There will once again be no train services on the Alton and Portsmouth lines during the planned RMT strike day on Wednesday, July 27.

South Western Railway (SWR) has confirmed its service levels after the RMT union announced workers at Network Rail and 14 train operators are to strike for another day July 27 in a row over jobs, pay and conditions.

A further two strike days are to take place on August 18 and 20.

SWR will provide only a very limited service on the routes Network Rail have made available on July 27 – with no trains planned on the Alton and Portsmouth to Waterloo lines. 

Network Rail and more than 2,100 SWR RMT members are set to take strike action next week. 

Network Rail will provide contingency cover for critical roles including electrical control room operators, signallers, maintenance and response teams, but will not be able to cover the whole day.  

SWR’s reduced timetable will run from 7.15am to 6.30pm on July 27, and will consist of:   

• Four trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Windsor via Hounslow  

• Two semi-fast trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Basingstoke   

• Four trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Woking  

• Two fast trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Southampton  

Trains will not stop at all stations on these routes. There will be no SWR services across the rest of the network.  

Significant disruption is also expected on Thursday, July 28, when there will be a late-starting service, with first trains operating much later than usual. Passengers should check before they travel.  

SWR will be publishing service level information for the August strike days “in due course”. 

SWR managing director, Claire Mann, said: “The scale of the planned industrial action limits the number of trains we can run and routes we can serve, resulting in the severely reduced service we are able to operate on the strike day. 

“We urge customers to only travel by rail if absolutely necessary on Wednesday, July 27, and to check before you travel on Thursday, July 28, as we will be running a late-starting service due to the disruption of the strike the previous day.  

“We are sorry that strikes will again cause such disruption, and we are grateful to our customers for their continued cooperation, patience, and understanding as the rail industry works to end this damaging nationwide strike action.”  

Customers are urged to check the SWR website for latest information at: www.southwesternrailway.com/strike