Reminder: Rail passengers reminded to check before travelling during national industrial action on Saturday 29 July

• Industrial action by RMT union members will impact train services on 29 and 30 July

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is urging customers intending to travel this weekend to plan ahead and check their journeys before setting off, as national industrial action by the RMT union will mean an amended timetable with fewer services on Saturday 29 July, and a late start to services on Sunday 30 July.

Services are likely to be busy. Customers might have to queue and might not be able to board their usual train.

Chris Fowler, Network Operations & Performance Director for Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “We’re really sorry about the impact that this round of industrial action is having on our customers, especially as many will be looking to start their summer holidays. We’re running as many trains as we can, but unfortunately on most routes there will be some times where people will be left without a service. It’s incredibly important that people check their journey before they travel and leave plenty of time, as trains will be much busier, particularly where services are starting later and finishing earlier than usual.”

Impacts to GTR services are listed below. The non-stop Gatwick Express service will not be running on Saturday 29 July, but passengers wishing to travel to or from Gatwick Airport can continue to do so by using Southern and Thameslink trains*.

• Saturday 29 July: An amended timetable with fewer services
  • All customers should plan ahead, check before they set off and expect busy services.
  • There will be no cross-London Thameslink services between London St Pancras and London Bridge.

• Southern and Thameslink services to the south of London
  • From 2100 there will be no trains in or out of Brighton. Some last-service trains on these routes may finish before this time. Passengers are advised to plan to complete any journeys by 1900.
  • The following routes will only be open from 0700 – 1900
  • Oxted – Uckfield
  • Eastbourne – Ore
  • Kent services to/from Rainham and Sevenoaks

• Thameslink and Great Northern routes north of London
  • All services will start much later and finish much earlier than usual

• Sunday 30 July: Late start to services following RMT strike day
• Following a late start-up, the timetable will return to a normal Sunday service.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• Journey planners have been updated with the weekend’s amended timetables.
• On all dates during this period of industrial action, passengers are advised to plan their journeys carefully at nationalrail.co.uk, expect longer waiting times and busier trains.
• After 2100 on Saturday 29 July there will be no trains between Brighton and Haywards Heath, Hove or Lewes.

*The usual non-stop Gatwick Express service between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Brighton will not be running on Saturday 29 July. Gatwick Express trains will be in service operating under the Southern brand and will make additional stops at Clapham Junction and East Croydon. Gatwick Express tickets are valid on Southern and Thameslink at no additional cost.