Commuters are facing more travel chaos as a fresh train strike is set to cripple the railway network.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are striking on Thursday - followed by two further walkouts on Saturday and July 29 - while drivers in Aslef are continuing an overtime ban this week.
RMT members including station staff, train managers and catering staff are be involved in the latest action hitting key services in and out of the capital.
Southern and Thameslink are among the train companies operating limited opening hours on the strike days with services starting later and finishing much earlier than normal.
Some routes will finish earlier than others, and some stations will not be served at all with travellers warned to check “first and last trains carefully, as there will be no alternative travel outside of these services”.
Londoners were also warned by TfL that “these strikes may affect some District line, London Overground, Elizabeth line and tram services”.
The Gatwick Express will not run while Heathrow Express warned it will see last trains running before 9pm.
Avanti West Coast says it will run “a significantly reduced timetable” on strike days with no services to Edinburgh, North Wales and Stoke-on-Trent among others.
People travelling the day after a strike were also told services are “expected to be affected - particularly due to the reduced timetable for engineering work - but trains may also start later in the morning than usual following the strike.”
A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said:⯔The upcoming rail strikes called by the RMT union and the overtime ban by Aslef will undoubtedly cause some disruption, affecting not only the daily commute of our passengers but also disrupting the plans of families during the summer holidays.
“This will lead to disappointment, frustration, and financial strain for tens of thousands of people. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and understand the impact on individuals and businesses.
“While we are doing all we can to keep trains running, unfortunately there will be reduced services... so our advice is to check before you travel.
“Passengers with Advance tickets can be refunded fee-free if the train that the ticket is booked for is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled.”
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the strikes would show the country “just how important railway staff are to the running of the rail industry”.
“My team of negotiators and I are available 24/7 for talks with the train operating companies and government,” he said.
“Yet quite incredibly neither party has made any attempt whatsoever to arrange any meetings or put forward a decent offer that can help us reach a negotiated solution.
“The Government continues to shackle the companies and will not allow them to put forward a package that can settle this dispute.”
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan also said he wanted to “resolve this dispute” and blamed the Government and rail operators for not negotiating.
It comes as more Tube workers are to strike in a worsening dispute over jobs and pensions.
Unite said hundreds of its members in engineering, maintenance and management roles will walk out on July 26 and 28.
Members of Aslef and the RMT on the Tube are also taking industrial action later this month.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The Government has met the rail unions, listened to them and facilitated improved offers on pay and reform.
“The union leaders should put these fair and reasonable offers to their members so this dispute can be resolved.”
