Rail Strike - First Great Western 8-10 July

Extracts from FGW Press Release regarding the service they anticipate to be able to run in the event of the strike going ahead. There are some talks taking place on 6 July.

First Great Western has confirmed it expects to run the majority of London Thames Valley services but long distance and local rail services will be significantly reduced, should the planned strike action by RMT members go ahead next week.

We ask holders of Advance Purchase tickets to travel as close to possible to their original booked time. For travel on the days affected Advance Purchase tickets will additionally be valid on the train immediately before or after the booked time. Full refunds will be available for customers who choose not to travel.

Further details including timings are being developed and will be released as soon as confirmed.

Service Overview

London Thames Valley

Services will operate as normal with the following alterations:

• Between Reading and Gatwick: Hourly
• Between Reading and Basingstoke: Hourly
• Services between Maidenhead and Marlow will terminate at Bourne End
• Oxford, Reading, London fast services will be operated by turbo trains

Bristol

• Between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads, extending to Weston-Super-Mare and Taunton during the peak: One train an hour
• Services between Cardiff and Portsmouth will operate between Bristol Parkway and Salisbury: Every two hours
• Between Bristol Temple Meads and Gloucester: Every two hours

South Wales

• Between London Paddington and Cardiff via Bristol Parkway. Services will extend to Swansea only in the peak: One train an hour

South Cotswolds

• Between Cheltenham Spa and London Paddington: One train per morning and evening peak

North Cotswolds

• Between Hereford/Worcester and London Paddington: One train per morning and evening peak

Devon and Cornwall

• Between London Paddington and Plymouth: One train every two hours
• Between Penzance and Plymouth: One train every two hours
• Between Exeter and Exmouth: Every two hours
• Between Exeter and Paignton: Every two hours
• Between Barnstaple and Exeter: One per peak
• Between Plymouth a Gunnislake: One per peak

The Night Riviera sleeper service is cancelled on Wednesday 08 and Thursday 09 July, but will operate on Friday 10 July

Unfortunately we will not be able to operate the following branch line services:

• Between Severn Beach and Bristol Temple Meads
• Between Weymouth and Westbury
• Between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham
• Between Looe and Liskeard
• Between Newquay and Par
• Between Falmouth and Truro
• Between Greenford and Paddington

Looks likely at the moment that this will go ahead. The revised schedule is now in the National Rail journey p!anner.

It appears that the London tube strike is also going ahead tomorrow...