Southern Region: Stakeholder Update

Southern Region: Stakeholder Update

Released On 28th Sep 2022

We are writing to update you on industrial action on the railway and its impacts in the Southern region. As you may be aware, the Trades Unions have given notice that strike action will take place on Saturday 1 (RMT, TSSA, Unite and ASLEF), Wednesday 5 October (ASLEF) and Saturday 8 October (RMT & Unite). We're asking passengers to only travel if absolutely necessary on these dates.

Please be aware of the following changes.

  • On Saturday 1 October there is a national rail strike. This means that there will be a very limited service across the rail network, with no services at all in some places including no South-eastern services. People wishing to travel by train for the London Marathon on 1 and 2 October are advised to follow the advice published on the event's website and note that services will start later than usual on Sunday morning.  
  • On Wednesday 5 October train drivers across 14 train operators will be taking strike action. In the Southern region, there will be no South-eastern services running on the rail network that day and, as neighbouring train companies are affected, Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink services will be impacted. Southwestern Railway drivers are not involved in the planned strike action, but customers should still plan ahead as their connections with other operators might be affected, or not run at all.
  •  On Saturday 8 October, there is a planned strike by the RMT and Unite. There will be a very limited service across the rail network, with no services at all in some places.
  • Special timetables for 1 and 5 October will be published on National Rail Enquiries this week and further information is available on the websites of our train operators, Southwestern Railway, Southern Railway, Thameslink, Gatwick Express, South-eastern. The timetable for 8 October will be published early next week (w/c 3 October) 
  • There is likely to be some disruption in the early morning of the day after each strike with services starting later than normal. Please note that on these days, we expect those first trains towards London to be extremely busy, and where journeys are absolutely necessary, passengers should travel later in the morning if possible.

We know how frustrating this must be and we are very sorry for the disruption the industrial action is causing. Talks with the Unions are continuing, and every effort is being made to agree an alternative to disruptive action.