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Last updated: 09:04

Industrial action

The information on this page is correct as of 17 March and is always subject to change so please check back before you travel.

Industrial action

If you have been affected by industrial action, we’re very sorry for any disruption to your plans. Please see our FAQs that explain what options may still be open to you including:

  • Applying for a refund and
  • For Delay Repay compensation, which you may qualify for even if you did not travel, as well as being able to claim if you travelled and your journey was delayed by 15 minutes or more

You can apply for these up to 28 days after your planned or completed date of travel (see dates below). These options are only available for strike dates, not for days after.

RMT strike days - Check before you travel:

  • Saturday 18 March - See the travel advice below
  • Thursday 30 March - Service availability will be confirmed as soon as possible
  • Saturday 1 April - Service availability will be confirmed as soon as possible

Day after RMT strike day

  • Sunday 19 March - See the travel advice below 
  • Friday 31 March - Service availability will be confirmed as soon as possible
  • Sunday 2 April - Service availability will be confirmed as soon as possible

Previous strike dates which you may still be able to claim a refund or compensation for (see below FAQ sections):

  • 16 March

As Industrial Action is affecting the whole country, we will be unable to provide alternatives such as taxis, additional replacement buses, and ticket acceptance with other local rail and bus operators on any strike day.

Travel advice for 18 March

The advice is to check before you travel and expect disruption.

The railway will operate limited opening hours with services starting later and finishing much earlier than normal. Some routes will finish earlier than others, and some stations will not be served at all on strike days. Please check your first and last trains carefully, as there will be no alternative travel outside of these services.

Engineering works will be taking place across our network on Saturday 18 March, including no Southern or Gatwick Express trains to London Victoria.

You will need to travel to/from London Bridge for services to Gatwick Airport and the south coast.

If you need to travel, always check your whole journey immediately before at National Rail.

Please see the overview of services we plan to run below. Click to expand each section.

Service plan for 18 March

Service map
Southern and Thameslink

Engineering works may mean the service we run is different from the below. An overview of engineering work will be shown above and if this affects you, check journey planners before you travel.

Services to/from London Victoria

There will be no Southern or Gatwick Express services at London Victoria. See below for what services we are running.

Services between London Bridge and the south coast

London Bridge and Brighton

Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Brighton, calling at London Bridge, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport and Brighton only.

London Bridge and Brighton

Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Brighton, calling at London Bridge, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Balcombe, Hayward’s Heath, Wivelsfield, Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Preston Park and Brighton only.

From 19:00 , this service will not call at Balcombe, Wivelsfield, Burgess, Hassocks or Preston Park.

London Bridge and Gatwick Airport

Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport, calling at London Bridge, Norwood Junction, East Croydon, Purley, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley and Gatwick Airport only.

London Bridge and Three Bridges

Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Three Bridges, calling at London Bridge, Norwood Junction, East Croydon, Coulsdon South, Merstham, Redhill, Horley, Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges only.

Brighton and Hove

Two trains per hour will run between Brighton and Hove only.

Brighton and Barnham

One train per hour will run between Brighton and Barnham, calling at Brighton, Hove, Aldrington, Portslade, Fishersgate, Southwick, Shoreham By Sea, Lancing, East Worthing, Worthing, West Worthing, Durrington-On-Sea, Goring-By-Sea, Angmering, Littlehampton, Ford and Barnham

Barnham and Three Bridges via Horsham

Two trains per hour will run between Barnham and Three Bridges, calling at Barnham, Ford, Arundel, Amberley, Pulborough, Billingshurst, Christs Hospital, Horsham, Littlehaven, Faygate(limited services), Ifield, Crawley, and Three Bridges.

Brighton and Seaford

Two trains per hour will run between Brighton and Seaford, calling at Brighton, London Road, Moulsecoomb, Falmer, Lewes, Southease (one train per hour), Newhaven Town, Newhaven Harbour (limited services), Bishopstone and Seaford.

Brighton and Eastbourne

One train per hour will run between Brighton and Eastbourne, calling at Brighton, Falmer, Lewes, Glynde, Berwick, Polegate, Hampden Park and Eastbourne.

Services between Central and South London

Sutton, West Croydon, and Balham area

There will be no Southern trains in these areas due to engineering works. Please see below for which services we are running between Central and South London.

Caterham and Purley

One train per hour will run between Caterham and Purley, calling at Caterham, Whyteleafe South, Whyteleafe, Kenley and Purley.

London Bridge and Tattenham Corner

Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Tattenham Corner, calling at London Bridge, East Croydon, South Croydon, Purley Oaks, Reedham, Coulsdon Town, Woodmansterne, Chipstead, Kingswood, Tadworth and Tattenham Corner only.

London Bridge and East Grinstead

Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and East Grinstead, calling at London Bridge, Norwood Junction, East Croydon, South Croydon, Sanderstead, Riddlesdown, Upper Warlingham, Woldingham, Oxted, Hurst Green, Lingfield, Dormans and East Grinstead.

Oxted and Uckfield

One train per hour will run between Oxted and Uckfield, calling at Oxted, Hurst Green, Edenbridge Town, Hever, Cowden, Ashurst, Eridge, Crowborough, Buxted and Uckfield.

London Victoria (Southeastern side) and Sevenoaks

Two trains per hour will run between London Victoria and Sevenoaks, calling at London Victoria, Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye, Nunhead, Crofton Park, Catford, Bellingham, Beckenham Hill, Ravensbourne, Shortlands, Bromley South, Bickley, St Mary Cray, Swanley, Eynsford, Shoreham (Kent), Otford, Bat & Ball and Sevenoaks.

Thameslink and Great Northern

Engineering works may mean the service we run is different from the below. An overview of engineering work will be shown above and if this affects you, check journey planners before you travel.

Services between St Pancras International and Bedford

St Pancras International and Bedford

Two trains per hour will run between St Pancras International and Bedford, calling at St Pancras International, West Hampstead Thameslink, St Albans City, Harpenden, Luton Airport Parkway, Luton, Leagrave, Harlington, Flitwick and Bedford only.

St Pancras International and Luton

Two trains per hour will run between St Pancras International and Luton, calling at St Pancras International, West Hampstead Thameslink, Cricklewood, Hendon, Mill Hill Broadway, Elstree & Borehamwood, Radlett, St Albans City, Harpenden, Luton Airport Parkway, Luton.

Services between King’s Cross and Peterborough / Cambridge

King’s Cross and Cambridge

One train per hour will run between King’s Cross and Cambridge, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Potters Bar, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn North, Knebworth, Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Baldock, Ashwell & Morden, Royston, Meldreth, Shepreth, Foxton, Cambridge.

King’s Cross and Cambridge

One train per hour will run between King’s Cross and Cambridge, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Baldock, Ashwell & Morden, Royston and Cambridge only. After 19:00, this train will not call at Baldock or Ashwell & Morden.

King’s Cross and Peterborough

Two trains per hour will run between King’s Cross and Peterborough, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Stevenage, Hitchin, Arlesey, Biggleswade, Sandy, St Neots, Huntingdon and Peterborough only.

King’s Cross and Welwyn Garden City

Two trains per hour will run between King’s Cross and Welwyn Garden City, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Harringay, Hornsey, Alexandra Palace, New Southgate, Oakleigh Park, New Barnet, Hadley Wood, Potters Bar, Brookmans Park, Welham Green, Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City only.

King’s Cross and Stevenage via Hertford North

Two trains per hour will run between King’s Cross and Stevenage, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Harringay, Hornsey, Alexandra Palace, Bowes Park, Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill, Grange Park, Enfield Chase, Gordon Hill, Crews Hill, Cuffley, Bayford, Hertford North, Watton-at-Stone and Stevenage only.

Gatwick Express
Gatwick Express will not run

Travel advice for 19 March

The disruption from a strike day will have a knock-on effect which means that first services will begin much later than normal, with some routes having no services before 7am. This could be later depending on where you are travelling from, so make sure to check your journey.

We expect first services to be extremely crowded and you may not be able to board your chosen service. You are advised to start your journey later on in the morning.

Cancellation of strike action

If strike action is cancelled or suspended at short notice by the RMT or ASLEF we will not be able to immediately restore our normal timetable.

Rail services are created and are dependent on complex and integrated systems.  It therefore takes some time to get everything back into place.  If this is the case, more details will be published here.

FAQ - RMT strike days 16, 18, 30 March and 1 April

I no longer want to travel on an RMT strike day, what are my options?

If you have an Advance ticket, you can get a full fee-free refund if the train you intend to use is cancelled or delayed, or you no longer wish to travel on an RMT strike day.

If you have an Anytime, Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak ticket you can get a full fee-free refund if the train you intend to use is cancelled or delayed.

If you didn’t buy your ticket from us, you will need to go back to the retailer you originally brought your ticket from.

If you no longer wish to travel on the strike date and you have a flexi season ticket or a monthly or longer duration season ticket, you can use our Delay Repay scheme to claim the value of one day's travel for the strike days on 16, 18, 30 March and 1 April.  

It's not available for the days after strike days.

See the FAQs below for more information on how to arrange a refund or claim compensation.

Booked Passenger Assist? If you would like to cancel or rearrange your booking, please contact our Assisted Travel team.



I want to travel on a different day to the RMT strike day, what are my options?

Instead of you having to apply for a refund, there are some alternative travel date options for you. For the latest strike dates on:

16 March:

If you have a ticket for Thursday 16 March (RMT strike day) you can use it on the day before the date on the ticket or any day from then through to Tuesday 21 March (inclusive).

18 March:

If you have a ticket for Saturday 18 March (RMT strike day) you can use it on the day before the date on the ticket or any day from then through to Tuesday 21 March (inclusive).

30 March:

If you have a ticket for Thursday 30 March (RMT strike day) you can use it on the day before the date on the ticket or any day from then through to Tuesday 4 April (inclusive).

1 April:

If you have a ticket for Saturday 1 April (RMT strike day) you can use it on the day before the date on the ticket or any day from then through to Tuesday 4 April (inclusive).

Please note for all the above dates:

  • If your ticket is for a through fare that includes the London Underground it will not be valid on London Underground services on an alternative date
  • If you’re travelling on a different day and have an Advance Ticket, where possible, please try to travel on the same time as your original booked train
  • If you have a seat reservation and choose to travel on a different day, you will not be able to use your original reservation, so please visit one of our Ticket Offices and we can try to reserve you a seat on the new travel date
  • If your journey includes travel with a long-distance operator, particularly where seat reservations are required, you may wish to obtain a refund and rebook onto an alternative service. Trains running on days either side of strike days are likely to be extremely busy and a seat cannot be guaranteed.
  • If you travel and your train is delayed, you will be entitled to Delay Repay, as usual. Note that delays will be calculated against the strike day timetable
  • Booked Passenger Assist? If you need to change your booking to another day or time, please contact our Assisted Travel team
 
I want to travel on a different day to the RMT strike day that isn't one of the dates mentioned above, what are my options?

You can apply for a refund of your current ticket and purchase a new ticket for your intended date of travel. Please note we expect all services during this period to be extremely busy.

You can also change the time and / or date of travel at any of our Ticket Offices, this may be subject to a £10 change of journey fee (and any difference between the price you’ve already paid and the price of the best available ticket for your new travel date).

For further details on refund terms and conditions for each ticket type please refer to our refund FAQs below.

Booked Passenger Assist? If you need to change your booking to another day or time, please contact our Assisted Travel team.


I still need to travel on an RMT strike day, what do I need to do?

If you have a ticket and your train/trains are still running you don't need to do anything further. If you have yet to buy your ticket, then you may wish to consider only buying your Anytime, Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets once you know the train you plan to take is running, as the cost of the ticket will not change and fees to refund may still apply.

If you travel and your train is delayed, you will be entitled to Delay Repay as usual. Note that delays will be calculated against the strike day timetable.

If you have an impacted assistance booking which starts on one of our services, we'll get in touch with you to make new arrangements. In the meantime, if you have any concerns then please contact our Assisted Travel team.

Will there be replacement buses on an RMT strike day?
There will be no replacement buses or taxis on RMT strike days because there simply aren’t enough available to replace the train service.
Will my ticket be valid on another Operator’s services on an RMT strike day?

There will be no planned ticket acceptance on RMT strike dates on other train operator’s services. However, on RMT strike dates you may use:

  • Any ticket on our other services (Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern) to travel to the destination on your ticket, but please note that train services are expected to be extremely busy and we do expect disruption
  • Your paper ticket on TfL bus, Tube, tram or DLR services on any reasonable route to complete your journey
Will there be First Class seats available on RMT strike days?

We expect the trains that are running to be extremely busy, so First Class areas will be declassified on RMT strike dates (all day) and until midday the next for customer safety and comfort on Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern trains. If you have a First Class ticket you can apply for compensation here.


Can I use my car park season ticket in another car park on RMT strike days?

On RMT strike dates only, anyone needing to complete an essential journey with us who holds an APCOA GTR car park season ticket will be able to park in any Southern, Thameslink or Great Northern carpark regardless of the location of their existing parking permit. Please check National Rail Enquiries to check which stations car parks this applies to. Car parks will be busier than usual due to the reduced services running on these RMT strike dates and availability cannot be guaranteed. Car Park season ticket customers do not have to do anything before parking at a different location other than arrive at a selected alternative location and park.

Will I be able to take my bike on your trains on RMT strike days?

We expect that the trains will be very crowded on RMT strike dates. To maximise the space available for all customers, our cycle policy will remain in place on these RMT strike dates and we would encourage you not to travel with your bike. Some of our stations have Cycle Hubs, click here for more information.

Can I still buy Advance tickets?

Advance tickets are no longer available to buy for any RMT strike dates. If your journey involves another operator, please check with them.

The latest information on the availability of Advance fares can be found on this National Rail Enquiries website.

Assisted travel

How are you supporting disabled customers to travel on RMT strike days?

We expect stations and services to be very busy on RMT strike dates, as we will be unable to run our normal timetable. At all stations served by trains on RMT strike dates our station and onboard staff will be able to provide you with the assistance you need. If the train is too busy, we’ll work with you to find the best solution for you. If you’re unable to board the train, we may arrange alternative transport for you.

Onboard our trains our disabled customers have priority in the accessible carriages. We also have priority seats available for those that need them.

Can I book Assisted Travel if it takes place on an RMT strike day?

You can book Assisted travel for planned services on RMT strike dates but please note that train services are expected to be extremely busy.

If you have any queries or concerns then please contact our Assisted Travel team.

Upon arrival at the station please make yourself known to a member of staff.

On an RMT strike day, can I get assistance for my journey without having to book it?

On RMT strike dates 'Turn up and go’ assistance will continue to be supported on our services, in line with the strike date timetable in place.

Upon arrival at the station please make yourself known to a member of staff or contact us via a Help Point by using the Emergency button.

Please check before you travel as close as possible to your intended departure time on National Rail Enquiries, as your whole journey may include travel with other operators who are impacted by a strike.

I have Assisted Travel booked for an RMT strike day, will my booking go ahead?

If you have booked assistance through us and your journey is affected by an RMT strike, then, once strike date timetables are confirmed, we'll attempt to contact you to discuss your options. If you have any concerns then please contact our Assisted Travel team. We strongly recommend you check before you travel as close as possible to your intended departure time on National Rail Enquiries.

Will you be arranging alternative accessible transport on an RMT strike day?

On RMT strike days, alternative accessible transport may be arranged, as per our Accessible Travel Policy, from stations which are unstaffed, or inaccessible due to a physical feature (such as steps to platforms) that have services stopping at them under our amended strike date timetables.

However, due to the high demand expected it may take us longer to book suitable alternative transport than usual. If you have any concerns, please contact our Assisted Travel team.


Compensation

As a Season Ticket holder, if I did not travel on an RMT strike day, can I claim compensation?

For monthly and longer Season Ticket holders

If you were unable to travel or followed our advice and chose not to travel on a strike date, you can claim compensation through our Delay Repay scheme by claiming a delay of 120+ minutes which will provide you with the value of one day’s travel.

This only applies to monthly and longer season ticket holders and not for weekly season tickets.

On this occasion, you do not need to have travelled or have been delayed to claim the compensation.

You need to apply for compensation online within 28 days of the strike date.

For Flexi Season Ticket holders

In order to claim compensation, you must activate a Day Pass on the strike date (not on days before or after). Once you’ve activated your Day Pass you can claim compensation through our Delay Repay scheme by claiming a delay of 120+ minutes which will provide you with the value of one day’s travel.

On this occasion, you do not need to have travelled or have been delayed to claim the compensation.

You need to apply for compensation online within 28 days of the strike date.

If I travelled on an RMT strike day can I claim compensation?

If you travelled and your train was delayed, you will be entitled to Delay Repay as usual. Note that delays will be calculated against the strike date timetable. Please do not claim Delay Repay compensation if the train you'd normally take is not listed in the revised timetable - compensation is only payable against an actual delay of fifteen minutes or more against the limited train service that will operate.



Refunds

Can I get a refund if I do not travel on the strike days?

If your ticket is for a strike day and the alternative dates do not work for you then you can apply for a refund, although this may be subject to a £10 admin fee.

If you purchased your ticket (excluding season tickets) and you decide not to travel or you begin your journey but decide not to complete it because the service/s you originally intended to travel on are cancelled or delayed or rescheduled or your reservation was not honoured, you can get a full fee-free refund.  

If you have a ticket on departure booking and you have not collected your ticket, please apply for a refund via the online refund form.

The following information is based on the different ticket types in place, if you hold a paper ticket and you’re not sure what type of ticket you have, please check the information printed on the orange stripe in the top left corner of the ticket for one of the following.

If you bought your ticket from us, then we can arrange a refund for you. If you bought your ticket from someone else, then you’ll need to go back to the original retailer of your ticket to arrange a refund.

Anytime, Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets

If you have an Anytime, Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak ticket you can get a full fee-free refund if the train you intend to use is cancelled or delayed.

If you were planning to use the return portion of an Anytime, Off-Peak, or Super Off-Peak ticket on a strike day and haven't used the outward portion yet as the train you intended to use is cancelled or delayed.

You can also get a full refund of your ticket without paying an admin fee.

If you have already used the outward portion of the ticket, and no longer want to use the return portion as the train you intended to use is cancelled or delayed. Your refund will be calculated based on the travel you've already made, and you won't be charged an admin fee.

If you choose not to travel, you can apply for a refund on your ticket but this will be subject to a £10 admin charge.

You can obtain a refund via our online refund form (for all ticket types) or visiting one of our ticket offices (for paper or smartcard refunds).

If you bought your ticket from another retailer or train company, you will need to contact them to request your refund.


Advance Tickets

If you have an Advance ticket for a train that is scheduled for a strike day and you purchased your ticket from us you can get a full fee-free refund or change of journey.

This includes, if you have two Advance tickets which you intended to use as a return journey and;

  • If one (either) of the legs is on a strike day and the train is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled, you can apply for a fee-free refund or change of journey for any unused legs / tickets
  • If one (either) of the legs is on a strike day, and you choose not to travel because of the disruption, you can apply for a fee-free refund or change of journey for any unused legs / tickets

You can obtain a refund via our online refund form (for all ticket types) or visiting one of our ticket offices (for paper or smartcard refunds).

If you bought your ticket from someone else, then you’ll need to go back to the original retailer of your ticket.


Season and Flexi Season tickets

Unexpired Season tickets and Flexi Season tickets can be refunded at any time prior to the expiry of the ticket.

We will calculate how much is refunded based on the value left on your ticket on the day you submit your Season ticket less a £10 admin fee for refund.

You can find out how much refund you are due by using this calculator: Season ticket refund calculator

Please see our refunds process for tickets here, for full details.

For more information see the Season Ticket Conditions page.

Carnet Tickets

Please do not date your carnet ticket until you know for certain that you are going to travel, as it is not possible to amend the date of travel with these tickets once dated.

We can only refund your Carnet tickets, subject to a £10 admin fee if they are:

  • Within 28 days from the expiry date of the tickets
  • A complete unused book of tickets
Rover Tickets
A full refund is available before the period of validity starts subject to a £10 admin fee. Tickets cannot be refunded once the period of validity has started.
DaySave Tickets
These tickets are not refundable. Please only purchase them if you are certain you will travel.
Carpark Tickets

If you will not be using your car park season ticket for some time, you can request a refund by following the normal refund process through APCOA:

Great Northern

Southern

Thameslink

Oyster Tickets
Please contact Transport for London for any refunds for tickets purchased on Oyster.

How do I get a refund?

If you bought your ticket from us, we can process your refund.

For paper and eTickets and smartcards, please use our online refund form.

Alternatively, for paper tickets and smartcards you can also visit one of our Ticket Offices for assistance.

If you bought your ticket from another retailer or train company, you will need to contact them to request your refund.

FAQ – Previous strike days

If you have been directly impacted by a strike day within the last 28 days, the above FAQs regarding compensation will still apply.

If you didn’t travel on a strike day (or the alternative dates your ticket was valid for), the above FAQs regarding refunds will still apply.

If you bought your ticket from us, then we can arrange a refund for you. If you bought your ticket from someone else, then you’ll need to go back to the original retailer.



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