go ahead this Saturday (25 June).

Only 30% of services will be able to operate between 7.30am and 6.30pm on Saturday. The strikes are expected to have a knock-on impact on Sunday, with about 50% of services running with a later start-up.

The fleet will be rebalancing to provide full services again from Monday (27 June).

Trains that can run are expected to be extremely busy and replacement bus services are not able to be provided.

Mark Hopwood, managing director at GWR, said: "We recognise that this week has been difficult for those who need to travel. We’ve been doing our best to provide scheduled services on key routes, which is hopefully making a difference.

“Services are however starting and finishing earlier throughout the strike period with an extremely limited service operating this Saturday between 0730 and 1830.

"On Sunday, no services are running before 0700, and we will also be working hard to re-position our fleet for Monday’s return to normal.”

GWR will operate services on Saturday along the following routes

Great Western Railway routes and stations operating on Saturday 25 June

Online journey checkers are expected to be updated with the latest information, however short-notice cancellations or changes could occur and GWR is urging customers to check before setting off.

Customers who have already purchased tickets can claim a full refund or can amend their ticket; those who travel and are delayed may be entitled to delay repay compensation if they are delayed by 15 mins or more. Season ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme.

'Only travel by rail if absolutely necessary'

South Western Railway will operate a severely reduced service provided only on the routes that Network Rail has made available. Large parts of the network will be shut down completely.

Claire Mann, SWR's managing director, said: “We’re sorry to have to ask our customers to only travel by rail if absolutely necessary until Sunday 26 June as nationwide RMT strikes are causing major disruption on our network every day this week.

“We know that many people have planned to use our trains for leisure travel this weekend, but Saturday’s strike action means we will be running a very limited service."

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