Majority of trains across Wales to be hit by fresh strike action

No trains will operate west of Cardiff on Saturday 1 and Saturday 8 October due to ongoing industrial action by unions.

Transport for Wales are warning that while it is not directly affected by strike action, it’s services will be severely impacted and the majority of its trains will not run on two October dates.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced two days of strike action will take place on Saturday 1 and Saturday 8 October, across Network Rail and 15 train operators.

ASLEF has also announced strike action on Saturday 1 and Wednesday 5 October across 12 train operators, while TSSA have announced strike action on 1 October at Network Rail and 11 train operators.

TfW say they will be unable to operate a number of rail services on Network Rail infrastructure on 1 and 8 October, while some services will be much busier than usual on 5 October.

Saturday 1 and Saturday 8 October

Transport for Wales say they will be operating a very limited rail service, and are warning potential passengers to not travel by train.

The only services operating will be on the Core Valley Lines in South Wales and a Cardiff to Newport shuttle, with one train operating hourly in each direction, between 07:30 and 18:30.

No other TfW services across Wales and the Borders network will be able to operate.

Train services will operate between Cardiff Central and Rhymney, Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil in an hourly service in each direction between 07:30 and 18:30.

TfW say there will be very limited road transport capacity between Radyr and Cardiff before 07:30 and after 18:30, when TfW is unable to operate trains via Llandaf and Cathays.

Amended timetables for Saturday 1 October will be in online journey planners from Tuesday 27 September.

Friday 30 September and Friday 7 October (the days before the strikes)

There is also expected to be disruption on the days prior to the industrial action, and services will be much busier than usual.

TfW are advising customers to only travel if necessary on Friday 30 September and 7 October, and to check online journey planners for any short-notice late night service alterations as a result of the following day’s strike action.

Core Valley Lines­ – Saturday 1 and Saturday 8 October

The first services of the day that depart Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil will all be timed so they will be arriving into Radyr after 07:00. No trains will run before 07:00 on any lines except between Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil – Radyr.

No pre-planned road transport services will be in operation before 18:30 on Core Valley lines.

Services are likely to be much busier than usual – particularly the first services of the day.

All other TfW services – Sunday 2 and 9 October

No trains will run before 07:00 on these days, and those trains that do run are likely to be much busier than usual – particularly the first services of the day. There is also expected to be disruption to services due to trains being displaced from the previous day’s strike action.

In particular, services to Cardiff are expected to be busier than usual on the morning on 2 October due to the Cardiff Half-Marathon.

TfW are urging customers to check their website, app or social media before travel, particularly for the first services of the day from their station of origin.

Services on these days are to be extremely busy and customers are encouraged to travel via the alternative dates of Monday 3 or 10 October.

Wednesday 5 October

Some services are likely to be extremely busy as a result of the severely-reduced timetable put in place by other operators.

This includes services between Carmarthen and Newport; Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton; Cardiff and Cheltenham; Chester and Holyhead; Chester and Manchester Airport; and between Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly.

Due to the closure of Birmingham New Street station, services between North Wales and Birmingham International will terminate at Wolverhampton.

TfW are advising customers to only travel if necessary and to travel on the alternative dates of Tuesday 4 or Thursday 6 October.

Amended timetables for Wednesday 5 October will be in online journey planners from Thursday 29 September.