Chiltern Railways by Arriva

Industrial Action

December 2023 - Industrial Action announced.

Industrial action summary for the period from Friday the first of December through to Saturday the ninth of December Twenty Twenty Three. Limited services on every day with no Chiltern Railways services at all on Sunday the third of December. Last trains will be much earlier than normal every day. Please check before you travel.

ASLEF (The train drivers' union) has announced a period of industrial action from 1 - 9 December 2023 inclusive.

  • 1 - 9 December. A ban on overtime and Rest Day Working. Amended timetables are likely to be in operation.
  • 1 December (Friday). No services will call at Wembley Stadium all day. It will not be possible to travel to Wembley Stadium station for the football match taking place at Wembley Stadium in the evening.
  • 3 December (Sunday). Drivers will be on strike on this day and no Chiltern Railways services will operate. Other train operators who operate along the same lines as us and on the adjacent West Coast Main Line to / from Euston (Avanti West Coast, London Northwestern Railway & West Midlands Railway) will also be impacted on this day. There are other train operators who will additionally be affected by industrial action on this day.

Note that industrial action will be taking place on different days for different train operators. Strike action has been called for CrossCountry and Great Western Railway on 7 December (Thursday), consequently some Chiltern Railways services will be particularly busy on this day.

Further information for each affected day is shown below. A national summary of the upcoming industrial action (including the differing dates for individual train companies) may be found here.

Friday 1st December 2023:

ASLEF INDUSTRIAL ACTION - Overtime & Rest Day Work Ban

  • IMPORTANT: Chiltern Railways are unable to serve the England (Lionesses) vs Netherlands event at Wembley Stadium.
  • No trains will call at Wembley Stadium all day. Please do not attempt to travel with Chiltern Railways to the event. It will not be possible to travel with us after the event, as the last trains will have left London Marylebone by 2210.

Due to planned ASLEF industrial action on this date, a LIMITED SERVICE will be in operation, structured as follows:

  • 1 train per hour Marylebone - stations to Birmingham Moor Street (and vice-versa).
  • 2 trains per hour Marylebone - stations to Oxford (and vice-versa).
  • 1 train per hour Princes Risborough - stations to Aylesbury (and vice-versa).
  • Shuttle service Leamington Spa - stations to Stratford Upon Avon (and vice-versa) for most of the day.
  • 1 train per hour Marylebone - stations to Aylesbury Vale Parkway (via Amersham; and vice-versa).

Some additional services will operate during the morning and evening peak periods.

No Chiltern Railways service will operate on the following routes/at the following stations:

  • NO SERVICE: Stourbridge Junction - stations to Birmingham Moor Street.
  • NO SERVICE: Wembley Stadium, Sudbury & Harrow Road, Sudbury Hill Harrow, Northolt Park and South Ruislip.

A severely reduced Chiltern Railways service will operate at the following stations:

  • SEVERELY REDUCED SERVICE: Denham Golf Club and Kings Sutton.

Services on ALL ROUTES will finish earlier than usual - Please check your last trains carefully on the day.

There may be some amendments to early morning trains - please check journey planners to see if your morning journey will be affected.

LAST TRAINS FROM LONDON:

  • 21.57 Marylebone - Aylesbury (via Amersham).
  • 22.02 Marylebone - Birmingham Moor Street.
  • 22.06 Marylebone - Oxford.
  • 22.10 Marylebone - Aylesbury (via High Wycombe).

Online journey planners have now been updated for this day. Please check journey planners for accurate timetable information.

Saturday 2nd December 2023:

ASLEF INDUSTRIAL ACTION - Overtime & Rest Day Work Ban

Due to planned ASLEF industrial action on this date, a LIMITED SERVICE will be in operation, structured as follows:

  • 1 train per hour Marylebone - stations to Birmingham Moor Street (and vice-versa).
  • 1 train per hour Marylebone - stations to Oxford (and vice-versa).
  • 1 train per hour Marylebone - stations to Aylesbury (via High Wycombe; and vice-versa).
  • Shuttle service Leamington Spa - stations to Stratford Upon Avon (and vice-versa) for most of the day.
  • 1 train per hour Amersham - stations to Aylesbury (and vice-versa).

No Chiltern Railways service will operate on the following routes/at the following stations:

  • NO SERVICE: Stourbridge Junction - stations to Birmingham Moor Street.
  • NO SERVICE: Marylebone - stations to Amersham.
  • NO SERVICE: Kings Sutton, Warwick (Northbound), Hatton. Lapworth and Aylesbury Vale Parkway.

Services on ALL ROUTES will finish earlier than usual - Please check your last trains carefully on the day.

There may be some amendments to early morning trains - please check journey planners to see if your morning journey will be affected.

LAST TRAINS FROM LONDON:

  • 21.02 Marylebone - Birmingham Moor Street.
  • 22.07 Marylebone - Oxford.
  • 22.22 Marylebone - Aylesbury (via High Wycombe).

Online journey planners have now been updated for this day. Please check journey planners for accurate timetable information.

Sunday 3rd December 2023:

ASLEF INDUSTRIAL ACTION

Due to planned ASLEF industrial action on this date, NO CHILTERN RAILWAYS SERVICES WILL OPERATE.

Online journey planners have now been updated for this day. Please check journey planners for accurate timetable information.

There will be a very small number of trains (CrossCountry / Great Western) operating at Leamington Spa / Banbury & Oxford. These trains are however expected to be exceptionally busy and CrossCountry has asked customers with valid tickets to travel only if absolutely essential. GWR have advised that they expect significant disruption to their services and are advising customers, with tickets that are valid to travel on their services, to travel on alternative days.

Monday 4th December 2023 - Friday 8th December (inclusive):

ASLEF INDUSTRIAL ACTION - Overtime & Rest Day Work Ban

Due to planned ASLEF industrial action on this date, a LIMITED SERVICE will be in operation, structured as follows:

  • 1 train per hour Marylebone - stations to Birmingham Moor Street (and vice-versa).
  • 2 trains per hour Marylebone - stations to Oxford (and vice-versa).
  • 1 train per hour Princes Risborough - stations to Aylesbury (and vice-versa).
  • Shuttle service Leamington Spa - stations to Stratford Upon Avon (and vice-versa) for most of the day.
  • 1 train per hour Marylebone - stations to Aylesbury Vale Parkway (via Amersham; and vice-versa).

Some additional services will operate during the morning and evening peak periods.

No Chiltern Railways service will operate on the following routes/at the following stations:

  • NO SERVICE: Stourbridge Junction - stations to Birmingham Moor Street.
  • NO SERVICE: Sudbury & Harrow Road, Sudbury Hill Harrow, Northolt Park and South Ruislip.

A severely reduced Chiltern Railways service will operate at the following stations:

  • SEVERELY REDUCED SERVICE: Denham Golf Club and Kings Sutton.

Services on ALL ROUTES will finish earlier than usual - Please check your last trains carefully on the day.

There may be some amendments to early morning trains - please check journey planners to see if your morning journey will be affected.

LAST TRAINS FROM LONDON:

  • 22.02 Marylebone - Birmingham Moor Street.
  • 22.57 Marylebone - Aylesbury (via Amersham).
  • 23.11 Marylebone - Oxford - Banbury.

Online journey planners have now been updated for this day. Please check journey planners for accurate timetable information.

Saturday 9th December 2023:

ASLEF INDUSTRIAL ACTION - Overtime & Rest Day Work Ban

Due to planned ASLEF industrial action on this date, a LIMITED SERVICE will be in operation, structured as follows:

  • 1 train per hour Marylebone - stations to Birmingham Moor Street (and vice-versa).
  • 1 train per hour Marylebone - stations to Oxford (and vice-versa).
  • 1 train per hour Marylebone - stations to Aylesbury (via High Wycombe; and vice-versa).
  • Shuttle service Leamington Spa - stations to Stratford Upon Avon (and vice-versa) for most of the day.
  • 1 train per hour Amersham - stations to Aylesbury (and vice-versa).

No Chiltern Railways service will operate on the following routes/at the following stations:

  • NO SERVICE: Stourbridge Junction - stations to Birmingham Moor Street.
  • NO SERVICE: Marylebone - stations to Amersham.
  • NO SERVICE: Kings Sutton, Warwick (Northbound), Hatton, Lapworth and Aylesbury Vale Parkway.

Services on ALL ROUTES will finish earlier than usual - Please check your last trains carefully on the day.

There may be some amendments to early morning trains - please check journey planners after Friday 1st December to check to see if your morning journey will be affected.

LAST TRAINS FROM LONDON:

  • 21.02 Marylebone - Birmingham Moor Street.
  • 22.07 Marylebone - Oxford.
  • 22.22 Marylebone - Aylesbury (via High Wycombe).

Online journey planners have not yet been updated for this day. Please check journey planners after Friday 1st December for accurate timetable information.

Key information:

  • The information below details refund / compensation arrangements for the period of industrial action. 
  • All requests for refunds or Delay Compensation must be received within 28 days of the original date of travel. Please scroll down for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
  • To see live train times please download the Chiltern Railways App for Android or Apple devices.
  • When industrial action is taking place, please check the entire length of your journey as it may not be possible to reach your intended destination. Numerous other train operators will also be heavily impacted by any industrial action.
  • The information on this page is correct as of 29th November 2023.

FAQS

  • When is the industrial action taking place?
    • Members of ASLEF (the train drivers' union) have announced a strike for Chiltern Railways services on Sunday 3rd December 2023 (no Chiltern Railways services will run on this day). A series of rolling strikes have also been announced for other train companies on different days - please click here for a national summary of these dates. ASLEF have also announced an overtime ban for the period from Friday 1st December through to Saturday 9th December (inclusive).
  • Why is the industrial action happening?
    • Members of ASLEF  have voted to take industrial action in a dispute over various terms and conditions and pay.
  • What does the industrial action mean for my journey?
    • The industrial action will affect services on various days. On some days there will be no trains at some stations. Please see the relevant date panels above, where specific information is provided.
  • I have bought a ticket to travel on a day impacted by industrial action, can I use it on a different day instead? 
    • Customers with Advance, Anytime or Off-Peak tickets valid for travel between Saturday 2 December and Friday 8 December can instead use their tickets any time between Friday 1 December up until Tuesday 12 December - The policy only applies to tickets purchased before 17th November (ie before the industrial action was announced).
    • Please be advised that if your ticket includes travel on London Underground services it will only be valid on the date the ticket states and not on alternative days.
  • Is there a different timetable on the affected days?
    • Yes, an amended timetable will run on all days impacted by industrial action. No Chiltern railways services will run on Sunday 3rd December 2023.
  • Will stations and ticket offices be open on the days affected by industrial action?
    • Stations and ticket offices will open as normal provided trains are scheduled to call at the station.
  • Will I be able to buy an Advance ticket to travel on the affected days? 
    • Advance single tickets have been removed for sale from our services for days impacted by industrial action. Currently we anticipate reinstating the sale of Advance tickets for some services on 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th & 8th December and anticipate tickets being released on 30th November. There will be no Advance ticket availability on 2nd, 3rd, 7th or 9th December 2023.
  • I have bought an Advance ticket to travel on the affected days, will I be able to get a refund?
    • Customers with Advance tickets for a train that was scheduled for a day impacted by industrial action, who purchased their ticket directly with Chiltern can get a fee-free refund or change of journey if they decide not to travel and their original booked train has been cancelled. 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. The ticket(s) need to have been purchased directly with Chiltern Railways. Customers who have purchased their tickets from other train companies or from third party retailers should refer to the original point of sale for guidance. 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 still continue to provide assistance for each day that we are running trains, at stations that have a train service. If you have booked assistance on any of those days, please contact our customer relations team on 03456 005 165 (selecting option 3 then option 3). We will be attempting 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. You may receive contact from another train operator if your first or only travel leg is with them.
  • 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 was 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 decide 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 was 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 flex-season ticket holders who have not activated their ticket(s). 
  • Should I still buy a Seven Day (weekly) Season ticket?
    • Please note that there are no special refund or compensation arrangements in place for Seven Day (weekly) season tickets. To qualify for a monetary refund, Seven Day Season tickets must have at least three days' remaining validity and must be surrendered on the last day of use. If you hold a Seven Day Season ticket, you will only be eligible for compensation if you are delayed for 15 minutes or more against the final Published Timetable of the Day. Customers should carefully consider whether it is cost effective buying a weekly season ticket for the coming period of industrial action as, depending on your journeys / travel patterns, it could be better for you to buy tickets to buy on individual days.
  • I have a season ticket valid for one month or more. What are my options? 
    • (1) If passengers have a Season Ticket that is monthly or longer, or have an activated day's worth of travel on a Flexi Season ticket and were unable to travel due to timetable disruption caused by the strike on Sunday 3rd December, they can claim 100% compensation for that day through Delay Repay. (2) If you had activated a day's worth of travel on a Flexi-Season Ticket and you cannot travel due to timetable disruption you can claim 100% compensation for these days through Delay Repay. In line with the National Rail Conditions of Travel, 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 as season ticket refunds are not calculated on a pro-rata basis. Please see the National Rail 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 buses will not run in place of trains when industrial action is taking place.
  • If I do decide to travel on the day of the strike, will I receive compensation?
    • You will be eligible for compensation if you are 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 either travel on another day or seek a refund from the original point of sale.
  • 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.