National Rail strike: Only travel if your journey is essential on Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink between 21 and 26 June

• RMT members of Network Rail and other train operators are striking 21, 23 and 25 June
• Very few trains every day throughout 21-26 June inclusive – crowding expected
• No service at all on many lines on strike days, with late starts and early finishes throughout
• Those who attempt to travel should check first and last trains for their specific station

Passengers should only travel if absolutely necessary on Gatwick Express, Southern, Great Northern and Thameslink during next week’s strike by RMT members of Network Rail and other train operators.

Operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) warns there will be very few trains every day from the start of the industrial action, on 21 June, until Sunday 26 June inclusive with crowding expected, particularly on last trains and possible delays.

There will be no service at all on many lines on strike days (21, 23 and 25 June) (see map) and there will be late starts and early finishes – as early as late afternoon – throughout the period. Gatwick Express will not run on strike days. See notes to editors for more details.

GTR has been in touch with schools, colleges and hospitals to notify them of the impact of the RMT strike action.

Although RMT members at GTR voted only for action short of a strike, the operator depends on Network Rail signallers and engineers to keep its trains moving, and its services connect with many lines and stations managed by other operators whose staff are taking action.

Angie Doll, Chief Operating Officer, Govia Thameslink Railway, said: 

“We’re sorry to say that people should only travel by rail between 21 and 26 June if absolutely necessary due to strike action by RMT members at Network Rail and other train companies. Unfortunately, there will be very few train services and some routes will be closed altogether on strike days.

“Services will start much later than normal and finish early. All this may lead to very busy trains and possible delays. Passengers should plan ahead and think about travelling at another time.

“Strikes are terrible for passengers, especially as the country is starting to recover from the pandemic and return to rail. We urge the RMT to work with Network Rail and train operators to find a swift solution.”

Network Rail Route Director Mark Killick said:

“We’re so sorry for the disruption next week and we know how difficult this will be for our customers so soon after the pandemic. We’ve trained 250 staff so we can keep some of the busiest lines open, focusing our resources on the routes that can keep the largest numbers of customers and freight moving and serving vital locations such as hospitals. That said, we will not compromise on safety and the strike does mean that large parts of the network will be closed.

“We are continuing to work with unions to find a solution and will keep doing so. But we also have to be honest and accept that we have to change the way we work, to reflect the changes in society and travel patterns post pandemic. Again, I’d like to apologise to everyone who find their journeys disrupted next week and urge our customers to check before they travel.”

ends

Notes to editors

There will be a skeleton service of around 25% of normal on strike days (21, 23 and 25 June) with many lines closed altogether (see map). There will also be a greatly reduced service based on an amended Sunday timetable (about 60% of weekdays) each day following a strike - 22, 24 and 26 June - due to the impact of the previous day. Crowding and delays are expected throughout.

As this industrial action is affecting the whole country, we will be unable to provide alternatives such as replacement buses and ticket acceptance with other local rail and bus operators.

Trains will start later and finish earlier – leaving and returning to depots 0715-1845 on strike days and 0715-c2300 each day after a strike. First and last train times will vary considerably along each route – for example the last train to Brighton will be late afternoon from London; if attempting to travel, then check timetables this weekend.

Train times for 21-26 June will be available online from Friday and Saturday 17 & 18 June. Visit www.gatwickexpress.com, www.greatnorthernrail.com, www.southernrailway.com and www.thameslinkrailway.com where there will also be details about refunds available.

The following information will be posted on our websites (see above) later this afternoon.

Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 June

Many stations and routes will be closed. Trains will only be able to run during limited hours from around 7.15am and will finish in the late afternoon. There will be no alternative travel options after the last trains. This means, if you do have to travel, you should carefully check the first and last train for your station. Expect these trains to be very busy.

Please be aware that Transport for London are also expecting Tube strikes on Tuesday 21 June.

We anticipate National Rail journey planners for these days will be updated on Friday 17 June.

Southern and Thameslink

Services between London Bridge / London Victoria and the south coast

London Victoria and Brighton

Two trains per hour will run between London Victoria and Brighton, calling at London Victoria, Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath and Brighton only.

London Bridge and Brighton

Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Brighton, calling at London Bridge, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Balcombe, Hayward’s Heath, Wivelsfield, Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Preston Park and Brighton only.

London Bridge and Gatwick Airport

Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport, calling at London Bridge, Norwood Junction, East Croydon, Purley, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley and Gatwick Airport only.

London Bridge and Three Bridges

Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Three Bridges, calling at London Bridge, Norwood Junction, East Croydon, Coulsdon South, Merstham, Redhill, Horley, Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges only.

Brighton and Hove

Two trains per hour will run between Brighton and Hove only.

Services between London Bridge / London Victoria and South London

London Victoria and Sutton

Two trains per hour will run between London Victoria and Epsom, calling at London Victoria, Clapham Junction, Balham, Mitcham Eastfields, Mitcham Junction, Hackbridge, Carshalton, and Sutton only.

London Victoria and Epsom Downs via Selhurst

Two trains per hour will run between London Victoria and Epsom Downs, calling at London Victoria, Battersea Park, Clapham Junction, Wandsworth Common, Balham, Streatham Common, Norbury, Thornton Heath, Selhurst, West Croydon, Waddon, Wallington, Carshalton Beeches, Sutton, Belmont, Banstead and Epsom Downs only.

London Victoria and West Croydon via Crystal Palace

Two trains per hour will run between London Victoria and West Croydon, calling at London Victoria, Battersea Park, Clapham Junction, Balham, Streatham Hill, West Norwood, Gipsy Hill, Crystal Palace, Norwood Junction and West Croydon only.

London Bridge and Tattenham Corner

Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Tattenham Corner, calling at London Bridge, East Croydon, South Croydon, Purley Oaks, Purley, Reedham, Coulsdon Town, Woodmansterne, Chipstead, Kingswood, Tadworth and Tattenham Corner only.

Thameslink and Great Northern

Services between St Pancras International and Bedford

St Pancras International and Bedford

Two trains per hour will run between St Pancras International and Bedford, calling at St Pancras International, West Hampstead Thameslink, St Albans City, Harpenden, Luton Airport Parkway, Luton, Leagrave, Harlington, Flitwick and Bedford only.

St Pancras International and Luton

Two trains per hour will run between St Pancras International and Luton, calling at St Pancras International, Kentish Town, West Hampstead Thameslink, Cricklewood, Hendon, Mill Hill Broadway, Elstree & Borehamwood, Radlett, St Albans City, Harpenden, Luton Airport Parkway, Luton.

Services between King’s Cross and Peterborough / Cambridge / Ely

King’s Cross and Ely

One train per hour will run between King’s Cross and Ely, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Potters Bar, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn North, Knebworth, Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Baldock, Ashwell & Morden, Royston, Meldreth, Shepreth, Foxton, Cambridge, Cambridge North, Waterbeach, Ely only.

Cambridge and Ely

In addition to the above, one train per hour will run between Cambridge and Ely, calling at Cambridge, Cambridge North, Waterbeach and Ely only.

King’s Cross and Cambridge

One train per hour will run between King’s Cross and Cambridge, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Baldock, Ashwell & Morden, Royston and Cambridge only.

King’s Cross and Peterborough

Two trains per hour will run between King’s Cross and Peterborough, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Stevenage, Hitchin, Arlesey, Biggleswade, Sandy, St Neots, Huntingdon and Peterborough only.

King’s Cross and Welwyn Garden City

Two trains per hour will run between King’s Cross and Welwyn Garden City, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Harringay, Hornsey, Alexandra Palace, New Southgate, Oakleigh Park, New Barnet, Hadley Wood, Potters Bar, Brookmans Park, Welham Green, Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City only.

King’s Cross and Stevenage via Hertford North

Two trains per hour will run between King’s Cross and Stevenage, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Harringay, Hornsey, Alexandra Palace, Bowes Park, Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill, Grange Park, Enfield Chase, Gordon Hill, Crews Hill, Cuffley, Bayford, Hertford North, Watton-at-Stone and Stevenage only.

Wednesday 22 and Friday 24 June

Services will also be severely disrupted and we will run an amended Sunday service, no trains will start running before 0715 and this means the first train may reach your station much later than this. This will allow us to run a more reliable and consistent service throughout the day.

We anticipate journey planners for these days will be updated on Saturday 18 June.

Sunday 26 June

No trains will run before 0715, however after that our regular Sunday service will run. These changes will be available in Journey Planners on Saturday 25 June.

Check again before any necessary journeys prior to travelling as there may also be changes on the day to the planned service. Ensure you have checked when your last train departs as there will be no alternatives once services end.