Rail strikes: How services in West Berkshire will be affected and what you can do if you can’t travel

There will be an “extremely limited” train service through West Berkshire tomorrow (Wednesday) as strike action continues to take place.

Great Western Railway (GWR) has warned that there will be no long-distance services and no direct trains between London Paddington and Reading.

Services on many other parts of its network will also be affected.

What’s happening?

Train drivers from the Aslef union are continuing their industrial action this week in a row over pay and conditions.

They are planning to walk out at different rail companies each day from today (Tuesday) until Thursday.

Tomorrow’s strike primarily affects GWR, Chiltern Railways and CrossCountry.

Members also began an overtime ban yesterday (Monday), which runs until Saturday, May 11.

What trains are affected?

Many parts of the GWR network will have no service tomorrow (Wednesday), the operator has said, while trains that are running will only operate for a limited time.

This “very limited service” will run between 7am and around 7pm on the following routes:

Reading and Newbury

Reading and Oxford

Reading and Basingstoke

Reading and Redhill (peak time only)

Westbury and Swindon (peak time only)

Cardiff and Bristol

Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple

Exeter St Davids and Exmouth (calling at limited stops)

Penzance/St Erth and St Ives (limited times only)

Plymouth and Gunnislake

Other issues

There will be no GWR services between London Paddington and Reading due to engineering works.

GWR has said that there are likely to be cancellations and alterations to time-tables at short notice due to the industrial action, particularly in the evening.

This could also be the case the day after the strikes, so could affect travel through West Berkshire on Thursday too.

GAR warned: “If you intend to travel where trains are running, you are warned to check both outward and return journeys before you travel.

“Where trains can run, they are expected to be extremely busy and bus replacement services are not able to be provided.”

What you can do if you have a ticket

Anyone who has already bought a ticket but doesn’t travel can claim a full refund or amend their ticket, the rail operator explained.

Tickets for strike days will be valid for travel on GWR services the day before the strike, or up to Monday, May 13.

Passengers are advised to check before they travel this week.