Travel update
The Aslef union has announced strike action that will affect GWR and CrossCountry rail services on Thursday 7 December.
In addition, there could be further disruption from Friday 1 to Saturday 9 December, due to industrial action short of a strike which is likely to cause some short-notice alterations and cancellations, especially at weekends or late at night.
A rolling programme of strike action by the union affecting other rail operators is also due to take place between these dates.
If you are travelling during this period, you should check both outward and return journeys before travelling.
On Sunday 3 December there will be significant disruption to services and customers should travel on alternative days.
On Thursday 7 December, a reduced, revised timetable will operate across several train operators, including GWR. Many parts of the GWR network will have no service at all and trains that are running will only be operating for a limited period during the day.
On the days after strikes, services could also be affected by a limited number of short-notice cancellations and alterations.
Online journey planners are being updated and details are published below.
If you intend to travel where trains are running, please check before you travel. Trains that are operating will be busier than usual because we will not be able to offer the normal service frequency. Other train operators are also affected by this action, so onward travel could also be affected.
Where we are able to run services, they are expected to be extremely busy and we are not able to provide bus replacement services.
Customers who purchased tickets but do not travel can claim a full refund or amend their ticket. Those who travel and are delayed may be entitled to Delay Repay compensation if they are delayed by 15 minutes or more.
To help customers, tickets for strike days will be valid for travel on alternative days on GWR services, as per below:
- Tickets for Saturday 2 December to Friday 8 December can be used the day before or up to and including Tuesday 12 December
Season-ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme.
Our Refund policy remains in place. If you hold a return ticket, you can claim a refund of your unused full fare, even if only one leg of your journey is affected.
Travel advice
The following travel advice is in place:
Friday 1 December – Action short of a strike
A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there will be some short-notice alterations and cancellations.
The Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled.
Saturday 2 December – Action short of a strike
A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there will be some short-notice alterations and cancellations.
Customers travelling towards Bath for the Bath Christmas Market or the crunch Premiership Rugby match between Bath and Exeter Chiefs are warned that services will be extremely busy, and there will be significant queues to board trains home. You are advised to use alternative transport to these events and we would suggest you visit Bath on other days as both Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December will be extremely disrupted by this industrial action.
- Bristol to Filton services cancelled
- Guildford to Gatwick services cancelled (buses replace trains between Reading and Guildford)
Sunday 3 December – Action short of a strike
There will be significant disruption to services and customers are recommended to travel the day before or the following day. Where trains can run, they will be extremely busy.
No trains will operate between London Paddington and Bristol, South Wales and Exeter/Plymouth.
Trains will also start later and finish earlier, and customers are advised to check the time of last trains. Bus replacement services are not able to be operated.
A limited service on Sunday will run only on the following routes between:
- London Paddington towards Didcot and Oxford
- London Paddington and Swindon
- Oxford and Worcestershire
- London branch lines
- Reading and Basingstoke
- Reading and Newbury/Bedwyn
- Westbury and Swindon
- Cheltenham/Gloucester and Swindon
- Cardiff and Portsmouth
- Cardiff and Exeter St Davids via Weston-Super-Mare
- Bristol and Gloucester/Cheltenham/Worcester
- Bristol and Westbury/Weymouth
- Plymouth and Penzance
- Plymouth and Exeter
- Devon and Cornwall branch lines
Customers are advised to travel before the weekend or after Sunday. If you intend to travel where trains are running, please check before you travel as they will be busy and are likely to be disrupted.
Customers travelling from the West towards Bath for the Bath Christmas Market are warned that services will be extremely busy, and there will be significant queues to board trains home. You are advised to use alternative transport to these events and we would suggest you visit Bath on other days as both Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December will be extremely disrupted by this industrial action.
Due to planned engineering work the Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled, and Guildford to Gatwick services are cancelled (buses replace trains between Reading and Guildford).
Customers are advised that South Western Railway services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids will be subject to major disruption and diversions. This is due to industrial action and major engineering work between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction. Services are likely to be extremely busy.
Monday 4 December – Action short of a strike
A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there will be some short-notice alterations or cancellations.
Due to planned engineering work the Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled.
Tuesday 5 December – Action short of a strike
A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there will be some short-notice alterations or cancellations.
Due to planned engineering work the Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled.
Wednesday 6 December – Action short of a strike
A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there will be some short-notice alterations or cancellations.
Due to planned engineering work the Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled.
Thursday 7 December – Strike day
An extremely limited service will operate. There will be a reduced operating window; services will start at 07:00 and must be completed by around 19:00. If you intend to travel where trains are operating, please check both outward and return journeys.
A very limited service will run only on the following routes between:
- London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads
- London and Oxford
- Reading and Basingstoke
- Reading and Redhill (peak time only)
- Reading and Newbury (peak time only)
- Westbury and Swindon (peak time only)
- Cardiff and Bristol Temple Meads
- Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple (peak time only)
- Exeter St Davids and Exmouth (calling at Exeter Central, Digby and Topsham only)
- Plymouth and Gunnislake
- Penzance and St Ives
If you intend to travel on these routes, please check before you travel. Trains that are operating will be busier than usual because we will not be able to offer the normal service frequency.
Due to planned engineering work the Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled.
Friday 8 December – Action short of a strike
A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there will be some short-notice alterations or cancellations.
The Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled.
Saturday 9 December – Action short of a strike
A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there will be some short-notice alterations and cancellations.
If you are travelling towards Bath for the Christmas market, trains will be extremely busy and there will be queues to board trains safely.
- Bristol to Filton services cancelled
Sunday 10 December – Non-strike day
Trains will run as planned with some changes to service start-up and some planned cancellations. Please check before you travel.
The Night Riviera Sleeper service will resume.
Passenger information
| Date | Service | Passenger information published |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 December | Non-strike day Normal level of service; some alterations and planned cancellations. Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled. |
Up to date |
| Saturday 2 December | Non-strike day Normal level of service; some alterations and planned cancellations. |
Up to date |
| Sunday 3 December | Non-strike day Significantly reduced service; alterations and planned cancellations. Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled. |
Up to date |
| Monday 4 December | Non-strike day Normal level of service; some alterations and planned cancellations. Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled. |
Tuesday 28 November |
| Tuesday 5 December | Non-strike day Normal level of service; some alterations and planned cancellations. Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled. |
Tuesday 28 November |
| Wednesday 6 December | Non-strike day Normal level of service; some alterations and planned cancellations. Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled. |
Tuesday 28 November |
| Thursday 7 December | Strike day Extremely limited service between 07:00 and 19:00. Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled. |
Thursday 30 November |
| Friday 8 December | Non-strike day Normal level of service; some alterations and planned cancellations. Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled. |
Tuesday 28 November |
| Saturday 9 December | Non-strike day Normal level of service; some alterations and planned cancellations. |
Friday 1 December |
We will update this page with more information if the current situation changes.
Unions taking action
Friday 1 to Saturday 9 December
- Action short of a strike: Aslef at train operating companies
Thursday 7 December
- Strike action: Aslef at GWR and CrossCountry
Other train operators strike days
Saturday 2 December
- East Midlands Railway (EMR)
- London North Eastern Railway (LNER)
Sunday 3 December
- Avanti West Coast
- Chiltern Railways
- Great Northern Thameslink
- West Midlands Trains
Tuesday 5 December
- c2c
- Greater Anglia
Wednesday 6 December
- Southeastern
- Southern Rail / Gatwick Express
- South Western Railway (SWR)
Friday 8 December
- Northern
- TransPennine Express