South Western Railway (SWR) is advising its passengers to check their journey plans before travelling during ASLEF‘s overtime ban in early July and RMT strikes later in the month.

The two unions are in dispute with Train Operating Companies around the country about pay and working conditions.

Train drivers who are members of the ASLEF union will refuse to book on for overtime or to work on their rest days between Monday 3 and Saturday 8 July.

This will have a significant impact on services because train operators rely on drivers working voluntary overtime.

SWR expects that most services will run, but will operate a reduced timetable during the period of the action rather than attempt to run its normal service but cancel trains at short notice.

• Most services will be cut to hourly in off-peak periods.
• Some services will not run during peak periods.
• We may also cancel some first and last trains.

Services will probably be busier than usual throughout the period of the overtime ban.

SWR is advising passengers travelling to the first week of the Wimbledon tennis tournament that train services will be particularly busy and to allow extra time for their journeys.

From this Friday (30 June), SWR will update its journey planners with the amended timetable for the five days from Monday 3 to Friday 7 July.

By the middle of next week, it will update its journey planners with the amended timetable for Saturday 8 June.

In addition, the Isle of Wight’s Island Line will close from Monday 3 to Friday 7 July, as its staff undertake refresher training to prepare for the reopening of the Ryde Pier line on Monday 10 July.

Two rail replacement bus services will run per hour between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin in both directions.

The RMT trade union, whose members work in all railway jobs, has called nationwide strike action for Thursday 20, Saturday 22, and Saturday 29 July.

SWR expects severe disruption to its train services on these dates and is urging passengers to consider changing their travel plans if they can.

SWR will publish more information about any services it might try to run during RMT’s strikes as soon as possible.

ASLEF General secretary Mick Whelan said: “Once again we find ourselves with no alternative but to take this action. We have continually come to the negotiating table in good faith, seeking to resolve the dispute. Sadly, it is clear from the actions of both the train operating companies and the government that they do not want an end to the dispute. Their goals appear to be to continue industrial strife and to do down our industry.

“We don’t want to inconvenience the public. We just want to see our members paid fairly during a cost of living crisis when inflation is running at above 10%, and to not see our terms and conditions taken away.

“It’s time for the government and the companies to think again and look for a resolution.”

Stuart Meek, Chief Operating Officer at South Western Railway, commented: “We’re sorry that customers will again face disruption due to industrial action next week. Anybody planning to travel should please check their whole journey before setting off and be aware that services are likely to be busier than usual.

“Instead of making numerous short-notice amendments and cancellations to our standard timetable, we have decided to provide greater certainty for our customers by creating an amended timetable that we have a high degree of confidence we can reliably and safely deliver each day.”