December Strike Details
Four days of strikes next week are set to severely disrupt rail services across the region; no trains will run on the East Suffolk Lines and the other regional routes; mainline and Intercity service will be run a heavily reduced schedule, starting later and finishing earlier. Further strikes are planned over Christmas and in early January.
Trains not running due to the strike will not be replaced by buses.
Greater Anglia is advising people to avoid travelling during the two 48-hour RMT strikes Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Friday 16 and Saturday 17 December. The train operator will only be able to run mainline services to London Liverpool Street from Norwich, Colchester, Southend Victoria and Cambridge and the Stansted Express airport service. First trains will start from 07.30 with last trains completing their journeys by 18.30.
Rail services on Thursday 15 and Sunday 18 December will start later than the normal timetable – from 07.30 – and are expected to be very busy as a result of the two 48-hour strikes.
Additional Strike During Christmas
The RMT has called a further strike from 18.00 on Christmas Eve until 05.59 on Tuesday 27 December. Details are still being finalised, but it’s likely no trains will run after 16.00 on Christmas Eve, no Stansted Express services on Boxing Day and first trains on Tuesday 27 December starting later than usual (and not until after 07.30).
Greater Anglia managing director Jamie Burles said: “We are very sorry that these strikes are disrupting people’s festive plans and badly affecting businesses counting on Christmas custom – as well as making it difficult for people to get to work and school or college.
“Unfortunately, we are left with no option but to ask people to avoid travelling with us because as with previous strike days we are only able to run a small fraction of our usual services.
“We will do all we can to run the best possible service in the days between strikes – from Sunday 18 to Friday 23 December.
“The rail industry remains committed to settling has tried very hard to try to settle this dispute and talks are continuing.”
Trains running on 13,14, 16 and 17 December
Intercity service Norwich – London Liverpool Street: one train per hour. First train from Norwich at 08.00; last train back from Liverpool Street at 16.30.
Stopping service Colchester – London Liverpool Street: one train per hour. First train from Colchester at 07.30; last train back from Liverpool Street at 17.00.
Southend Victoria – London Liverpool Street: two trains per hour. First train from Southend Victoria at 07.30; last train back from Liverpool Street at 17.30.
Cambridge – London Liverpool Street: one train per hour. First train from Cambridge at 08.20; last train back from Liverpool Street at 16.25.
Stansted Express – Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street: two trains per hour. First and last from Liverpool Street at 08.10 and 17.40 and from Stansted Airport at 07.42 and 17.12.
Pre-booked Tickets
Anyone who has booked a ticket to travel on strike days will be able to travel either the day before or up to and including Tuesday 20 December, or they can contact their retailer for a refund or to change the date. Tickets for 24, 26, and 27 December can be used on 23 December or up to and including Thursday 29 December.
January Strikes
The RMT has further strikes planned for Tuesday 3, Wednesday 4, Friday 6 and Saturday 7 January.
Further information about the strikes can be found at greateranglia.co.uk/strikes.