Network Rail issued the following advice to passengers ahead of tomorrow’s rail workers’ strike action.
- Rail passengers in the East Midlands are urged to plan ahead this Wednesday (27 July) as a severely limited timetable will be available
- Amid national industrial action, a significantly reduced train service will run only between 7.30am and 6.30pm with some routes closed altogether
- Passengers should check before they travel, expect disruption and only travel if necessary
Rail passengers in the East Midlands should plan ahead and only travel by train if it’s necessary this Wednesday (27 July). Train services will be severely limited, only run between 7.30am and 6.30pm, and some routes will be closed altogether amid national industrial action.
Thousands of specially-trained and fully qualified back-up staff will step in during the walkout – which has been called by the RMT union – to keep vital services running for those who need them. But with significantly reduced services and some lines closed completely, passengers are asked to only travel by train if they must.
Trains are set to start later and finish much earlier than usual, between 7.30am and 6.30pm. Only half of the usual trains are planned to run the full route of the Midland Main Line, between London St Pancras, Nottingham and Sheffield, with the last services leaving in the early afternoon. Those who really need to travel should allow extra time and check their last train times.
Gary Walsh, East Midlands Route Director for Network Rail said: “While we’ve done all we can to keep some services running, there will still be a very limited selection for passengers in the East Midlands this Wednesday.
“I’m sorry for the impact this will have on people’s plans to travel to, from or through the region. I’d urge those who absolutely need to travel by train to plan ahead, check their journey and expect significant disruption.”
Passengers should also expect disruption on the morning of Thursday 28 July with a later start to services as railway workers return to their duties.
Separately, ASLEF has called strike action across seven train operators on Saturday 30 July. The train operators involved do not operate in the East Midlands but the impact of the action is expected to affect adjacent lines so passengers are asked to check their journeys before travelling over the weekend as well.
• Bus services that operate to and from local rail stations
• Skegness Specials from EMR start next week
• Rail Strike: East Midlands Railways confirms the impact on Nottingham services
Further information for passengers is available on the National Rail website.
