…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
The ongoing strike action has significantly affected train services across various operators.
Members of Aslef and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) have announced walkouts on Friday and Saturday.
Each operator has devised its plan to address the strike days, as outlined below.
Avanti West Coast:
Friday: No trains will be operational.
Saturday: A reduced service will be available between 7 am and 7 pm, excluding some services to and from Liverpool due to the Eurovision song contest.
c2c:
Friday: Services will run as per the usual timetable.
Saturday: No major impact is expected, but all services will operate to and from London Fenchurch Street, excluding stops at London Liverpool Street or Stratford.
Caledonian Sleeper:
Friday: Services will run as per the usual timetable.Saturday: The Caledonian Sleeper does not operate on Saturday nights.
Chiltern Railways:
Friday: No trains will be operational.
Saturday: Trains will not run north of Banbury.
The available services will be limited to one train per hour in both directions between London Marylebone and Banbury, Oxford, and Aylesbury via Amersham.
These services will run between approximately 9 am and 9 pm.
CrossCountry:
Friday: No trains will be operational.
Saturday:
Direct services to and from Birmingham New Street and various locations, including Aberdeen, Cambridge, Cardiff, Glasgow, Nottingham, and Stansted Airport, will not be available.
The running services will operate only between 7 am and 7 pm.
Analysis and Commentary:
The strike action has led to widespread disruption in train services, impacting commuters and travelers.
It is evident from the breakdown of operator plans that most operators are experiencing significant service reductions or complete cessation of services on the strike days.
Operators like Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, and CrossCountry will witness a complete halt to their services on both Friday and Saturday.
This will undoubtedly inconvenience passengers relying on these services and may result in the need for alternative travel arrangements.
Other operators, such as c2c, Caledonian Sleeper, and London Northwestern Railway, are relatively less affected by the strike action, with either normal or limited services running during the strike days.
However, passengers should be aware of changes in routes and schedules.
Notably, the Elizabeth line and Grand Central are not directly involved in the industrial dispute with the RMT.
While these operators will continue their services, minor alterations may still occur, causing some inconvenience to passengers.
It is important for travelers to stay informed about the specific plans of their respective operators to minimize disruptions to their journeys.
Alternative transportation options should be considered where necessary, especially for those with time-sensitive travel arrangements.
Conclusion:
The strike action has had a significant impact on train services across various operators.
Passengers should check the operator’s plans for the specific strike days to understand the available services and potential disruptions.
Adequate planning and exploring alternative travel options can help mitigate inconvenience caused by the strike action.