Strike action called by the ASLEF union will severely affect Southeastern train services next Tuesday, 7 May with very few train services in operation.

On that day, there will be very few services as most routes and stations will be closed and there will be no rail-replacement bus services. The few services that do operate will be limited to the following lines:

• Dartford to London via Bexleyheath
• Dartford to London via Sidcup
• Highspeed between Ashford International and London St Pancras International
• Orpington to Charing Cross

There will be no Southeastern services on any other lines.

Services that do run are expected to be very busy, will start later and finish much earlier than normal, and there may be queues outside stations.

Other train operators will also be affected by the industrial action, meaning that travel into and around London will be difficult on services operated by c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern/Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway and the Island line.

Anyone intending to travel should only do so if absolutely necessary.

Online journey planners have been updated to reflect Tuesday’s strike action.

Outside the strike day of 7 May, ASLEF has also announced an overtime ban from Monday, 6 to Saturday, 11 May. However, Southeastern expects to operate a normal service during this time.

On Wednesday, 8 May strike action will affect services operated by Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midland Trains.

On Thursday, 9 May strikes will affect services by LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express trains.

Further information about the effects of the strikes, travel guidance, and how to obtain refunds and compensation on Southeastern is available online at Southeasternrailway.co.uk/strike-action.

We are only able to run a very limited service due to the ASLEF strike on 7 May and our advice is to only travel if absolutely necessary.

Trains that are able to run may be very busy and there could be queues at some stations. Services will start later in the morning and finish in the early evening.

There is also strike action across other operators so please check your entire journey if you have to travel.

We re really sorry for any inconvenience this causes but we will run a full service on all other days.

Scott Brightwell, Southeastern’s Operations and Safety Director