Train passengers are facing more disruption today as workers strike in a long-running dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.
Thousands of members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are walking out for the day, leading to a widespread cancellation of services. The union has been embroiled in the dispute for over a year, with no sign of a breakthrough, while controversial plans to close most ticket offices have worsened the dispute.
There were picket lines outside railway stations across England early this morning. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the decision to close ticket offices will only save about £89 million - a "tiny fraction" of the £1 billion he claims has been spent by the Government to "artificially keep the dispute going and prevent a settlement".
He said: "The public is being ripped off not only to financially underwrite this dispute that could have been settled 18 months ago, but also to fund the closure of ticket offices which they rely on. Closing 1,000 ticket offices will only save a small fraction of the money spent on rail company indemnity, to prolong the strike and the handsome profits they have made.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch speaking at a rally on July 13 (PA)"Ticket office closures are not popular with the public and we have seen mass opposition across the country. Not only are ticket office closures being used as a fig leaf for the wholesale de-staffing of stations, but this is the thin end of the wedge for getting rid of staff across the railway network, something our union will oppose vigorously.
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"The elderly, vulnerable and disabled will no longer want to and in some cases be unable to use the railway because trained and friendly staff are waiting to assist them. Our union remains wholly committed to reaching a negotiated settlement on pay, jobs, security and conditions.
"But our members remain steadfast in their industrial action and will not be cowed into submission by anyone." Passengers were advised to check their travel arrangements as the strike will see wide variations in services across the country, with trains starting later and finishing much earlier than usual.
In some areas only about half of train services will run, while others will have no services at all. A Rail Delivery Group spokesman said the strike would disrupt the plans of families during the summer holidays.
"This will lead to disappointment, frustration, and financial strain for tens of thousands of people. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and understand the impact on individuals and businesses. Our advice is to check before you travel."
Which train lines are going to be affected today?
Avanti West Coast
Avanti West Coast says it will be running a significantly reduced service, and is strongly advising passengers to check their journey before they travel.
Customers who booked to travel before the strikes were announced (22 June) will be able to claim a full, fee-free refund. Alternatively, those with pre-booked tickets can use these on different travel dates.
North Wales, Shrewsbury, Blackpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield and Edinburgh have no Avanti West Coast services. Four trains will run per hour to and from London Euston, one to each of Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Preston (again, with a limited service extending to Glasgow).
These trains will operate during limited hours, with the first train of the day departing Euston after 7am and the last train of the day from Euston departing shortly after 5pm.
C2C
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C2C says services will not be greatly impacted by the industrial action today. All services will run to/from Fenchurch Street station and will not stop at Liverpool Street or Stratford.
First and last trains will be unaffected, however passengers are still advised to check before they travel. Trains may be busier as people travel from affected areas. Cross-industry ticket acceptance and temporary removal of certain ticket restrictions may be made available to anyone whose service is affected by disruption.
If you purchased an Off-Peak or Anytime ticket and choose not to travel because your service has been cancelled, delayed or rescheduled, you may be entitled to a fee-free refund or change.
CrossCountry
CrossCountry says there will be reduced or amended services in operation, and advises passengers to check their entire journey before travelling.
There will be no service between Birmingham New Street and Cardiff Central, as well as Birmingham New Street and Nottingham. Some trains serving Edinburgh are also expected to be busier than usual.
If your train is cancelled, then you are entitled to a full refund. You are also entitled to a fee-free refund or change of journey, should you choose not to travel. Advance ticket sales have been temporarily suspended until the timetable for strike days has been finalised.
East Midlands Railway
East Midlands Railway says it is running a significantly reduced timetable, with services only operating between 7.30am and 6.30pm. Passengers are advised only to travel if absolutely necessary and, if you do travel, to expect severe disruption.
Services will start later and finish earlier than usual with the last departures starting between 1500 and 1630. Customers are urged to check the time of the first and last return train before travelling.
Tickets can be used on the day before or up to and including Tuesday, August 1. Those with an unused return ticket who cannot make their outward journey because of the strike are entitled to a refund on both tickets, even if the return journey is not affected by a strike.
Greater Anglia
Greater Anglia advises passengers to check their journey online before purchasing a ticket. Services will start from 7am onwards with all last trains reaching their destination by 11pm.
There will be no service on these routes: Colchester to Walton-on-the-Naze via Colchester Town; Manningtree to Harwich Town; Ipswich to Felixstowe; Hertford East to London Liverpool Street; Bishop’s Stortford to Stratford and Meridian Water to Stratford.
Most routes will have a normal or near normal service during the hours that trains are running, while some will have a reduced service, and a small number of routes will have no service at all. Short-notice cancellations may also occur.
You can get a full refund on unused daily tickets. This applies when you decide not to travel after booking because your intended service is cancelled, delayed, rescheduled or if your seat reservation is not honoured.
Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway says an extremely limited service will operate, and advises passengers on routes which are operating to check both outward and return journeys. There will be a reduced operating window with services starting at 7am and finishing by around 6.30pm.
A very limited service will run only on the following routes: London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads; London Paddington and Didcot (with replacement bus transport to Oxford); London Paddington and Cardiff; London Paddington and Plymouth (calling Pewsey/Westbury/Castle Cary); Cheltenham Spa/Gloucester and Swindon; London Paddington and Newbury; London Paddington and Reading/Didcot Parkway; West Ealing and Greenford; Slough and Windsor; Maidenhead and Bourne End; Twyford and Henley-on-Thames; Reading and Basingstoke; Reading and Redhill; Cardiff Central and Westbury and Bristol and Plymouth.
You will be able to get a full refund on your ticket if you do not travel. Those with a return ticket can claim a refund of their unused full fare, even if only one leg of their journey is affected.
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR)
GTR runs the Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services. It says journeys are set to be affected, and an amended timetable with fewer services will be in place. Passengers have been advised to check their journey on the National Rail website.
Chris Fowler, GTR's head of network operations, said: "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."
London North Eastern Railway (LNER)
LNER says it is running a reduced service, and advises passengers to check their journey before travelling. Trains for today are also back on sale, with timetables confirmed.
The train line says that it will contact those with any changes to their booked train, to offer the chance to change their journey for free or a refund. You are entitled to a refund on both tickets if you have not used either your Return or two single tickets, and either of the two journeys is affected by a strike.
If your ticket includes travel on the London Underground then it will only be valid for the day of travel specified on your ticket.
Southeastern
Southeastern says it is running a limited service today and some routes are closed. If passengers are travelling, then they are advised to expect some disruption, plan ahead and check their entire journey.
Only 58 out of 180 Southeastern stations will be open. Trains that are running may be busier and are likely to start later and finish earlier.
Passengers may be unable to board trains at stations where a limited service is running, especially on the first few trains in the morning. Queuing systems are in place at some stations to ensure that trains have enough room onboard for customers to join all along the route.
Customers can claim a full refund with no admin fee for an unused ticket (other than a season ticket), if they decide not to travel because the train they intended to use is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled after purchasing.
Transpennine Express (TPE)
Transpennine Express says it is running a limited service and expects "significant disruption", advising passengers to only travel if essential.
It is planning to operate services on the following routes: Manchester Piccadilly to Scarborough; Preston to Manchester Airport and Sheffield to Cleethorpes. Services will start later and end much earlier, so the train line says it's important to check the times of its first and last journeys.
Customers should also allow extra time for journeys as any services that are operating will be extremely busy. If you choose not to use your ticket due you will be entitled to a full refund. If you have a return ticket and you cannot travel because one leg of your journey is affected, you can apply for a full refund for both journeys.
West Midlands Railway
West Midlands Railway says it is operating a reduced timetable. It advised passengers to check their first and last trains, as first trains may be later than usual and last trains will be earlier.
A limited service will operate on seven routes in the West Midlands, while there will be three trains per hour to and from London Euston. It says: "We will prioritise the delivery of a very limited service on our mainline routes however, our advice to customers is to only travel if your journey is essential and you have no other means of transport available."
Tickets can be used on the day before or up to and including Tuesday, August 1. This excludes London Underground services.
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