Several Bristol railway stations may reduce services next week as planned RMT strikes are expected to cause severe disruption for passengers travelling with Great Western Railway (GWR).
The train operator announced that across the industry and Network Rail from June 21 to June 25, action by the RMT union is expected to severely affect services. It said on strike days during that period it would be running only 30 per cent of services, urging passengers to "expect severe disruption and to only travel by rail if absolutely necessary".
A map created by GWR shows that on June 21, 23 and 25, it expects to run a very limited service "between 7.30am and 6.30pm only" through Severn Tunnel Junction, Pilning, Patchway, Bristol Parkway, Filton Abbey Wood, Stapleton Road, Lawrence Hill, Temple Meads, Bedminster and Parson Street.
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It states that no services at all are expected to run at Severn Beach, St Andrews Road, Avonmouth, Portway Park and Ride, Shirehampton, Sea Mills, Clifton Down, Redland or Montpelier, with the map listing them all as 'station closed'. On June 22 and June 24 a separate map shows that services at all Bristol stations are expected to run from 7am, but some of the smaller stations will only be served by one train per hour.
GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: “We very much welcome the opportunity to continue to talk with the RMT to avert strike action. Any strike will impact on customers’ journeys and can only damage the post-covid recovery everyone at GWR has been working to win back, while at the same time making it more difficult to deliver the changes we need to secure jobs and services for the future.
“I’m hopeful the RMT will step back, however colleagues have been working hard to put contingency plans in place and give certainty to customers who need to travel. The priority will be to keep trains running and customers moving safely, but changes will be needed to allow that to happen and customers may wish to alter their plans.”
Where trains are able to run, they are expected to be extremely busy and replacement bus services are not able to be provided. Customers who have already purchased tickets can claim a full refund or can amend their ticket.
Those who travel and are delayed may be entitled to delay repay compensation if they are delayed by 15 mins or more. Season ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme.
