No GWR train services to run in Cornwall AT ALL during three-day rail strike
More than 40,000 workers are walking out across the country because of a row over pay and redundancies
It has been confirmed that NO train services operated by GWR will run at all in Cornwall across three days of planned rail strikes.
Great Western Railway has announced its planned timetable to operate next week as industrial action by the RMT union at train operators across the industry and Network Rail is expected to severely affect services from 21st to 25th June.
They are warning people to expect severe disruption and to only travel by rail if absolutely necessary.
We're told GWR will operate as many trains as possible during the strike action however, most train services will be affected on the days announced. Due to the timing of the strike action, services in between strike days will also be affected.
On strike days the operator is aiming to provide about 30% of its usual timetabled services, and about 50% on non-strike days.
GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: “We very much welcome the opportunity to continue to talk with the RMT to avert strike action. Any strike will impact on customers’ journeys and can only damage the post-covid recovery everyone at GWR has been working to win back, while at the same time making it more difficult to deliver the changes we need to secure jobs and services for the future.
“I’m hopeful the RMT will step back, however colleagues have been working hard to put contingency plans in place and give certainty to customers who need to travel. The priority will be to keep trains running and customers moving safely, but changes will be needed to allow that to happen and customers may wish to alter their plans.”
Where trains are able to run, they are expected to be extremely busy and replacement bus services are not able to be provided.
On the days of strike action, 21st, 23rd and 25th June, GWR expects to only be able to operate services along the following routes and stations:
On days when strike action is not taking place GWR expects to be able to operate the following reduced, service:
A GWR spokesperson said: "Customers who have already purchased tickets can claim a full refund or can amend their ticket; those who travel and are delayed may be entitled to delay repay compensation if they are delayed by 15 mins or more. Season ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme.
"To help customers, GWR is allowing people with tickets for travel on strike days to be able to travel on the day before and up to two days after.
"Our Refund and Book with Confidence policies will remain in place and we will update this page with more information if the current situation changes."
Meanwhile rail operator Cross Country says it is still finalising details of their reduced services.
It is not yet confirmed how this will affect train services in Cornwall.
A spokesperson said: "Due to industrial action by RMT union we will run a significantly reduced service on Tuesday 21 June, Thursday 23 June and Saturday 25 June.
"Days either side of the industrial action are also expected to be affected.
"We are finalising details of what level of service we will be able to offer over this period and will publish details on our website in due course. Please continue to keep an eye on our website for updates.
"We have suspended Advance tickets for the three strike dates (21, 23 & 25 June), please continue to check our website and other train operator websites for updates.
"If you have a ticket to travel on June 21, June 23 or June 25 this will now be valid for travel up to and including 20 June. Your ticket will only be valid on a like-for-like service, e.g. if you have an off-peak ticket, your ticket will only be valid on an off-peak service.*
"We’re disappointed with this action by the RMT which we believe to be premature, and we are very sorry for the inconvenience it will cause."