Reduced train timetables serving Malvern despite rail strikes being called off

PASSENGERS are being warned there will still be no West Midlands Railway trains serving Malvern tomorrow (Saturday) and even Monday despite the industrial action being called off.

And GWR will still be running a reduced timetable during those times.

West Midlands Railway

West Midlands Railway said due to the lateness of the RMT announcement on Friday afternoon, it would not be possible to reinstate the normal West Midlands Railway timetable and a reduced service will be in operation.

Jonny Wiseman, WMR customer experience director, said: “While it is welcome that this strike action has been suspended, it has come too late to reinstate the full timetable for tomorrow and passengers should still only travel if essential.

“Any changes to the planned level of service on Monday and Wednesday will be added to our website as soon as they are available.”

With staffing rosters and train movements planned many days in advance, a reduced timetable is also expected to remain in place on Monday, when strike action had also been announced.

Visit www.wmr.uk/industrialaction for more.

GWR

Great Western Railway echoed WMR’s view that while it welcomed the RMT’s decision to cancel industrial action planned for tomorrow, Monday and Wednesday, it came too late to improve planned timetables over the weekend and into the early part of next week.

The train operator said it was working hard to reinstate services into next week, but given the late notice, GWR’s advice to only travel if absolutely necessary on Saturday and Monday remains in place

Train services will be severely disrupted and some parts of the GWR network will have no service at all. Where trains are running, an extremely limited service will operate, starting from 07:30, and all journeys having to be completed before 18:30, with last trains departing before this time.

Where trains are able to run, they are expected to be extremely busy and we are not able to provide bus replacement services. Online journey planners will be updated with the latest timetable information as soon as possible.

Passengers are advised to find alternative ways to travel tomorrow and Monday. Only travel by train if absolutely necessary. A reduced timetable will be in operation and many routes will have no services at all.

Onward journeys outside the GWR network will also be affected. Our teams will be working over the weekend to prepare a timetable for Wednesday and more information will be available from Monday.

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: “It is positive that talks with the RMT trade union appear to be showing some progress and we’re hopeful that today’s news brings us a step closer to finding a resolution to this long-running dispute.

“Unfortunately, with less than 12 hours’ notice before the strike was due to start, it is too late to restore normal timetables and spare customers from disruption tomorrow and the early part of next week. Our advice remains to only travel by rail if necessary.”