Yahoo News Train strikes cause disruption and delays for rail users in Wales
Train passengers in Wales are set to face further travel disruption on Wednesday (May 8) as national rail strikes continue as part of a long-running dispute over pay and conditions. Members of the train drivers' union Aslef across 16 train operators are carrying out a series of rolling walkouts, one region at a time, all over the country in May.
Tuesday, May 7, saw drivers at seven operators strike, with the remainder set to walk out on Wednesday, May 8, and Thursday, May 9. The walkouts mean services are not running or are extremely limited.
There will also be a on overtime for most of the week, from Monday, May 6 to Saturday, May 11 - meaning there is likely to be some short-notice alterations and cancellations, especially at weekends or late at night. Transport for Wales is not involved in the industrial action, but it has warned some of its services are "likely to be extremely busy as a result of the severely-reduced timetable put in place by other operators."
READ MORE: I spent the morning on Cardiff's Number 1 bus and saw parts of the city I never knew existed
READ MORE: 'Tired of the same problems': Trains for big events in Wales are 'simply inadequate'
May's walkouts are the latest in a series of strikes and other industrial action that have taken place since the union first balloted its members in June 2022. On Wednesday, staff at Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway (GWR) and West Midlands Trains will be striking. On Thursday LNER, Northern Trains, and TransPennine Trains will be affected, though these do not operate in Wales. Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news
It means that on Wednesday, there will be no CrossCountry trains between Cardiff and Nottingham, nor will there be will an Avanti West Coast service from Chester and Holyhead on Anglesey. Meanwhile Great Western Railway urged passengers to check "both outwards and return journeys before setting out" during the period of industrial action.
It said in a notice on its website: "On Wednesday 8 May, a reduced, revised timetable will operate across several train operators, including GWR. Many parts of the GWR network will have no service at all and trains that are running will only be operating for a limited period during the day.
"Due to engineering work, there will be no GWR trains between London Paddington and Reading. No long-distance services will operate on the GWR network, and strike action will also affect other operators. On the days after strikes, services could also be affected by a limited number of short-notice cancellations and alterations."
It added: "Other train operators are also affected by this action, so onward travel could also be affected. Where we are able to run services, they are expected to be extremely busy and we are not able to provide bus replacement services." For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter
On Wednesday, GWR services will start at 7am and will end around 7pm. A "very limited service" will run only on the following routes between:
Reading and Oxford
Reading and Basingstoke
Reading and Redhill (peak time only)
Reading and Newbury
Westbury and Swindon (peak time only)
Cardiff and Bristol
Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple
Exeter St Davids and Exmouth (calling at Exeter Central, Digby and Topsham only)
Penzance/St Erth and St Ives (9.30am to 12.30pm and 3.30pm to 7pm)
Plymouth and Gunnislake
The operator said its customers who had purchased tickets but do not travel can claim a full refund or amend their tickets, while those who do travel but face delays could be entitled to compensation. Visit the GWR website for more details.
GWR tickets for strike days will also be valid for travel on alternative days on GWR services, the operator said. Tickets for Tuesday, May 7 to Thursday, May 9, can be used the day before or up to and including Monday, May 13.
