South Western Railway confirms services, ahead of bank holiday strikes
Customers should check before travelling.
Rail bosses are warning travellers across Surrey of disruptions over the Early May Bank Holiday.
South Western Railway (SWR) has confirmed its services during industrial action from Monday 6 to Saturday 11 May.
On Monday 6 May, a revised service will operate across the SWR network due to a ban on overtime working by the ASLEF union.
Engineering work will also take place with line closures in the Aldershot, Reading, Salisbury and Winchester areas leading to further service changes.
On Tuesday 7 May, a significantly reduced service will run on a limited number of lines due to strike action by the ASLEF union.
Large parts of the network will be closed and trains will only run between:
• Basingstoke and Salisbury
• London Waterloo and Basingstoke
• London Waterloo and Feltham via Twickenham
• London Waterloo and Guildford via Woking
• London Waterloo and Woking
From Wednesday 8 to Saturday 11 May, the overtime ban will again mean a revised service across the SWR network.
Engineering work will also take place on Saturday 11, with a line closure between Ascot and Reading and altered train services in the Ash and Havant areas.
A South Western Railway spokesperson said: “We are sorry to announce that, due to a ban on overtime working by the ASLEF union, along with planned engineering work, there will be disruption on the Early May Bank Holiday, Monday 6 May. A revised service will operate across our network so it is important that customers check before they travel.
“Strike action will take place the following day, Tuesday 7 May, and we are asking customers to only travel if their journeys are absolutely necessary. We will run a significantly reduced service with large parts of our network closed, and trains will only run between 7am and 7pm.
“The overtime ban will then continue from Wednesday 8 to Saturday 11 May which will again mean a revised service. Engineering work will take place on Saturday 11 leading to further service changes, so once again, we are encouraging customers to check before travelling.
“We are very sorry for the disruption that this industrial action will cause and are very thankful for our customers' continued patience.”
ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan said: “We're in the longest rail strike in history. We're now in a position where many of our members haven't had a pay rise for half a decade.
“Trains won't run if you don't have a train driver. The only way we can articulate our voice and the voice of our members is to take action. And we hope to resolve this. Quite simply, at this late stage, I believe the only solution is a clean pay deal. We need a clean, cost of living increase in whatever way that comes about.”
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