Class 444 Train at Platform

South Western Railway announces further-reduced timetable on Saturday due to driver shortage

South Western Railway (SWR) is advising customers to double check their journeys tomorrow, Saturday 12th August. 

Due to a shortage of drivers and guards, a further-reduced timetable will be put in place overnight and customers are advised to double check their journeys before travelling. Short-notice cancellations are also possible.

Industrial action
A reduced timetable is already operating across the SWR network due to industrial action by the ASLEF union, with members taking action short of a strike. 

Customers travelling to events on the SWR network – including the England v Wales rugby fixture at Twickenham, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup event at Ascot and the Boomtown festival in Winchester – are advised to allow extra time to complete their journeys. 

Customers should double check before travelling
Stuart Meek, South Western Railway’s Chief Operating Officer, said,

“I am very sorry to say that we will need to make further reductions to our timetable on Saturday 12th August, which was already reduced due to action short of a strike by members of the ASLEF union. 

“Services will be further reduced across the whole of the SWR network tomorrow and short-notice cancellations are also possible. Customers should double check before travelling, with journey planners being updated with the latest information overnight. 

“Customers travelling to one of the many events on our network tomorrow should allow as much time as possible to complete their journeys. Once again I am very sorry for the disruption.” 


News shared by Steve on behalf of SWR. Ed