Passengers warned only to travel by rail if necessary

Travellers are being warned to be aware of what implications train strikes will have on their journey, as trains will finish much earlier than normal.

Tomorrow (Wednesday 27th) 40,000 RMT union members will strike after talks over pay, jobs, terms and conditions fell apart following strikes days in June.

For Birmingham, this means only ten trains will depart from Birmingham New Street per hour, in comparison to 40 departures an hour on a non-strike weekday.

Birmingham New Street’s last trains will leave between 3pm and 5pm with final arrivals by 6.30pm.

The station will close completely at 10pm on Wednesday evening.

People are being advised to only travel by rail if necessary.

Network Rail says with only a fifth of services running, “thousands of specially-trained and fully qualified back-up staff will again step in during the walkout to keep vital services running for those who need them”.

Passengers should also expect disruption on the morning of Thursday 28 July with a later start to services as employees return to duties.

Denise Wetton, Network Rail’s Central route director, said: “It’s hugely disappointing that we are facing another day of RMT strike action which will impact the entire network and cause disruption to passengers across the region on the eve of the Commonwealth Games. 

“Our advice is to only travel if necessary and regularly check National Rail Enquiries as the few services which will be running will finish early in the afternoon. Thankfully, a full service will be in operation for the opening ceremony on Thursday but again, always check before you travel for the latest information.”

Separately, train drivers’ union Aslef has called strike action across seven train operators on Saturday 30 July that will disrupt some routes.

If passengers with an advance, off-peak or anytime ticket are affected by the strike can use their ticket either on the day before the date on the ticket, or up to and including Tuesday 2 August. They can also change their tickets to travel on an alternate date, or get a refund if their train is cancelled or rescheduled.

Those with a season ticket that is monthly or longer, or have an activated days’ worth of travel on a flexi season ticket who choose not to travel on 27 or 30 July, can claim compensation for these days through the delay repay scheme.