Rail Strikes Saturday 1, Wednesday 5 and Saturday 8 October
This story has been updated to include the additional strike date of 8 October.
Rail passengers, including football fans and people travelling to work and school or college, are advised to avoid travelling by train on Saturday 1, Wednesday 5 October and Saturday 8 October as national rail strikes are set to cause widespread disruption. Train operator Greater will only be able to run a small fraction of services these days with no service on many routes.
No East Suffolk Lines Services
Trains will not be running on the East Suffolk Lines or the other regional routes and branch lines on 1 October, 5 October and 8 October. Greater Anglia services will not run between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street (except on Saturday 8 October).
Limited Services Norwich – London and on the Stansted Express
A heavily reduced service will run between London Liverpool Street and Norwich, Colchester, Southend Victoria and on the Stansted Express service between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street.
Note: There will be no rail replacement bus service where trains aren’t running due to the strike. However, on Saturday 1 October, due to engineering work there is a rail replacement bus service between Colchester and Ingatestone connecting with the heavily reduced train service that will be running that day.
Strike Day Timetables
On Saturday 1 October, rail services will only operate from 7.30am. Last trains must be at the final destinations by 6.30pm. Final departure times on longer routes will be much earlier. Greater Anglia is currently finalising details of the strike day timetables and will publish them on its website when are they are ready, which is expected to be early next week.
Saturday Football
All of East Anglia’s top football teams – Norwich, Ipswich Town, Cambridge United, Peterborough United and Colchester United – have fixtures on Saturday 1 October, as do Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham and Arsenal. Fans are strongly advised to make alternative arrangements.
Knock-on effects
People travelling to the London Marathon on Sunday 2 October will also be affected, as the 24-hour strikes have a knock-on effect the following day, with first trains affected and no services before 7/7.30am. Knock-on effects are expected to impact rail services first thing Thursday 6 October.
Pre-booked tickets
Anyone who has pre-booked tickets to travel on 1, 5 or 8 October can change them, use them to travel on either the day before or up to two days later, or apply for a refund by going back to their original retailer.
Passenger assistance will be available as usual for all trains which are running. Anyone requiring assistance who cannot avoid travelling by train on strike days should plan their journey and book assistance in advance if possible.
Further information is available from greateranglia.co.uk/strikes which will be updated as details are finalised.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: “We are very sorry that once again our customers will be disrupted by strikes, which this time will affect football fans and some people from our region competing in the London Marathon, as well as school or college students, commuters and business travellers.
“We’re only able to run a fraction of our usual services, so our advice again is to avoid using our trains on strike days.
“The rail industry is working hard to resolve these disputes and talks will continue with ASLEF and RMT in an effort to avert the strike.”