Industrial action has been announced by the RMT on 10 and 17 October, we expect to operate the vast majority of our services limiting the impact on customers.
For background on this action, please see the latest update on our East West Rail - Oxford to Milton Keynes page.
Please see the below date boxes for the full impact on our services. The vast majority of customers will not be affected.
Information for Saturday 10 & Saturday 17 October 2026:
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Saturday 10 October
Most customers will experience a near normal train service.
The normal number of trains will run into and out of London Marylebone.
• No services Stratford-upon-Avon / Leamington Spa all day.
• Four long distance services will run for only part of their journeys in passenger service:
0644 Stourbridge Junction – London Marylebone will start at Banbury
0819 Stourbridge Junction – London Marylebone will start at Birmingham Moor Street
1802 London Marylebone – Stourbridge Junction will terminate at Birmingham Moor Street
1932 London Marylebone – Stourbridge Junction will terminate at Banbury
• Throughout the day, numerous trains to / from London Marylebone will call additionally at Wembley Stadium, to help customers get to the multi-show Girlguiding Big Gig at Wembley Arena.
Saturday 17 October
Most customers will experience a near normal train service.
The normal number of trains will run into and out of London Marylebone.
• The same service amendments will apply as 10 October (above), but without the additional station calls at Wembley Stadium.
Key information:
For live journey updates, please visit our JourneyCheck page.
For our live service information route map and links to individual station departure boards, please click here.
FAQS
- When is the industrial action taking place?
- This industrial action is happening on Saturday 10 & Saturday 17 October. Other than the limited changes noted above, we plan to run a normal train service on both days..
- Why is the industrial action happening?
- Members of the RMT Union have voted in favour of industrial action over how we intend to run services on the first stage of East West Rail between Oxford and Milton Keynes.
- What does the industrial action mean for my journey?
- Most customers are expected to experience no changes to their planned services. Four long distance trains (Chiltern Railways services scheduled to start or finish their journeys at Stourbridge Junction) will run for only part of their planned journeys. No Chiltern Railways services will run between Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa on either day.
- I have bought a ticket to travel on a day impacted by industrial action, can I use it on a different day instead?
- No, as the impact of the industrial action is limited.
- Will my ticket(s) be valid on any other route?
- Customers traveling to / from stations along the route between Hatton & Stratford-upon-Avon may travel on West Midlands Railway services, via Dorridge, at no extra cost.
- Is there a different timetable on the affected days?
- Yes, all changes are summarised above.
- Will stations and ticket offices be open on the days affected by industrial action?
- Yes. Stations and ticket offices will be open as normal.
- Will I be able to buy an Advance ticket to travel on the affected days?
- Yes. Advance tickets are available as normal (subject to availability) except on the specific journeys affected by the planned industrial action. Please check our dedicated page for Advance ticket availability information.
- I have bought an Advance ticket to travel on the affected days, will I be able to get a refund?
- Advance tickets can be refunded fee-free (from the original retailer) if the train that the ticket is booked for is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled. Customers with 2 x Advance tickets (an outbound and a return), to be used as a return journey, can get a fee-free refund or change of journey for any unused legs/tickets, if one (either) of the legs is scheduled for an affected day. All other normal terms & conditions for these tickets apply.
- I have assistance booked over the strike period, what should I do?
- We will continue to provide assistance for trains that are running, including booked assistance for trains that are confirmed in the timetable. We will continue to provide assistance for each day that we are running trains. If you have booked assistance for any of the journeys detailed above, our advice is to please contact our customer relations team on 03456 005 165 (selecting option 3 then option 3). We will attempt to proactively contact customers who have already booked assistance on a day impacted by industrial action and whose first or only travel leg is on our services.
- Am I able to get a refund on a ticket purchased to travel on any of the days affected by industrial action?
- Customers whose train is delayed, cancelled or amended due to industrial action and have already purchased tickets can claim a full fee free refund on their outward and return ticket from the original ticket retailer or can amend their ticket without charge in line with the National Rail Conditions of Travel Condition 30 if they decided not to travel. This includes those with separate tickets purchased as part of a return journey that is not affected by the industrial action, but where the outward journey is not possible. Those who do travel and are delayed may be entitled to delay repay compensation if they are delayed by 15 mins or more against the published timetable in operation on the day. See below faq for further detailed guidance for flexi-season ticket holders who had not activated their ticket(s).
- Should I still buy a Seven Day (weekly) Season ticket?
- Yes. The limited impact of this industrial action is unlikely to affect the very significant majority of season ticket holders.
- I have a season ticket valid for one month or more. What are my options?
- The impact on season tickets is expected to be very small. Customers who are explicitly impacted by the proposed timetable changes are advised to contact our Customer Relations team to explore their options (03456 005 165 Option 3, then Option 4). Customers may also choose to surrender their season ticket to the original retailer and seek a refund. This will rarely be the best course of action, and is not recommended, as season ticket refunds are not calculated on a pro-rata basis. Please see the National Rail Enquiries website for more information.
- What if I have a Flexi Season ticket to use on the strike day?
- If you are unable to use the tickets on your Flexi Season due to the industrial action, you must wait until the Flexi Season has expired. If at this point, there are tickets still unused, you can contact us via the Contact Us form to refund any remaining tickets. If you have activated your ticket and then realised you can not travel, you can contact us from the Contact Us form and we will validate that the ticket was not used by checking tap data and refund that days travel. If you do not use the ticket on one or more of the days affected by industrial action, but then use them on a future date before the expiry of the ticket, there is no loss to you and therefore no refund due if all tickets used prior to expiry.
- Will you put alternative transport solutions in place?
- No rail replacement bus services will run.
- If I do decide to travel on the day of the strike, will I receive compensation?
- You will be eligible for compensation if you were delayed for 15 minutes or more against the final Published Timetable of the Day. You can apply for compensation on our delay repay page. Season ticket holders should see the above FAQ. Holders of Single and Return tickets should seek a refund from the original point of sale. Any application for Delay Repay or a refund of unused ticket(s) must be received within 28 days of the original date of travel.
- What happens if a ‘Do Not Travel’ message is issued?
- Customers who have already purchased tickets can claim a full fee free refund from the original ticket retailer or can amend their ticket; Season ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme if you were unable to use your season ticket due to strike action.