In the UK the reality is that it is almost impossible to keep up to date. Sometimes the gun has been jumped on this forum by announcing a threat of a strike, which is then promptly withdrawn.
The problem with a forum is that you can write down facts, only to be contradicted by someone else. The feeling sometimes is that time and goodwill is being squandered by pedants.
Your airline will keep you abreast of changes which really affect you. But the industrial action at the airports has so far had minimal impact.
With 14 (or 16, or however many) train companies to cope with it simply isn't possible to list details for all, when they are announcing timetables at between 4 days and 12 hours out (South West Trains, you are the 12 hour culprit).
The only sensible advice, once broad notice is given on this forum, is to then monitor each train company website, and be patient and flexible. You, as a visitor, are not their top priority. It simply isn't possible for them to give as much notice as you would like.
It looks increasingly likely that next week's overtime ban will have very limited effect, and when it does that will be on an hour by hour basis, not by published timetables. That may not be "acceptable" to some people but is the reality of the situation. If services were meant to run by 10pm the previous night then a rail company will get you to your destination by the end of the day by whatever means necessary, or as a totally last resort put you up in a hotel.
If all services were cancelled by 10pm the previous night it is your problem, legally. In that case this forum will always endeavour to assist you, but you have to be prepared to work with us. Saying "I don't travel by bus" or "I don't like multiple changes" or similar will not win you friends. Those may be your only option.
The upcoming strikes in late July are RMT strikes, so are the least disruptive (than ASLEF strikes).
Yesterday, as an example, I checked at 2.45 pm that a train was running at 4.15pm. By the time I got off my connecting train at 3.45 pm it was terminating short of my destination as a conductor had suddenly vanished part way through shift. At that stage I knew more than the train crew as to what was happening. I had just under an hours wait, no big deal, I will get a free ticket to anywhere I choose out of it.
