South Western Railway reminds customers of reduced timetable

SOUTH Western Railway (SWR) is reminding customers of industrial action next week, Monday 7 to Saturday 12 August.

A ban on overtime working by the ASLEF union will mean that a reduced timetable, similar to this week’s timetable (Monday 31 July to Saturday 5 August), will operate.

A normal service will operate on Sunday 6 August, however, buses will replace trains between Barnes and Feltham via Hounslow due to engineering work. A small number of train services will also be cancelled due to industrial action the day before. Customers are advised to check before travelling.

A further overtime ban will then begin on Monday 7 August, lasting until Saturday 12 August. Customers are advised to check before travelling, with journey planners through to Friday 11 August now up to date.

Three large events will take place on the SWR network with the Boomtown festival in Winchester (Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 August) and both the England v Wales Summer Series rugby fixture at Twickenham and the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup event at Ascot racecourse (both Saturday 12 August).

Customers heading to these events are advised to travel early with services expected to be very busy. A limited number of additional services will operate following the England v Wales match at Twickenham, however, customers are advised that long queues are expected.

Journey planners for Saturday 12 August will be updated in the coming days and customers are advised to check before travelling.

On the Island Line, one train per hour will run from Monday 7 to Saturday 12 August.

A normal Sunday service will operate on Sunday 13 August, including on the Island Line, however, customers are advised to check before travelling as engineering work will take place and a small number of train services will be cancelled due to industrial action the day before.

Customers returning from the Boomtown festival on Monday 14 Augustare advised that a normal timetable will operate.

Stuart Meek, South Western Railway’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “Customers should check before they travel next week as another overtime ban by the ASLEF union will unfortunately mean another reduced timetable. Customers heading to some of the events on our network should consider travelling earlier if they can as we expect services to be very busy.

“We have worked hard to provide additional services for the England v Wales rugby fixture at Twickenham on Saturday, however, customers should be mindful that a queuing system will be in place at Twickenham station for their return journeys and that we do expect long queues.

“We are sorry for the disruption that our customers continue to face and thank them for their patience.”