Strike action by union ASLEF will take place today (Friday, September 1) and tomorrow (Saturday, September 2) with the RMT also striking tomorrow.
Friday, September 1
According to Southern Rail, there will be no Thameslink, Great Northern or Gatwick Express services operating for the whole day today.
A very limited Southern shuttle service will run, calling at Gatwick Airport and London Victoria only, between 05:00 and 23:45. These limited services are expected to be very busy. A queueing system will be in place and you may not be able to board your chosen service.
If you are planning to travel on one of the last trains of the day, there's a chance that, depending on the size of the queue, you may not be able to board a service at all, and no alternative transport options will be provided after the last train departs.
For this reason, rail operators are asking passengers to plan ahead or risk getting stranded.
The following are the first and last services operating on September 1:
Gatwick Airport to London Victoria:
- First train: 05:50
- Last train: 23:45
London Victoria to Gatwick Airport:
- First train: 05:00
- Last train: 23:00
Due to industrial action affecting the vast majority of rail services across the country, onward travel options from London Victoria will be limited.
Saturday, September 2
A limited service will run across the network, with services starting later and finishing much earlier than usual. Some stations will not have a service all day.
Trains that do run will be busier than usual and you may not be able to board your chosen service. You should allow plenty of extra time for your journey.
Check your first and last trains carefully, as there will be no alternative travel options provided.
The usual non-stop Gatwick Express service between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Brighton will not be in operation.
To help customers, rail companies have added extra stops at Clapham Junction and East Croydon, and as such these trains will be operating as Southern services. Gatwick Express tickets are valid on Southern and Thameslink at no additional cost.
Engineering works may also be taking place on parts of the network. For further details, visit our engineering work page.
Sunday, September 3
The disruption from a strike day will have a knock-on effect which means that first services will begin much later than normal, with some routes having no services before 7am. This could be later depending on where you are travelling from.
Journey planners for early morning services will not be updated until the day before travel.
Services are expected to be extremely crowded and you may not be able to board your chosen service.
You are advised to start your journey later on in the morning.
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