West Midlands Railway has confirmed it will operate a significantly reduced timetable from Saturday 2 December to Friday 8 December due to planned industrial action by train drivers. The reduced service will see trains running only between 7am and 7pm on most routes, with a limited number of services outside these hours.
Impact on Passengers
The reduced timetable will affect all West Midlands Railway routes, including services between Birmingham New Street and London Euston, Birmingham and Liverpool, and local services across the West Midlands. Passengers are advised to check their journey before travelling, as many trains will be cancelled or revised.
A West Midlands Railway spokesperson said: "We are sorry for the disruption this industrial action will cause our customers. We are doing everything we can to keep as many trains running as possible, but the reduced timetable is necessary to provide a reliable service."
Industrial Action Details
The industrial action is being taken by members of the ASLEF union, who are striking over a long-running dispute over pay and conditions. The strikes will take place on different days for different train operators, with West Midlands Railway drivers walking out on Saturday 2 December and Wednesday 6 December.
In addition to the strike days, there will be an overtime ban from Friday 1 December to Saturday 9 December, which will also impact services. The reduced timetable will apply for the entire week, not just on strike days.
Alternative Travel Options
West Midlands Railway is advising passengers to consider alternative travel options where possible, including using bus services or working from home. Tickets for travel on strike days will be valid on alternative services, and passengers can claim compensation for delayed or cancelled trains.
The reduced timetable will see a frequency of one train per hour on most routes, compared to the normal two or three trains per hour. Some routes may have even fewer services.
