Strike action has been announced by the ASLEF Union on the following days:
- Saturday 30 September
- Wednesday 4 October
In addition, ASLEF have also announced an overtime ban across the UK rail network on Friday 29 September, and from Monday 2 to Friday 6 October.Â
ALSEF Union - Saturday 30 September and Wednesday 4 October:
There will be NO Thameslink, Great Northern or Gatwick Express services operating for the whole day.
A limited Southern shuttle service will run, calling at Gatwick Airport and London Victoria only.
These services will be extremely busy, a queueing system will be in place, and you may not be able to board your chosen service. If you are planning to travel on one of the last trains of the day, please be aware that, depending on the size of the queue, you may not be able to board a service at all, and no alternative transport options will be provided after the last train departs. Please plan ahead.
Days after strike - Sunday 1 October:
The disruption from a strike day will have a knock-on effect which means that first services will begin much later than normal, with some routes having no services before 07:00. This could be later depending on where you are travelling from, so make sure to check your journey.
Please note that journey planners for early morning services will not be updated until the day before travel. We expect first services to be extremely crowded and you may not be able to board your chosen service. You are advised to start your journey later on in the morning.
Action short of strike - Saturday 29 September, Monday 2 - Friday 6 October:
An amended timetable with fewer services will run. Services will be busier than usual, especially in peak hours.
The usual non-stop Gatwick Express service between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Brighton will not run.
To help customers, extra stops at Clapham Junction and East Croydon have been added, and as such, these trains will be operating as Southern services.
Gatwick Express tickets are valid on Southern and Thameslink at no additional cost.
More information:
More information including ticket FAQs can be found on the following:
Check before you travel:
The National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner is currently showing the normal planned service for the strike days, which is subject to change. The amended timetables are expected to be showing correctly in Journey Planners at the following times:
- For journeys on 29 and 30 September, please check back on Friday 22 September
- For journeys from 2 to 4 October, please check back on Wednesday 27 September
- For journeys on 1 October, please check back on Saturday 30 September
- For journeys from 5 to 6 October, please check back on Friday 29 September