Axminster train services to be affected by upcoming strike action

South Western Railway (SWR) has confirmed its services for the strike on Saturday, July 29 and industrial action between Monday, July 31 and Saturday, August 5.

On Saturday, July 29 a significantly reduced service will operate on a limited number of lines due to strike action by the RMT union, with services from Axminster station affected.

Large parts of the SWR network will be closed and trains will only run between the hours of 7am and 7pm. The last trains of the day will depart from about 5pm.

Customers should only travel if their journeys are absolutely necessary. If customers intend to travel they should check their entire journey using journey planners, which are now up to date, as other train operators will also be affected.

Between Monday, July 31 and Saturday, August 5 a reduced timetable will operate across the SWR network due to industrial action by the ASLEF union.

Customers should check before they travel. Journey planners will be updated on Friday, July 28 and customers are advised to check their entire journey, as other train operators will be affected.

Full information regarding services during strike action can be found at southwesternrailway.com/strike

Further industrial action by the ASLEF union has been announced between Monday, August 7 and Saturday, August 12. Information on SWR services during this period will be confirmed in due course.

Stuart Meek, South Western Railway's chief operating officer, said: "I am sorry to say that strike action by the RMT union and industrial action by the ASLEF union will affect our services in the coming weeks.

"On Saturday, July 29, strike action by the RMT union will mean that we will operate a significantly reduced service with large parts of our network closed.

"Customers should only travel if their journeys are absolutely necessary. Customers should also note the times of the last trains of the day, which will be much earlier than usual.

"A ban on overtime working by the ASLEF union will then affect our network between Monday 31 July and Saturday 5 August. A reduced timetable will operate across our network and customers should check before they travel.

"We have started planning for the ASLEF union overtime ban that will take place between Monday 7 and Saturday 12 August. Services during this period will be announced in due course.

"We are very sorry for the large amount of disruption our customers will experience as a result of this damaging action by the RMT and ASLEF unions."