Harrow passengers planning travel through London Euston station during upcoming strike action by multiple rail workers’ unions before and after Christmas are being warned not to get caught out with limited trains running over reduced hours.
Members of the RMT, TSSA and Unite unions will all take industrial action next week on 13, 14, 16 and 17 December.
This will involve national walkouts from the staff at Network Rail and impact all train operators at the West Coast main line’s southern terminus. On those dates, a special timetable will be in operation with four trains per hour leaving London Euston (usually 17 departures an hour on a non-strike weekday).
Trains will run from 7am and last trains will leave between 3pm and 5pm with final arrivals by 6.30pm. Passengers should also expect disruption from 18 December until 2 January, with wide variations on service provision, due to an overtime ban across 14 train operating companies imposed by the RMT.
James Dean, Network Rail’s West Coast South route director, said: “It’s hugely disappointing that despite months of negotiations and an improved offer by us to settle our dispute with the RMT, these strikes are still going ahead in a deliberate attempt to ruin Christmas for millions of passengers trying to see loved ones and businesses who rely on festive trade at this crucial time of year.
“As with every other strike day, we will continue to run the best service possible for those people whose travel is absolutely necessary, but with services extremely limited I’d urge people to really consider other options. Any trains which do run will be very busy and will finish by early evening.
“We know how frustrating this period will be for passengers as RMT strike action has such a huge impact on running a decent service. Our station staff will be doing their very best to get people to where they want to go and we’d ask for patience and forbearance as we have seen an alarming rise in verbal abuse directed at staff during these difficult periods.”
In addition, Christmas Eve will see services stop significantly earlier than usual because of further strikes announced by the RMT.
Passengers, including those coming from Harrow, planning on travelling on the West Coast main line should only do so if absolutely necessary.
