Avoid travel on strike days if you can, rail operators for South London advise
South London rail passengers have been warned to only travel if absolutely necessary on the next two Saturdays because of strikes.
The RMT union has announced another round of stoppages, which will affect train operators throughout the country, on October 1 and 8. ASLEF train drivers are also striking this weekend.
There will be no service at all on many lines south of London and across the heart of the capital itself, and trains will start much later and finish earlier.
Services will start much later on Sunday, meaning only those travelling a short distance to the London Marathon will reach the 9.30am start line on time.
Striking signallers at Network Rail will have the greatest impact on the service. Operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) says it will have to focus on providing a service on its busiest mainline routes only.
On Saturday, pre-planned engineering work will also stop trains running between Balham and West Croydon via Crystal Palace.
Overall, there will be very few trains (around 18 per cent), with crowding expected, particularly on first and last trains. This will be made worse by ASLEF train drivers also striking at neighbouring train operators Southeastern.
Trains will not start until 7.30am and will finish early, between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.
The Gatwick Express will not operate, although the airport will be served by a limited timetable of Southern and Thameslink trains.
Sunday services will not start until at around 7.30am. Morning trains are likely to be very busy. Customers are recommended to travel later, plan their journeys and check again before travelling.
On Saturday, Southeastern and Thameslink services will not run at all in the Greenwich area.
Further strike action on Wednesday means services will again be extremely busy and rail users should check which services are operating on the day of travel.
Angie Doll, chief operating officer of GTR, said: “It is with much regret that we have to advise our passengers to travel only if absolutely necessary on Saturdays. October 1 and 8. Strike action means train services across the country will be significantly limited, with many routes not running at all.
“We’re particularly concerned for London Marathon runners, who will have been training for this special event for many months, hoping to raise millions of pounds for charity, and the spectators.”
Picture: Wikimedia Commons/Chakorn1
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