Published on: Thursday, 24 November 2022
Last updated: Thursday, 24 November 2022
Picture credit: Greater Anglia
Greater Anglia is reminding passengers that there is a rail strike this Saturday – and advising them that a further eight strike dates have been announced for December and January.
Train drivers’ union ASLEF is striking this Saturday 26 November, with Greater Anglia only running trains between London Liverpool Street and Norwich, Colchester and Southend Victoria and on the Stansted Express service.
There will be no trains on any other routes – including between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street.
The company is advising people to avoid travelling on Greater Anglia trains on Saturday and to check before they travel on Sunday morning as the 24-hour strike will cause first trains on Sunday to start later than usual.
The RMT union has announced strikes on Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Friday 16 and Saturday 17 and Tuesday 3, Wednesday 4, Friday 6 and Saturday 7 January, which will severely impact Greater Anglia services and lead to a very reduced service.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: “We are very sorry that our customers are once again disrupted by strikes and we are having to advise people to avoid travelling on our trains.
“We know how much people were looking forward to a Christmas without the Covid restrictions of the last two years and now they are having to plan around strikes.
“As a rail industry we are keen to get this dispute settled and talks will continue with the unions to do everything possible to reach an agreement.”
Services this Saturday
First trains will start later than usual and last trains will finish earlier than usual this Saturday.
First and last train times to London Liverpool Street from Colchester will be 08.13 and 20.13; from Norwich 08.00 and 19.00; and from Southend Victoria 08.13 and 22.00.
In the other direction, first and last trains from Liverpool Street to Colchester will be 10.00 and 22.00; to Norwich 10.30 and 21.30; and to Southend Victoria 09.47 and 23.45.
Stansted Express service first and last train times will be: from Stansted Airport to Liverpool Street 05.15 and 23.42 and from Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport 04.10 and 23.25.
Anyone who has booked a ticket to travel on Saturday 26 November will be able to travel either the day before or up to up to and including Tuesday 29 November instead, or they can contact their retailer for a refund or to change the date.
Trains not running due to the strike will not be replaced by buses.
RMT strikes
RMT members due to strike in December and January include Greater Anglia station, catering, revenue protection, train cleaning and conductor teams, along with Network Rail signallers and maintenance staff.
Greater Anglia is currently working on timetables but it is likely that only services between London Liverpool Street and Norwich, Colchester, Southend Victoria and Cambridge, along with the Stansted Express will run, with first trains from 07.30 and all journeys complete by 18.30.
An overtime ban by the RMT from Sunday 18 December to Monday 2 January could also affect services. Passengers are advised to check before they travel between these dates.
More details, including timetables and refund information, will be available on greateranglia.co.uk/strikes as they are finalised.