South Western Railway strike: When is it and which services are affected?

South Western Railway plans to run around half of its normal schedule

SWR staff are set to walk out for four days from Friday in a row over guards on trains (istock)

Passengers face disruption this week as South Western Railway (SWR) workers walk out for four days from Friday 30 August to Monday 2 September in a long-running dispute about guards on trains.

The strike has been called by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT).

Thousands of commuters as well as weekend leisure travellers will be affected.

Here is everything you need to know about the strike.

When is the strike?

RMT has instructed all guards and drivers working for SWR to walk out between 00.01 and 23.59 from Friday 30 August to Monday 2 September – four days in total.

South Western Railway runs services from London Waterloo, the UK’s busiest train station, to destinations in Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset and Berkshire.

SWR says it will run around half of its scheduled services and will run rail replacement services “wherever possible”. Tickets may also be accepted on other operators.

What is the strike about?

The row focuses on the role of guards. The union wants the rail operator to guarantee the role of guards onboard its trains.

The strike is the latest in a series for South Western Railway. There were previous strikes last Christmas, as well as in February and March and during the busy Royal Ascot period in June.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Our members have been left with no choice but to go ahead with a further four days of strike action on South Western Railway from Friday.

“They are angry and frustrated that SWR have kicked talks into the long grass and failed to bolt down an agreement that will guarantee the role of the guard on the train.

“We have spent most of this year trying to negotiate a conclusion to this dispute.”

Which SWR services are affected?

Some routes will not have a train service or a replacement bus service, says SWR, and timetables could change at the last minute.

Here are the services affected.

A reduced service will run between Basingstoke and Waterloo, with one train per hour running in each direction.

Trains will run an hourly service between Alton and Waterloo on Friday 30 August and Monday 2 September. On Saturday 31 August, a half-hour bus service will run between Alton and Aldershot, where trains will run to Woking. On Sunday 1 September, a half-hourly bus service will run between Alton and Farnborough Main.

A half-hourly service will operate between Woking and Waterloo.

A reduced service will run on the Brockenhurst to Lymington pier line.

A reduced service will run between Salisbury and Waterloo.

A reduced train service will run between Salisbury and Exeter St David’s.

No trains will run between Salisbury and Bristol Temple Meads.

An hourly bus service will run between Aldershot and Ascot.

There will be two trains an hour between Portsmouth and Waterloo. No trains will run between Waterloo and Haslemere.

One train will run every two hours between Southampton Central and Fratton.

Trains will run hourly between Portsmouth and Basingstoke on Friday 30 August and Monday 2 September. On Saturday 31 August, trains will run hourly between Portsmouth and Winchester only. On Sunday 1 September, an hourly train service will run between Southampton and Portsmouth and Southsea.

Trains will run every half-hour between Waterloo and Epsom. There will be no service between Leatherhead and Dorking on 30-31 August and 2 September. On Sunday 1 September, there will be no service between Epsom and Dorking.

An hourly train service will run between Waterloo and Guildford via Cobham on Friday 30 August and Monday 2 September. On Sunday 31 August and Monday 2 September, an hourly service will run between Surbiton and Guildford via Cobham. On Sunday 1 September, an hourly train service will run between Wimbledon and Guildford via Cobham in the morning, and in the afternoon the services will run through to Waterloo.

On 30-31 August and Monday 2 September, a half-hourly service will run between Hampton Court and Waterloo. On Saturday 31 August, replacement buses will run between Hampton Court and Surbiton.

An hourly service will run between Chessington South and Waterloo on Friday 30 August and a half-hourly service on Monday 2 September. A reduced service will run on Saturday 31 August. On Sunday 1 September, a half hourly bus service will run between Worcester Park and Chessington South.

A half-hourly bus service will run between Shepperton and Teddington.

A half-hourly service will run between Waterloo and Windsor & Eton Riverside on 30-31 August and 2 September until 8pm. On 1 September, an hourly service will run between Windsor & Eton Riverside and Richmond, where bus services will run to Waterloo.

Two trains each hour will run between Waterloo and Reading on 30-31 August and 2 September. On 1 September, an hourly train will run between Richmond and Reading.

Waterloo to Weybridge via Staines trains will not run.

A reduced service will run between Waterloo and Weymouth.

Hourly fast trains will run between Waterloo and Bournemouth.

Trains between Waterloo and Poole will not run.

There are no trains between Salisbury and Romsey via Southampton.

SWR advises passengers to check the website for updated information on the strike.

Will tickets be accepted by other train operators?

Some tickets will be accepted on Cross Country, Southern and Great Western Railway routes as well as on London buses and London Underground.

Which services are unaffected?

On 30-31 August and 2 September, a normal service will run on the circular line between Waterloo to Waterloo via Strawberry Hill.

On 1 September, two trains an hour will run between Waterloo and Twickenham and a bus service will run between Clapham Junction and Richmond.

The Island Line on the Isle of Wight is unaffected.

What does South Western Railway say?

An SWR spokesperson said: “During strike action, while services are likely be busier than usual, we will do everything we can to keep customers moving. We will be running just over half our normal timetabled service over the course of the four days and have rail replacement services and ticket acceptance in place on other transport providers wherever possible.

“We will also look for opportunities to introduce extra services each day to help keep our customers moving so recommend checking the SWR app for the latest travel information.”