Rail strike: Passengers warned to avoid travel on Thursday and Saturday

Rail passengers are again being advised to only travel if absolutely necessary as a new round of strike action comes into force this week. 

Southern Railway operates throughout South London, where travellers face widespread disruption. Great Northern and Thameslink Services will also be affected. 

RMT members have voted to strike on Thursday and Saturday. It means very few trains will run south of London, with first services not before 7.30am and last trains likely to be as early as 4.30-6.60pm. 

Anyone trying to travel on those two days should check the first and last train times for the specific station they are using and to avoid the first and last services if possible as they are certain to be extremely busy. 

The days after the strikes (Friday 19 and Sunday 21) will have much later start times than normal for first services and an amended timetable. 

On August 18 and 20, only two trains an hour will operate between London Victoria and Brighton, calling at London Victoria, Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport and Brighton only. 

There will also only be two per hour from London Victoria and London Bridge to stations in South London Surrey and the south coast. 

Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “It saddens me that we are again having to ask passengers to stay away from the railway for two days, when we should be helping them enjoy their summers. 

“We’ll run as many services as we can on Thursday and Saturday, but it will only be around a fifth of the usual timetable, so please only travel if absolutely necessary and if you must travel, plan ahead and check when your last train will be.” 

(Picture: Govia Thameslink Railway)