UK rail strikes travel advice and booking info

Last update: Tuesday 23rd April 2024

 

Monday 6th May - Saturday 11th May: 

ASLEF trade union members will be taking strike action affecting the following train operators on the dates below:

  • Tuesday 7th May: c2c; Gatwick Express; Greater Anglia (including Stansted Express); Great Northern; Southeastern; Southern; South Western Railway (including Island Line); and Thameslink.
  • Wednesday 8th May: Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Great Western Railway; Heathrow Express; London Northwestern Railway; and West Midlands Railway.
  • Thursday 9th May: LNER; Northern; and TransPennine Express.

In addition, ASLEF trade union members at all the above train operators will not be working overtime from Monday 6th May to Saturday 11th May.

Strike action is expected to have a major impact on services on affected operators on the day, and may also impact early services the following morning. The overtime ban may also cause some further disruption.

Further details on service levels, refunds and ticket easements will be provided once available.

If you are booked onto a train which is cancelled or changed, we will contact you directly once this is confirmed. Our journey planner will update automatically at the same time.

Below are some helpful FAQs that apply when there is strike action that affects National Rail services. Please note that this information does not apply to strike action on London Underground services.

 

Upcoming strike information

General ticket guidance

We know how frustrating strike action is, and we’re going to do everything we can to help.

There’s no need to get in touch and you can do this yourself online in just a few clicks. Log into your account now, or click ‘manage booking’ in your confirmation email, to see if it's already possible to get a fee-free refund. 

As a general guide…

Advance tickets

  • If you’ve booked with us and your train is cancelled or rescheduled, you’ll be entitled to a fee-free refund online. 
  • Your ticket would also be valid on the train before or after your booked journey for the same train operator, but please be aware that with reduced services on strike days these trains may be very busy.
  • Your ticket may also be made valid for travel on other days, and this will be confirmed shortly after the strike is announced.
  • If you have two single tickets that together form a return journey and only one leg of your journey is affected by the strikes, you can request a fee-free refund or change of journey for both legs of your trip online if all tickets remain unused.

Flexible tickets

  • If you've booked with us and your ticket is for a strike day, you'll be entitled to a fee-free refund.
  • Your ticket may also be made valid for travel on other days, and this will be confirmed shortly after the strike is announced.
  • If you are making a return journey and only one leg of your journey is affected by the strikes, you can request a fee-free refund or change of journey for both legs of your trip online if all tickets remain unused.
  • If you have two single tickets that together form a return journey and only one leg of your journey is affected by the strikes, you can request a fee-free refund or change of journey for both legs of your trip online if all tickets remain unused.
  • Alternatively you can reschedule your journey for another date, however an admin fee may apply.
  • Refunds and exchanges can be made online. 

Return tickets

  • If you are making a return journey and only one leg of your journey is affected, you can request a fee-free refund for both legs of your trip online if all tickets remain unused. This also applies if you have two single tickets that together form a return journey.

Season tickets

  • If you are a Weekly Season ticket holder and purchased your ticket after the strikes were announced you will only be entitled to compensation if you actually travel and are affected by cancellation or disruption and the delay to your journey meets the Delay Repay threshold. ​You will need to contact the train operator to claim Delay Repay compensation.

  • If you have a Season ticket that is monthly or longer and you cannot travel due to timetable disruption on the day that any strike action has cancelled your service then you can claim 100% compensation for these days through Delay Repay. ​You will need to contact the train operator to claim Delay Repay compensation.

  • You can apply for a refund of your Season ticket. Refunds are calculated from the date you return your season ticket and will be the difference between the price you paid and the cost of a ticket or tickets for the period for which you have used the ticket up to and including the date you request a refund. Please note an admin fee will apply.

Individual train operator updates

The following train operators have announced specific changes that apply to their services. We’ll keep this section updated as more information becomes available.

Other travel information

Check train times

Worried about rail strikes affecting your journey?

You can check general disruptions to services on our disruption information page.  

Change your ticket

You can currently request an exchange to your Advance ticket if you book with Trainline.

Changes are only allowed for a different time/date of travel, so you need to stick to the same departure and arrival stations.
The simplest way to amend your tickets is online via My Booking.
  • For eticket bookings you pay the difference between your original ticket and new ticket, plus a change fee. If your new ticket is cheaper than the original, then you only pay the fee but the difference will not be refunded.
  • For mobile and paper tickets we refund you whichever ticket is the lowest priced between your original or new ticket. From this we deduct a change fee based on the value of the ticket.

Travel by coach

During strike days, some routes may still be possible to travel by coach.

If there is a coach journey available on your route, you'll see it in the coach tab in the search results.

Passenger Assistance

If you want to book assistance for your journey, or you have already booked assistance and you want to confirm any changes, you can contact the train operator directly. 

You can find details on how to contact your train operator here.

FAQs

When are the next train strikes?

Rail strikes have been announced affecting the following train operators:

  • Tuesday 7th May: c2c; Gatwick Express; Greater Anglia (including Stansted Express); Great Northern; Southeastern; Southern; South Western Railway (including Island Line); and Thameslink.
  • Wednesday 8th May: Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Great Western Railway; Heathrow Express; London Northwestern Railway; and West Midlands Railway.
  • Thursday 9th May: LNER; Northern; and TransPennine Express.

ASLEF trade union members will also not be working overtime at all the above train operators, from Monday 6th May to Saturday 11th May.

Other train operators will not be affected by this industrial action.

How can I check if my train is running?

Journey planners have been updated with details of disruption caused by industrial action, as summarised above. If you are booked onto a train which is cancelled or changed, we will also have contacted you directly at the same time.

You can check the latest updates on rail service in the UK on our disruption information page.