Train strikes

Tue 15 Nov 2022, 20:09

A heads-up for those going into Oxford on Saturday (19th). Although it's still unclear how the strike near Didcot will affect trains north of Oxford, the 17.11 train is the last one timetabled to run; the 18.11 to Oxford means travelling first to Birmingham via Worcester Parkway (3 hrs 12 mins). 

The last direct train back from Oxford to Charlbury on Saturday is shown as 19.45, with some of the earlier trains also probably cancelled or disrupted. 

Trains between Oxford and Oxford Parkway are also affected, with the 18.11 the last one timetabled to run from Oxford to Oxford Parkway.

The problems recur Monday 21st & also early on Tuesday 22nd: https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/check-your-journey

The S3/no 7 bus timetable is here: https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/Oxford_Timetables/S3_current.pdf

See also the news item about the strike. 

Mon 14 Nov 2022, 12:28

Useful article today on how to save on UK train tickets:

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/nov/14/how-to-save-on-uk-rail-fares-railcards-train-tickets

Tue 8 Nov 2022, 07:22

There don’t appear to be any trains running before 9am today either.  It looks suspiciously like a West Coast-style set of service reductions without notice.

Mon 7 Nov 2022, 12:39

If you have booked an Advance Ticket, until 30 November (extended from 30 September), it's possible to change the time and date of your ticket up to 6pm the day before travel, for free. The usual £10 admin fee will be waived, though you'll have to pay for any difference in fares.

Details here: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/advance-tickets.aspx

Trainline might be different, of course, as they have their own charges. But, as discussed in an earlier thread, there are plenty of free alternatives to Trainline. 

Mon 7 Nov 2022, 12:30

You would be accused of breaking the law because you would  be breaking the law if you got on a train without purchasing a ticket (assuming there was a working ticket machine or ticket office where you boarded).

Mon 7 Nov 2022, 11:44

And then if you choose to purchase a ticket whilst on the train, for the reason Birgit said, then you run the chance of a ticket inspector of flashing you his badge and accusing you of breaking the law and trying to travel fraudulently even as you are trying to buy a ticket. 

Mon 7 Nov 2022, 10:18 (last edited on Mon 7 Nov 2022, 10:21)

Ha - yes, quite. And I just asked for a refund via the Trainline app for that particular journey. They charge a £7.50 administration fee and therefore my 'refund' will be £2.50. Services are expected to be disrupted until Wednesday, so nobody pay for any tickets until you are physically on a train. 

Mon 7 Nov 2022, 09:43

Our country's unreliable train service is backed up by a shoddy, inaccurate information service. National Rail were showing trains through Charlbury this morning as "On Time" when if you checked, they had not left Hereford and nor were they going to.

The information screens at stations are just as bad.... last Tuesday a case in point where the 0733 sat broken down at Moreton with the 0805 and 0827 stuck behind it, yet the screens continued to show trains as "on time" when clearly they were not.

Mon 7 Nov 2022, 09:09

09:10 did not run 😡

Mon 7 Nov 2022, 09:08

Realtime Trains says the 9:10 was cancelled but the 10:11 is running. It also says trains to Great Malvern are running albeit slightly late.

Mon 7 Nov 2022, 09:04

I don't think the 9.10 ran at all? Disruption expected until Wednesday, see here GWR's website: https://www.gwr.com/strike. I can't make out if any train has left Charlbury (to Oxford) yet. However, from the 'live trains' feature in the National Rail app, it seems the 8.56 from Great Malvern to London Paddington left on time. 'Live trains' is not particularly reliable though. 

Mon 7 Nov 2022, 08:03

The 09:10 is showing as running

Mon 7 Nov 2022, 06:07 (last edited on Mon 7 Nov 2022, 06:30)

No sign yet of any trains running before 10am (in the Oxford direction at least). 

Sun 6 Nov 2022, 20:34

Looks like many, but not all, services may be reinstated tomorrow:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:CBY/2022-11-07/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

Currently showing the 06.26, 07.11, 08.27 and 10.11 running, but not the 06.11, 07.33, 08.05 or 09.10.

Check before travelling… as the old phrase goes, a train in the platform is worth two on the departure screen.

Fri 4 Nov 2022, 17:56

This from First Group will hopefully appear on the main site soon:

You may have seen the news this afternoon that the RMT union has called off its strike action planned for tomorrow (Sat 5th), Monday 7th and Wednesday 9th November at both Network Rail and train operators, including GWR…

Long post - click to read full text

Fri 4 Nov 2022, 16:09

Latest news is that the RMT strikes have been suspended, but services are still likely to be disrupted on Saturday

Thu 3 Nov 2022, 23:25

We promised to keep you updated ahead of further rail strikes taking place this week.

On Saturday 5th, Monday 7th and Wednesday 9th November, RMT members (signallers) at Network Rail will be on strike. RMT members at GWR (on board & station staff) will also be on strike on 5th and 9th November, as well as UNITE members on 5th November.

On each strike day, there will be no GWR services operating on the majority of our network. Full detail of where we are able to run services is on our dedicated webpage at www.gwr.com/strike, as well as information on when online journey planners will be updated and accurate – timetables for up to and including Sunday 6th November are now accurate.

On the three strike days, there will be no service between Oxford and Worcester/Hereford. There will be a very limited service in place between London Paddington and Oxford, Oxford and Didcot Parkway, and Didcot Parkway and Reading.

Our advice to customers remains not to travel unless absolutely necessary, and to make alternative arrangements. Where services can run they will start much later and finish much earlier than usual.

Services will also be impacted on the days in between and after strike days, with some cancellations, a later service start up than usual and some routes running at a reduced frequency.

If you can share this with your networks that would be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes

Tom & Toby

Thomas Lydon

Public Affairs Manager, Great Western Railway

Toby Elliott

Head of Communications, Network Rail Western

Thu 3 Nov 2022, 21:09

Industrial action will take place on Saturday 5, Monday 7 and Wednesday 9 November. This means services will be severely disrupted from Saturday 5 November up to and including Wednesday 9 November.

Wed 2 Nov 2022, 08:59

I am sure I heard new train strike dates at the end of November on today's (Wed 2 Nov) Radio 4 early news, but haven't been able to find anything on-line, just the strike dates at the start of November. Can anyone enlighten me please?! Thanks very much.