Train Strikes Again.

Strike dates have been called for 12th May, 31st May and 3rd June. With a rest day and overtime ban on 13th May, 15-20th May and 1st June. The latter may be operator company specific.

Oh no!! I have LNER tickets from york to edinburgh on may 12th. Are there usually bus replacements?

LNER does have a note on their website, but no details yet:

https://www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/industrial-action/

The 16 affected train companies are

• Avanti West Coast

• Chiltern Railways

• CrossCountry

• East Midlands Railway

• Great Western Railway

• Greater Anglia

• GTR Great Northern Thameslink (Includes Gatwick Express, Southern, Great Northern, Thameslink)

• London North Eastern Railway

• Northern Trains

• Southeastern (also includes the Javelin high speed services)

• Southern/Gatwick Express

• South Western Railway

• SWR depot drivers

• SWR Island Line (Isle of Wight)

• TransPennine Express

• West Midands Trains (also includes LNWR = London Northwestern Railway)

so that's pretty much all significant trains in England

3rd June is particularly hard on the WCML. It's cup final day and this year it's a Manchester derby. Any visitors will not want to be travelling to the north west that day whether by train or motorway.

For Carrie- no there are no bus replacements. It is not viable due to the wide nature of the strikes. You can reasonably expect LNER to run a limited train service that day, as they have on every other strike day, which hasn't been Network Rail, such as these days.
That will probably not be confirmed until less than a week beforehand, but there is every likelihood that you will be able to make your journey.
If you want certainty then National Express run 2 coaches- at 1025 and 1155 changing in Leeds. Personally I don't think that is necessary, but it is an option.
The York to Leeds section is a through ticketing arrangement on the 843 Yorkshire Coastliner public bus service.

Hi folks -

In a masterpiece of disastrous forward planning I have managed to book a trip where I fly out of Heathrow on a security staff strike day and attempt to return home from London to Leeds on a rail strike day. Given that we arrive back at Heathrow late-ish on the return I have revised the booking of my Advance tickets to the following day, but given that my original booked train is now unlikely to run, I have requested that the £20.00 admin fee be refunded (although I recognise that I’ve rebooked without waiting to hear from LNER as per their website). I’ll let you know how I get on - my guess is that I’ll be met with a flat refusal, but, you don’t ask, you don’t get!).

UPDATE: LNER are going to refund my £20.00 admin ticket change fee, so, good news! I suspect asking if they will compensate me for my added overnight stay in London will be a bridge too far!

Given that my experience of travelling to Heathrow from home by bus last year because of another rail strike in this long running saga was another disaster (the word ‘unmitigated’ springs to mind, as well as ‘disorganised’ and ‘shambles’ - maybe even ‘omnishambles’, it was that bad) I refuse to put myself and my other half through that again unless I’m dragged kicking and screaming because there’s no other option.

Now to incur further expense I’m going to try find somewhere comfortable to stay an extra overnight in London!

Ian

isn31c, I appreciate the information.

Thanks for the info. on a bus option. A 7-hour bus ride does not appeal to me, so I’m going to rule that option out.

I could see if my York hotel has availability and reserve an extra night there. My Edinburgh hotel is not changeable as I paid for an advance rate not refundable within 30 days of arrival. So, I would pay for a night there that I would not use. With this option I would buy a train ticket now for May 13th.

Another option would be to do nothing and wait to see if any trains will operate on May 12th. I already have a ticket for the 12th. Sounds like there’s a decent chance some would operate. I’m such a planner though, I’m going to hate not knowing until the last minute about a May 12th train. And if I wait, my York hotel could book up.

Should I buy a ticket now for May 13th, just in case? Or I don’t need to because these trains don’t sell out even with possible increased usage due to the strike?

Thanks again!!!

Any ideas how to get to Watford from London on May 12??

Hi Carrie -

I think unless you are prepared to take the financial hit on your hotel in Edinburgh and/or also potentially with LNER because you’re ‘jumping the gun’ (as I did!) you kind of have to wait until they give their considered opinion on what might and might not run. If it’s any consolation (although by no means a guarantee) we had a friend from the US manage to get from Cambridge to Leeds on a strike day last year, so some trains, although much reduced in number, will probably run.

Ian

For ds- London North Western have also managed to offer a pretty reasonable service on their core routes on strike days. So the chances of getting to Watford are good. Presumably this is in connection with Harry Potter. Maybe consider using their inclusive bus from London if they have space.
Also, although you would have to get a local taxi, there is a separate station in Watford on the Metropolitan line of the London Underground named 'Watford'. As a last resort that is an option.

PS- I am also personally affected as I have a very important trip planned on the first on May 13/May 15- two of the overtime ban days.
I am just going to bide my time and see what happens.
I will be deeply frustrated if I don't get to where I want to be. But forewarned, forearmed.

ianandjulie and isn31c, I appreciate the help and advice.

For my own peace of mind, I did just buy a ticket for the morning of the 13th. I’m ok if I’m out the money for the additional train ticket. I like knowing I have a guaranteed seat if I need one. I won’t do anything with hotels until I know for sure if trains will or will not run on the 12th.

The reason I am not freaking out right now, is because I know help is always available here on the forum for situations like this. So, thanks to all who provide help during the strikes. It is very much appreciated. 😊

Hi Carrie -

Here’s a stunt I pulled last year which might be useful. I cancelled some rail tickets that actually weren’t on strike days and completed the reclaim form on the relevant website. When asked for reason I wanted a refund I was tempted to give a full, detailed explanation, but in the end just went with something like “unable to travel due to previous rail strike” and left it at that. Got a quick refund without argument, so if you were able to travel on the May 12, you could (hopefully) get a refund on your May 13 tickets - or vice versa. I did have to send my tickets in as proof I’d actually bought them but otherwise, it was no questions asked.

Ian

We have train tickets from London Kings Cross to York on May 12. My ticket says LNER & CONNECTNS.
I am assuming this one will be a no-go?! Not sure what to do now. Would you recommend that I book another trip for May 13th?
And where can I find the information about the strikes?
Looking at the LNER website the only train that day are very very costly (May12). So will be train tickets be honored from the 12th?
Thanks for any help on this

It is often the case that in the event of strikes that the ticket can be used the day before but best to check with LNER when they have updated info.

Karen- Yes on every other strike tickets for the day of strike have been accepted for several days afterwards, even on operators who have provided a service on strike day. Sorry, we should have told Carrie that as well. They may well be accepted the previous day as well. Drat she's spent money she didn't need to. Sorry for that. I didn't think. You assume people know these details, which of course they don't.
I know it's frustrating and unsettling, but we just have to wait for each company to announce their plans in the days (literally) before the strike.
Before then they have to work out which employees will be in that day, then work out rosters etc. That just takes time. They prefer to publish a definite timetable rather than one which might change again, and then change again on the day. It's as much a nightmare for the train companies as for the passengers.
What's happened is that, temporarily, advance fares are withdrawn until train plans are confirmed, when they will suddenly re-emerge, to minimise disruption. Avanti will withdraw all ticket sales until plans are in place.

Any ideas how to get to Watford from London on May 12??

The third rail all-stops service from Euston, called Overground, painted orange will get you there. Slowly but fairly reliably. You can also connect to the Overground from the Bakerloo Underground line at Harrow & Wealdstone.

I should have asked - where in London?

icn31c and Marco

Thanks this is great information. I think at this time I will notify my hotel in York (since my last cancelation date is tomorrow) that I need to cancel just my first night.
Then I will hold tight for now to see if indeed I cannot get there on the 12th.
I do have the option to either go to York earlier on the 11th (the day we fly into London) or have an extra night in London than originally planned at the start of the trip and get up to York a day later than planned on the 13th. Either way if the 12th is a no go I will have to scramble for a nights lodging, either London or York. (we will also be in London for 4 nights at the end of our trip so anxious to get to York where I have never been).
Question: since they will take my original ticket for a different day d/t strikes, how does that work? Do I show them my original ticket or do I have to re-book?

Thank you

UPDATE

in addition to these strikes RMT has now announced strikes against 14 train companies for the next day, on 13th of May.

I have started a new thread about that at https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/may-13-train-strikes-too

ianandjulie, I appreciate the tip on your stunt. 😊

isn31c, no worries. I bought the additional train ticket knowing I would most likely lose money. I’m completely fine with that.

I did email my York hotel inquiring if I should reserve an extra night now and then cancel if it’s not needed. Waiting for their response.

What is RMT? Will this affect the LNER trains running on May 13th?

The RMT is another of the rail unions, primarily the staff who are not train drivers (that's Aslef).
It's actually the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union, so also covers other transport workers including shipping staff.

Seeking advice whether we should just sit tight with the advance tickets we have already purchased with our Two Together Rail Cards or if we should also make back up arrangements now just to have in place in case needed….

May 11: Windsor to Paddington on Southern, then London KX to York on Grand Central. Safe date, i.e., no strike action?

May 15: York to London KX on Grand Central then London Victoria to Eastbourne on Southern. Grand Central is not on the list of striking companies right? But will our Southern journey be affected by the overtime ban? How else can we get from central London to Eastbourne?

May 19: Eastbourne to London Victoria on Southern. Affected by the overtime ban? Alternative options?

Thanks for any help you can provide or strike monitoring websites you might refer me to.

Nigel
Where can I find the information regarding May 13?
Do you know if it affect LNER from London to York?
Now I am wondering if we should try to get up to York on the 11th before this strike action on the 12th and 13th??
Oy vey!!

@ Karen- You just show them your original ticket. If travelling on LNER it is best and very easy to make a new seat reservation, once the timetable is known, on this page- https://www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/make-a-reservation/. No CC details are know so it should work from anywhere. Otherwise you may end up standing.

@ Accidental Southerner- just sit tight for now. Individual trains will be affected by the overtime ban, but a level of service will be offered. The alternative route to Eastbourne is hourly National Express London to Brighton (takes 3 hours), then local and very regular city bus to Eastbourne (takes a bit over an hour) on Stagecoach or on Brighton and Hove buses.
The various train company websites will give the best and most up to date information.

With strikes now planned for May 12 and May 13, I’m thinking maybe I should leave York on May 11 and get to Edinburgh a day earlier than planned, assuming they have availability.

I’m just not comfortable with waiting to see what trains will operate on May 12 and 13. My York hotel is still refundable, so I can change my reservation there and not lose any money. Of course, though, I would be out money for all the train tickets I’m buying. 😊

Although I’m a bit confused. The Aself union members drive the trains. Are they also members of the RMT union? And that’s why trains are also impacted on may 13? Or is it that the RMT also operate the same trains?

Carrie
I am dealing with the same issue as you, only coming from a different direction. I am thinking we should try to go on the 11th instead even though I will lose a nights lodging cost in London.
I'm confused by it all but it sounds like we can use the tickets we have already purchased and just get a seat reservation for the 11th instead?

Hello, longtime lurker here. I have had tickets booked on LNER for 13 May from Kings Cross to Edinburgh for months. Assuming that Lumo is not also subject to the RMT strike, do I panic and book backup tickets on Lumo for the same date? I'm willing to eat that cost if the LNER train still runs. Any advice would be welcome.

Ugh! Just bought tickets a few days ago for June 3 from London to Salisbury. :(
I might be able to spend an extra day in Salisbury and leave on June 2? Should I wait and see how the strikes go in May before I change anything?

ASLEF are mainly train drivers- it stands for Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen; the RMT are primarily train guards/conductors/train managers- nothing is that simple, but that's a broad brush answer. Two different unions, any one person will belong to either, or to one of several smaller unions in the industry, or maybe none.
So the question for the companies is how many drivers do they have who are not ASLEF members and are willing to work that day?
Likewise for the Guards etc. on the RMT strike days.
I'm not inclined to panic but apart from that the Lumo website shows no trains running that day. From train running data I can see that is not true, so I am wondering if everyone else has panicked first and their trains are now sold out. Or maybe they have removed the trains from sale for some reason.

Everyone will have their own risk threshold, and not be as relaxed as me (I am relaxed but furious).
Anyone who opts not to use booked train tickets should be able to get a refund after the strike days have happened. I know that with Northern there is a very automated process where I just click a button, basically, in my account. I never book on the LNER website, but assume LNER have something similar. They will post a link in due course. Any admin fee will be waived if the reason is a strike. This applies to all ticket types, even Advance Tickets which are not normally refundable. No-one 'should' lose money. I did lose money last year because I jumped the gun, and put in for a refund before the strike day.

isn31c, I appreciate the additional information. That is very helpful.

The LNER website mentions the May 12th strike, but not the May 13th strike. But, they did stop selling tickets for both May 12th and May 13th for York to Edinburgh. The website mentions that they have taken tickets off sale (for May 12, 31, and June 2) while they review the strike impacts.

I guess I’ll wait a day or two to see if the website updates with info. about May 13th. But, I’m assuming it’s similar to what you said for May 12th, that they have to wait until a few days beforehand to see who will be available to work and how many trains they can operate and at what times.

Is there any way to know how many of the train guards/conductors/train managers are not part of the RMT union? From the RMT website it looks like they have 83,000 members.

Karen, good luck with your situation. At least we have advance notice and time to figure out a plan B and C.

My sympathies tend to be with the rail staff who are on strike, not least because they are fighting to stop staffing numbers possibly being slashed to a dangerous level. I think the general public are also generally sympathetic in the most part. However, I do think the unions might risk eroding that sympathy as the strike dates appear to have been carefully targetted to cause maximum disruption to the travelling public. Time will tell but it’s a real pain currently. My greater sympathies go to those caught up in the problems created.

Looking at the LNER website earlier today, it did say that they had taken tickets for the strike days off sale and an announcement would be made in due course - it didn’t indicate when that might be. I assume other rail operators have followed suit.

Ian

@isn31c, I also thank you for the additional information. Not being known for patience, I did go ahead and book backup tickets on Lumo for the same date, so I've at least got a Plan B that doesn't involve an exorbitantly priced and inconveniently scheduled flight from LHR to EDI, which I am desperately trying to avoid. Fingers crossed!

I have to go from London to Manchester on 19 May and Manchester to Dundee on 1 June. Both affected days.

Lots of services on 19 May, I just don't know which ones will be affected. As for 1 Jun, it's already a bad omen with TPE so I'm thinking of flying from Manchester to Aberdeen and then taking Scotrail to Dundee. Scotrail has already settled so they shouldn't be affected. I could always take a bus as well from Aberdeen.

@ Accidental Southerner- just sit tight for now. Individual trains will be affected by the overtime ban, but a level of service will be offered. The alternative route to Eastbourne is hourly National Express London to Brighton (takes 3 hours), then local and very regular city bus to Eastbourne (takes a bit over an hour) on Stagecoach or on Brighton and Hove buses.
The various train company websites will give the best and most up to date information.

isn31c, thank you

advice is the same as always. Find the strike page on the webpage of the train company you want to travel on and follow it frequently.

If you can, register for updates and notifications.

Don't panic.

I won't get drawn into the politics. Just let it be said that the RMT issues are not new and that most of them are fighting for their jobs, with the support of ASL&F members.

These are not simple issues. None of these women and men want to strike - they lose security and wages every time - and they don't like inconveniencing the travelling public. Just like the doctors, nurses. teachers, and so very many other workers on strike.

Nigel -

You’re right of course. I was aware I was straying into the politics of it all slightly, although I try to be as even handed about it as I can. The situation is complex and can’t be solved by any sort of debate on any travel forum, good as this one is, and especially by me! I’ll try, in true ‘Dragnet’ style, to stick to “just the facts”!

Ian

Taking LNER 9:30 to Edinburgh on May 19. Website does not mention overtime ban and tickets are still available for purchase. Is it likely that there will be train service? Returning to London May 20 on Lumo 15:25, overtime ban for Lumo? Tickets still available on website.

There will be service. The last overtime ban (after Christmas, I think it was) was chaotic on the Cumbria Coast Line run by Northern, with services constantly changing throughout each day, but service was provided. Or road replacement when services were cancelled leading to waits of over an hour.
LNER will hopefully be a bit more organised than that, hopefully knowing at the start of each day what services they can run. Their planning is normally spot on so you would hope they would know several days ahead.
It's a case of waiting until much closer to the time, when plans will be published. And to be flexible. LNER will text you or e-mail if plans change. You won't (or shouldn't) turn up at the station and find a missing train.
Lumo are not involved in the current disputes so they should run as normal.

one other detail

part of the issue in previous RMT strikes has been that because Network Rail, who control and maintain the signals and tracks, were in the RMT strikes. That meant that even on lines where train companies who were not on strike could not operate making things worse for the passengers all around.

But - the Network Rail strike has been settled. Network Rail is not an issue in the strikes any more..

If the train company you want to use is not striking it is pretty sure that their trains will run. That is good news.

Avanti have now confirmed that they will be unable to provide any services on the 3 ASLEF strike days but expect to run a basic service on 13 May- the RMT day.

LNER just updated their strike info:

https://www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/Industrial-action/

We will be running a reduced service on all dates. Customers already
booked to travel on these dates will be contacted at least five days
in advance with their travel options.

Edited to add: Revised timetable to be available on Friday, May 5th for May 12th and May 13th.

LNER provisional timetables are now available for strike days May 12th and May 13th

https://www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/Industrial-action/

Carrie
Thx for info. I’m looking at that & trying to make a seat reservation to replace my original trip but it all shows as not available. Have you been able to reserve a seat?

Hi Karen— I was trying the same thing. 😊 I think tomorrow is when they will open tickets back up for next Friday. So, I’m hoping we can make seat reservations then. But keep checking the website as they seem to keep adding updates.

I believe we just use our existing ticket and make the new seat reservation for the different train. I’m hoping seats will be available. Good luck!! I’ll let you know once I’m able to make a new seat reservation.

Karen you can go in the LNER app now and change your ticket for next Friday and pick a new seat. It should show your current journey is cancelled (assuming it was one of the many that was) and give you the option to change your ticket or request a refund. I got one of the last few seats on my new train. Good luck!!!

Everyone else thanks for all the help and info on the strikes. It is greatly appreciated. 😀

Got the seat reservation Carrie! Thanks to you and everyone on this thread. Happy travels!

I'm trying to process the strikes and what it will mean for our upcoming trip. We have train tickets from Gatwick to York on 31 May (Airport to Stevenage Thameslink, Stevenage to York LNER). LNER did send an email saying they would be following up with details if our journey is impacted. But since part of the trip is Thameslink and part is LNER (we bought the ticket on LNER though) I'm not sure the exactly how things may work. Does anyone have any experience with this and the impact? I am open to any suggestions for a reasonable Plan B to get to York that day - we have train tickets on other non-strike days, so it seems this part of our journey is only affected for now.

There are no trains on any operator from Gatwick Airport on 31 May, and no local service north of London on the ECML.
You will need to take National Express into London Victoria, then cross London by whichever means you want, then join a train at KX.
They will be very busy so need to pre-book.
This post from earlier this evening details the restricted LNER service you can expect to run that day-
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/lner-services-on-aslef-strike-days.
Grand Central will be running their normal service to York.
LNER will confirm their timetable to you on or around 24 May, but you can take that as the anticipated service level.

On or about 24 May you will be able to book against the new timetable. But if you want to be more certain you need to book Grand Central ASAP. All trains that do run from KX are likely to be very busy and may not accept unbooked pax.

In due course, after 24 May, you will be able to refund your existing ticket.

Nat Ex will operate 2 coaches that day from Gatwick to York connecting at London Victoria- 1325 arriving at 2205 and 1445 arriving at 2355.
I am simply presenting that as an option, not recommending it or otherwise.

It is probably not possible without a huge cost at this stage, but if you were able to amend your flight to arrive at Manchester or Newcastle that may be beneficial, but with under 4 weeks to go is almost certainly not cost effective.

Thank you so much for the details! We will look into doing as you suggested and taking the Nat Express to Victoria then Kings Cross to York using Grand Central. I'm hopeful we will be able to get a refund since we bought Advance Tickets from LNER.

I booked a Kings Crossing to Edinburgh ticket for the morning of May 31st (a strike day) 2 days ago on LUMO. There were no LNER trains available to book, which was my wake-up call. I'm guessing that LUMO is not operated by the striking unions, so there's no reason to think that LUMO won't be operating on May 31? I expect that it will be a crowded train .

Lumo will definitely run.
They are always all but full trains.
Any operator affected by strikes has closed bookings until a week or as few as 3 or 4 days beforehand, while they sort out their timetables.