GWR’s warning to Bath Christmas market visitors as train strikes continue
Festive travellers hoping to visit Bath’s Christmas market have been warned to expect disruption on train services this weekend and on two days next week, due to industrial action. Great Western Railway has said trains are expected to be very busy over the weekend, with short notice alterations or cancellations across the network.
Though the dispute with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has now been resolved, members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef) are still taking industrial action. This will likely cause major disruptions along several routes in and out of the South West, the operator says.
GWR says there will be no train services running at all in many parts of the network on Sunday (December 2) and it will be operating a severely reduced schedule instead. No long distance services will run, affecting trains between London and the West Country.
A special warning has been given to anyone hoping to travel to Bath’s Christmas market or the rugby this weekend. Passengers heading towards the city should use alternative forms of transport, GWR said. Tickets for the weekend are valid on GWR services until December 12.
Passengers are encouraged to check that their outwards and inbound journeys before heading out. Customers are advised not to travel tomorrow (Sunday, December 3), which is expected to see “significant” disruption.
A GWR spokesperson said: “On Sunday, December 3 there will be significant disruption to services and customers should travel on alternative days.
“On Thursday, December 7, a reduced, revised timetable will operate across several train operators, including GWR. Many parts of the GWR network will have no service at all and trains that are running will only be operating for a limited period during the day.”
Trains which do run on affected days are expected to be extremely busy and there will be no bus replacement services. People who have purchased a ticket but do not travel can claim a full refund or amend their day of travel if the wish. Tickets for strike days will be valid for travel on alternative days on GWR services:
- Tickets for Saturday 2 December to Friday 8 December can be used the day before or up to and including Tuesday 12 December
Great Western Railway travel advice
Sunday December 3 – Action short of a strike
Significant disruption is expected and customers are advised to change their travel day. Trains which do run are expected to be very busy.
No trains will operate between London Paddington and Bristol, South Wales and Exeter/Plymouth. Trains will also start later and finish earlier, and customers are advised to check the time of last trains. Bus replacement services are not able to be operated. A limited service on Sunday will run only on the following routes between:
- London Paddington towards Didcot and Oxford
- London Paddington and Swindon
- Oxford and Worcestershire
- London branch lines
- Reading and Basingstoke
- Reading and Newbury/Bedwyn
- Westbury and Swindon
- Cheltenham/Gloucester and Swindon
- Cardiff and Portsmouth
- Cardiff and Exeter St Davids via Weston-Super-Mare
- Bristol and Gloucester/Cheltenham/Worcester
- Bristol and Westbury/Weymouth
- Plymouth and Penzance
- Plymouth and Exeter
- Devon and Cornwall branch lines
Customers are advised to travel before the weekend or after Sunday. If you intend to travel where trains are running, please check before you travel as they will be busy and are likely to be disrupted.
‘Extremely busy’ trains expected
Customers travelling from the West towards Bath for the Bath Christmas Market are warned that services will be extremely busy, and there will be significant queues to board trains home. Passengers are advised to use alternative transport to these events and GWR “suggests you visit Bath on other days as both Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December will be extremely disrupted by this industrial action”.
Due to planned engineering work the Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled, and Guildford to Gatwick services are cancelled (buses replace trains between Reading and Guildford).
On Sunday 3 December, South Western Railway (SWR) services on the West of England Line will start and terminate at Yeovil Junction. Stations between Yeovil Junction and Exeter St David’s will not be served by SWR and rail replacement buses will not operate. For more information please visit southwesternrailway.com/strike[1].
Monday December 4 – Action short of a strike
A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there will be some short-notice alterations or cancellations.
Due to planned engineering work the Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled.
Tuesday 5 December – Action short of a strike
A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there will be some short-notice alterations or cancellations.
Due to planned engineering work the Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled.
Wednesday December 6 – Action short of a strike
A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there will be some short-notice alterations or cancellations.
Due to planned engineering work the Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled.
Thursday December 7 – Strike day
An extremely limited service will operate. There will be a reduced operating window; services will start at 07:00 and must be completed by around 19:00. If you intend to travel where trains are operating, please 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 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 Temple Meads
- Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple (peak time only)
- Exeter St Davids and Exmouth (calling at Exeter Central, Digby and Topsham only)
- Plymouth and Gunnislake
- Penzance and St Ives
If you intend to travel on these routes, check before you travel. Trains that are operating will be busier than usual because GWR will not be able to offer the normal service frequency.
Trains will not stop at Bath Spa on Thursday, December 7. Customers travelling for the Bath Christmas Market will need to use alternative transport.
Due to planned engineering work the Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled.
Friday December 8 – Action short of a strike
A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there will be some short-notice alterations or cancellations.
The Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled.
Saturday December 9 – Action short of a strike
A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there will be some short-notice alterations and cancellations.
If you are travelling towards Bath for the Christmas market, trains will be extremely busy and there will be queues to board trains safely.
- Bristol to Filton services cancelled
Sunday 10 December – Non-strike day
Trains will run as planned with some changes to service start-up and some planned cancellations. Please check before you travel.
The Night Riviera Sleeper service will resume.
References
- ^ southwesternrailway.com/strike (www.southwesternrailway.com)