Reminder to all rail passengers: essential travel only until Sunday 26 June

• Impact of national strike will affect train journeys for the remainder of the week
• Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern and Thameslink are reminding public that every day this week, including non-strike days, train journeys will be disrupted
• There will be no trains before 07:15 on each day, including those following strike action, with some stations (e.g. East Croydon) waiting until 08:00 for the first train of the day – more examples in notes to editors
• On strike days, services will finish as early as late afternoon. For example 17:50 to Brighton, 17:49 to Bedford and 17:32 to Ely. Check before you travel

Travellers wishing to use Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern or Thameslink services over the next five days should expect severe disruption and amended timetables. This advice applies to the next two strike days (23 and 25 June) as well as non-strike days (22 and 24).

On Sunday 26 June, no trains will run before 0715, however after that the regular Sunday service will operate.

Despite widespread travel advice, passenger numbers have been higher today compared to yesterday, so Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), is reminding people once again to only travel if necessary.

RMT members at GTR did not vote for strike action, however, the operator depends on Network Rail signallers and engineers to keep its trains moving, and its services connect with many lines and stations managed by other operators whose staff are taking action.

Due to earlier finishes on strike days, each day that follows will be severely impacted, with fewer trains able to run. Disruption is expected to last until the end of the weekend.

For those who have no other option but to travel by train, the advice is to check amended timetables as the first and last service will differ from normal. On strike days, in particular, the last trains will finish in the afternoon.

Angie Doll, Chief Operating Officer, Govia Thameslink Railway, said: 

“We’re sorry to say that people should only travel by rail this week (through to 26 June) if absolutely necessary due to strike action by RMT members at Network Rail and other train companies. Unfortunately, there will be very few train services and some routes will be closed altogether on strike days and this will also have an impact on non-strike days.

“Services will continue to start much later than normal and finish earlier. On strike days, last trains will be in the late afternoon. On non-strike days, there won't be any trains until later in the morning than usual. All this may lead to very busy trains and possible delays. Passengers should plan ahead and only travel by rail if they really need to."

Journey planners have been updated to show the service expected today (Wednesday 22 June, a non-strike day), Thursday 23 June (strike day) and Friday 24 June (non-strike day) with Saturday 25 June (strike day) to be updated imminently and Sunday, which will also have a late start-up, on Saturday.

Full details on industrial action can be found on the following web pages:

• Southern - Industrial action
• Thameslink - Industrial action
• Gatwick Express - Industrial action
• Great Northern - Industrial action

Please note that although there are no Gatwick Express services running on strike days, the airport station will be served by limited Southern and Thameslink services.

Notes to editors

• Trains will start later and finish earlier – leaving and returning to depots 0715-1845 on strike days and 0715-c2300 each day after a strike.
• On non-strike days, there will be no trains before 07:15. Some stations will not have a first service until 08:00. First train examples below for non-strike days:

- Bedford: 07:33

- Luton: 07:58

- Stevenage: 07:45

- Cambridge: 07:24

• First and last train times on strike days will vary considerably along each route. For example, the last train from London to Brighton will be late afternoon.

• Check before travelling using the National Rail Journey Planner.