The train Union RMT is striking against 14 train operating companies on two sequential Saturdays, the 26th of August and the 2nd of September, with up to 20,000 workers striking.
Usually some trains run with managers trying to fill the gaps. If you have travel planned on those days you would be wise to check your railway company (ies) strike webpages for plans and details.
These were just released so perhaps give them a couple of days or so to work out their plans.
I'm following these announcements closely. We arrive in London from Ireland on September 6th and have reservations to immediately get on a train so this is getting a little too close for comfort.
With most train companies the plans are well rehearsed by now, so it is pretty predictable which trains will be running where. Usually timetables and bookings are actually released 4 or 5 days before the strike date.
There is another forum member travelling extensively by train in the UK in mid September, for whom I have written two sets of strike plans- 1 for an RMT strike day, the other for an ASLEF strike day, for each of her travel days- sat there ready to swing into action at a moment's notice if required, before alternative modes get booked up.
I don't do that in open forum, as the well crafted, thought through and researched plans are not there for endless debate by other people.
It's worth your while giving a bit of thought about alternative options and looking back at previous strike threads to see what has been happening on your chosen routes, on your travel days.
I am in a bit of a tizzy as I have plans to go from Oxford to Portsmouth on September 2nd. That will be my very first attempt to take a train trip in England. I'm not sure how to find out my alternatives or if there will be an occasional train between the two cities. Can someone experienced in train travel suggest when I should plan to do?
@Georgeanna- On previous RMT strike days there has been an hourly train from Oxford to London Paddington, cross London by tube, then there has been an hourly train from Waterloo to Portsmouth.
But this has all been confirmed very late- from Waterloo especially as late as the previous night.
The easy way to do this journey is to take the very frequent Oxford Tube coach service from Oxford to London Buckingham Palace Road, walk 100 yards up the road then catch the National Express coach from Victoria Coach Station (which runs hourly).
You need to book Nat Ex, and the sooner the better.
For peace of mind about the connection at Victoria you can book this as a through ticketed journey OXF-PTH with Nat Ex.
Also note that there is an 1105 coach which is Oxford to Southampton, change, Southampton to Portsmouth.
Option 3 is Megabus-they run 2 direct coaches (no change) at 1100 and 1500 which take under 3 hours-https://uk.megabus.com/journey-planner/journeys?days=1&concessionCount=0&departureDate=2023-09-02&destinationId=79&inboundOtherDisabilityCount=0&inboundPcaCount=0&inboundWheelchairSeated=0&nusCount=0&originId=71&otherDisabilityCount=0&pcaCount=0&totalPassengers=1&wheelchairSeated=0
Thanks isn31c.
It seems, from reading previous threads, that it doesn't make sense to worry or do anything else until I know that one of my travel days is a strike day. My first train day is 6, September so there should be some information in about 10 days. I have 6 train days over the following 2 weeks.
In the meantime, I have not found any alternative options for getting from Heathrow or Paddington to Moreton in Marsh or nearby. I may not understand how to find bus routes. Is there a UK site similar to Transport for Ireland?
@ katiecem- Traveline is your best option- https://www.traveline.info/
However neither it, or I suspect, Transport Ireland, would be able to reroute you to MiM if there was a strike.
We know that on RMT strike days you would get to Oxford, but no further as the line from Oxford to MiM and on to Worcester etc does not run.
Most folk here would likely say to take a taxi from Oxford.
But to complete the journey by public transport the answer is to get a Great Western train to Cheltenham Spa, local bus to Cheltenham Bus Station, then a Pulhams Bus #801 to MiM.
Or to make it easier- National Express Coach #444 from Heathrow direct to Cheltenham Bus Station at 0950, 1120, 1250 or 1450 (2 hour 10 minute journey- all are bound for Gloucester) then Pulhams bus as above - all the above coaches start back from London Victoria Coach Station 50 minutes earlier.
(this is a destination I have looked at for someone else for a strike day, from MiM to Uckfield, so I already knew the answer)
Thanks again isn31c! You're the best.
I pasted your route plan right into my itinerary, just in case. Thanks for the tip on Traveline.
We have tickets from Waterloo to Southampton on the 26th. From there we have a rental car reservation before driving to Salisbury for the night.
If there is no train running to Southampton then take the hourly National Express coach to Southampton from London Victoria Coach Station. But on previous RMT strike days South Western Trains have run 2 fast trains an hour Waterloo to Southampton. Check for the first strike day (which will be the same service level) on the SWT website around 21 or 22 August.
for folks wondering if they will be affected by dates shortly after these two strike days, remember that the Unions are required by law to give at least 14 days notice of strike action or action short of a strike. If you are within the 14 days and no notice has been given there will not be a strike on your day.
There are not wildcat strikes here.
Thank you isn31c. It sounds like an inexperienced public transport rider like me would be best off on the MegaBus because I can get on it in Oxford and be fine all the way. But here in the States, the MegaBus sometimes has a reputation for being unreliable. Is that true in England?
@ georgeanna- In their early days (20 odd years ago) Megabus had a poor reputation here, largely because they put out on the road anything which had wheels, with predictable results. They would put citybuses on long inter city routes sometimes!
At one stage they even chartered space on normal trains and ran megatrain (not like flixtrain in Europe who run their own dedicated trains).
Now they have tidied up their act and very decent buses and quite unusual cross country routes like this one (which starts in Manchester). All routes are now coach style and with restrooms. Sure breakdowns happen, as in any transit company, but they are swiftly dealt with.
On this and many other services they run double decker coaches normally (most of the seats are upstairs, the restroom is downstairs with a few seats around tables), so you get a view different to on the train or even from driving yourself on the same route.
I use Nat Ex due to getting age related discounts but would not hesitate to use Megabus if it was the right route and time (say on this journey to avoid going via London).
But for you I think it's a great idea to use the Megabus- get on, relax, off at the other end. Zero stress.
On this forum everyone raves about flixbus- personally I have had a couple of bad experiences with them (including one case of driver working hours being clearly broken) so am wary of them. But flixbus are what Megabus used to be- ultra cheap.
isn31c, I am so grateful for your help and your reassurance on the Megabus. I agree that it is the best and most stress-free option for me and after reading your comments I used the link you posted to reserve a seat on the 11 am bus. It has a good location for getting on the bus and it stops in Portsmouth about 2 minutes walk from my hotel. THANK YOU!
Nigel, would this also affect trains in Scotland? We have one train booked from Inverness to Edinburgh on 9/9. I assume the train website the best place to find out as early as possible about impending strikes?
Peggy..if you are with Scotrail, you'll be fine. And anyway, no strike has been called for the 9th.
Only England and cross border trains worked by English companies.
If your train is Scotrail then no issue. If it is LNER then you may have a problem. Which is it?
The only train affected if it was a strike day would be the 0755 LNER train from Inverness to Edinburgh and London, and the 1633 counterpart to Inverness.
Scotrail have settled their dispute.
I am scheduled to travel from London Euston to Birmingham on 02 Sep.
I understand the implications of the strike, and I know that I need to wait until 25 Aug to examine the amended strike timetable for Avanti West Coast.
My friend (who is also named Nigel btw) from Birmingham is willing to come to London to pick me up.
However I am hoping that our rail experts can clarify whether Tube employees are potentially involved? For example, would taking the Tube to Watford Junction to meet my friend partway (so he doesn't have to drive all the way into London to near Vauxhall, and we minimize the extra travel time he would need to spend) be a good (smart?) idea?
(Our plans for the day are to go to Compton Verney to the east of Stratford-upon-Avon.)
thanks!
-bonnie
While the Metropolitan Line does go all the way to Watford it is a journey that will take an age. No the tube are not affected by this strike.
Better to see what Avanti will do, and LNWR. There are also Chiltern trains to the Midlands and GWR to Oxford so see what is happening. I'm sure that Stuart will have a cunning plan.
Where is your friend coming from? Actually in the centre of Brum?
remember that RMT strikes usually still have some trains running
The tube doesn't go to Watford Junction and hasn't for many years now.
The Met station is Watford, which is a different station in the suburbs of Watford.
We'll get you there be it to Banbury, Oxford or Birmingham as all will have train service, but Stratford on Avon won't have train service. The problem would be getting you back due to early finish of service.
One thought is train out to Oxford, then the Oxford Tube bus service back.
But if you want to stick with the tube and the Met line would your friend be willing to meet you at Amersham, at the end of the Met. - M40 to Beaconsfield junction 2, then the A355.
A stretch of the Met few visitors probably get to.
There is a bus every 2 hours to Leamington Spa which we know will have a train service but Amersham feels like the plain, fail safe plan?
by the way, I didn't say that the Metropolitan Line goes to Watford Junction, just that it does go to Watford - and Watford Junction is a lousy place to be picked up from. If you wanted to go to Watford Junction you could take the "Third Rail", the Overground which I believe is unaffected, but there are engineering works coming up.
The problem with getting picked up in Oxford is that the M40 / A34 junction 9 is an 'orrible place, with queues often backing a mile or two onto the M40. Then there is the thrill of the A34. Plus central Oxford requires a permit. Trust me, I used to have to do it at least monthly.
Amersham is ok for a choice; if Avanti are running to Brum I'd meet the friend there. Birmingham International is much more convenient for Stratford upon Avon and rural parts nearby though, and an easier pick up.
No, but the OP did say that the Tube went to Watford Junction. Rectifying what the OP said.
Nigel and isn31c - thank you for the additional info (and clarification).
When I originally wrote 'take the Tube to Watford Junction', I'll admit that I looked only at my downloaded standard-tube-map PDF file from the Tfl website and saw that Watford Junction had the rail symbol. But I didn't think longer as to whether this would still be affected by the rail strike. I just knew that it was reachable (in some fashion) and would save my friend from driving into London.
Our original plans were for me to take the train to Birmingham International rail station (BHI) and my friend Nigel would pick me up and we would drive to Compton Verney for the day. Then he would take me back to BHI and I would stay overnight in a hotel. The next day (Sun 03 Sep) I would take the train to Oxford. So there isn't a return to London on 02 Sep to worry about.
Is 'Brum' a contraction / shorter term for Birmingham?
Amersham sounds like a good alternative -- thanks for suggesting that and the truth about taking the Metropolitan line to Watford. I mostly want a station that is an easy exit for him and a not-too-complicated trip for me (a change or two of Tube lines/stations is ok) so save some travel time for him.
I appreciate the info! At this point, I am mostly looking to accumulate the info to start making a plan B (and a plan C if needed!).
Yes Brum is a shortened or familial term for Birmingham.
Well if there is no return to worry about that's just fine. You can expect the 1st train to leave Euston at around 8am for it's 1 hour 5 minute (normally) journey to Birmingham International so you should be there by 9.30am or very soon thereafter.
Timetables should in theory be out on Tuesday next week (maybe Wednesday).
If you decided on Amersham as well as the Tube Chiltern Railways will take you there from London Marylebone in 35 minutes (even on a strike day)- faster than the tube.
@blm 2023- Note a separate post of a new ASLEF rail strike on 1 September and overtime ban on 2 September, meaning that 2 September will be more disrupted than previously anticipated.-
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/aslef-rail-strike-1-september
Trains will be out of position on Sunday 3 September so the effects may spill over into that day.
Maybe reconsider Birmingham International and revert to Amersham or other Tube station meet up.
@isn31c - thanks for the heads up about the ASLEF strike on Friday 1 September and the trains being out of position following 02 Sep RMT strike action.
I want to back up a step and verify that the strikes will definitely be happening on 01 Sep - 02 Sep. That is, is there any possibility that the labour issues will be settled before then? Or we definitely will have disruptions on those days ?? (Please excuse the naivete of my questions.)
Realistically the strikes are happening. The two sides have not been negotiating for months and no negotiations are planned.
The issue of planned ticket office closures has further muddied the waters. Crew Rosters are written a week in advance so the 26 August strike is now inevitable. Even if a miracle happened tomorrow it would be almost impossible to reinstate services for next Saturday.
There is now 6 days to resolve the issues before the 1/2 September strikes are uncancellable- 6 days when neither side plans to talk to each other.
This post is a bald statement of facts, not in any way to get dragged into the politics of the issue.
LNER have now confirmed their timetable for 26 August, and Avanti expect to do so on 21 August, BUT on that day Avanti will not serve stations in North Wales. Also Shrewsbury, Blackpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Glasgow and Edinburgh will have no Avanti West Coast services, and Oxenholme Lake District, Warrington Bank Quay and Macclesfield stations will be closed.
This can be expected to be so on 2 September as well.
Great Western are only running on these routes on a restricted service-
London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads
London Paddington and Oxford
London Paddington and Cardiff
London Paddington and Plymouth (calling Pewsey/Westbury/Castle Cary)
London Paddington and Newbury
London Paddington and Reading/Didcot Parkway
West Ealing and Greenford
Slough and Windsor
Maidenhead and Bourne End
Twyford and Henley-on-Thames
Reading and Basingstoke
Didcot and Oxford/Banbury
Newbury and Bedwyn
Reading and Redhill
Cardiff Central and Westbury
Bristol and Plymouth
