Travel update
The Aslef union has announced strike action that will affect rail services on Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June, and the RMT has announced strike action that will affect services on Friday 2 June.
In addition, there will be further disruption on Thursday 1 June due to industrial action short of a strike; this action short of strike is likely to cause some short-notice alterations or cancellations. Please check your journey before setting out.
On the strike days a reduced, revised timetable will operate across several train operators, including GWR. Many parts of the GWR network will have no service at all. Services will start later and only operate for a limited period during the day.
During action short of a strike and 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 as per the passenger information table below.
Chiltern Railways is expecting services to be significantly busier on all routes on Saturday 27 May due to a sporting event at Wembley Stadium and the closure of the Nuneham Viaduct. Please allow extra time to travel and check your full journey ahead of time.
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 have already purchased tickets for strike days 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 will be valid for travel on alternative days on GWR services as follows:
- Tickets for Wednesday 31 May can be used on the day before the date on the ticket or up to and including Monday 5 June
- Tickets for Friday 2 June can be used on the day before the date on the ticket or up to and including Tuesday 6 June
- Tickets for Saturday 3 June can be used on Thursday 1 June or up to and including Tuesday 6 June
If the ticket is for a journey that includes the London Underground it will not be valid on London Underground services on an alternative date.
Season-ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme.
Travel advice
The following travel advice is in place:
Tuesday 30 May
Trains will run as planned with some minor changes to late-night services. Please check before you travel.
The Night Riviera Sleeper service will not operate.
Wednesday 31 May – Strike Day
An extremely limited service will operate. There will be a reduced operating window; services will start at 07:30 and must be completed by around 18:30. If you intend to travel where trains are operating, please do check both outward and return journeys.
A very limited service will run only on the following routes between:
- London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads
- Reading and Didcot (with replacement bus services operating between Didcot 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 (two-hourly)
- Exeter and Barnstaple (peak time 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.
The Night Riviera Sleeper service will not operate.
Thursday 1 June
Trains will run as planned with some minor changes to late-night services. Please check before you travel.
The Night Riviera Sleeper service will not operate.
Friday 2 June – Strike Day
An extremely limited service will operate. There will be a reduced operating window; services will start at 07:30 and must be completed by around 18:30. If you intend to travel where trains are operating, please do 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 Paddington and Didcot
- London Paddington and Cardiff
- London Paddington and Plymouth (calling Pewsey, Westbury, Castle Cary)
- Gloucester and Swindon
- London Paddington and Bedwyn
- Greenford and West Ealing
- Slough and Windsor
- Maidenhead and Bourne End
- Twyford and Slough
- Reading and Basingstoke
- Oxford and Banbury
- Reading and Redhill
- Oxford and Didcot (replacement bus service)
- Cardiff and Westbury
- Bristol Temple Meads and Plymouth
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.
The Night Riviera Sleeper service will not operate.
Saturday 3 June – Strike Day
An extremely limited service will operate. There will be a reduced operating window; services will start at 07:30 and must be completed by around 18:30. If you intend to travel where trains are operating, please do check both outward and return journeys.
A very limited service will run only on the following routes between:
- London Paddington and Bristol
- Reading and Didcot (with replacement bus services operating between Didcot 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 (two-hourly)
- Exeter and Barnstaple
- 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.
Sunday 4 June
Trains will run as planned with some minor changes to service start-up. Please check before you travel.
The Night Riviera Sleeper service resumes.
Passenger information
| Date | Service | Passenger information published |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 30 May | Non-strike day Normal level of service; some changes to last trains. Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled. |
Up to date |
| Wednesday 31 May | Strike day Extremely limited service with services starting later and finishing earlier. Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled. |
Up to date |
| Thursday 1 June | Non-strike day Normal level of service; some changes to last trains. Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled. |
Up to date |
| Friday 2 June | Strike day Extremely limited service with services starting later and finishing earlier. Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled. |
Saturday 27 May |
| Saturday 3 June | Strike day Extremely limited service with services starting later and finishing earlier. |
Saturday 27 May |
| Sunday 4 June | Non-strike day Normal level of service; some short-notice changes and cancellations expected Night Riviera Sleeper service resumes |
Saturday 27 May |
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.
We will update this page with more information if the current situation changes.
Unions taking action
Wednesday 31 May
- Strike action: Aslef at train operating companies
Friday 2 June
- Strike action: RMT at train operating companies
Saturday 3 June
- Strike action: Aslef at train operating companies