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Last updated: 03:20

Industrial action

The information on this page is correct as of 6 October and is always subject to change so please check back before you travel.

If you have been affected by industrial action, we’re very sorry for any disruption to your plans. Please see our FAQs that explain what options may still be open to you including:

  • Applying for a refund and
  • For Delay Repay compensation, which you may qualify for even if you did not travel, as well as being able to claim if you travelled and your journey was delayed by 15 minutes or more

You can apply for these up to 28 days after your planned or completed date of travel (see dates below). These options are only available for strike dates, not for days after.

Industrial action dates

 

RMT strike days - Only travel if absolutely necessary

  • Saturday 8 October - Journey Planners are now live

Day after RMT strike day- Check before you travel

Early morning services will be affected

  • Sunday 9 October - Journey Planners are up to date, except for some morning services. They will be updated on Saturday 8 October

ASLEF strike days

Our drivers are not on strike on these days, however services between Tonbridge and Redhill will be affected, see below

As Industrial Action is affecting the whole country, we will be unable to provide alternatives such as taxis, additional replacement buses, and ticket acceptance with other local rail and bus operators on any strike day.

Engineering works might take place on strike days. Journey planners will always include these details and will be correct no later than the day before travel.

Travel advice

We advise you to only travel if absolutely necessary and expect severe disruption.

The railway will operate limited opening hours with services starting later than normal and finishing in the late afternoon. Please check your first and last trains carefully, as there will be no alternative travel outside of these services.

We will let you know when journey planners will be updated for any future dates in the section above. You must check your journey immediately before you travel for the latest updates. Please see below for FAQs regarding your options.

RMT strike day

We advise you to only travel if absolutely necessary and expect severe disruption.

The railway will operate limited opening hours with services starting later than normal and finishing in the late afternoon. Please check your first and last trains carefully, as there will be no alternative travel outside of these services.

Please see the service map and overview of services we plan to run below.



Overview of services

Click to expand each section

map 

 

Download the service map


Services between London Bridge / London Victoria and the south coast

London Victoria and Brighton

Two trains per hour will run between London Victoria and Brighton, calling at London Victoria, Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport and Brighton only.

London Bridge and Brighton

Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Brighton, calling at London Bridge, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Balcombe, Hayward’s Heath, Wivelsfield, Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Preston Park and Brighton only.

London Bridge and Gatwick Airport

Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport, calling at London Bridge, Norwood Junction, East Croydon, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley and Gatwick Airport only.

London Bridge and Three Bridges

Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Three Bridges, calling at London Bridge, Norwood Junction, East Croydon, Coulsdon South, Merstham, Redhill, Horley, Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges only.

Brighton and Hove

Two trains per hour will run between Brighton and Hove only.

Services between London Bridge / London Victoria and South London

London Victoria and Sutton

Two trains per hour will run between London Victoria and Sutton, calling at London Victoria, Clapham Junction, Balham, Mitcham Eastfields, Mitcham Junction, Hackbridge, Carshalton, and Sutton only.

London Victoria and Epsom Downs via Selhurst

Two trains per hour will run between London Victoria and Epsom Downs, calling at London Victoria, Battersea Park, Clapham Junction, Wandsworth Common, Balham, Streatham Common, Norbury, Thornton Heath, Selhurst, West Croydon, Waddon, Wallington, Carshalton Beeches, Sutton, Belmont, Banstead and Epsom Downs only.

London Victoria and West Croydon via Crystal Palace

Saturday 8 October, these trains will not run - buses will replace trains between Balham and West Croydon via Crystal Palace.

London Bridge and Tattenham Corner

Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Tattenham Corner, calling at London Bridge, East Croydon, South Croydon, Purley Oaks, Reedham, Coulsdon Town, Woodmansterne, Chipstead, Kingswood, Tadworth and Tattenham Corner only.


Services between St Pancras International and Bedford

St Pancras International and Bedford

Two trains per hour will run between St Pancras International and Bedford, calling at St Pancras International, West Hampstead Thameslink, St Albans City, Harpenden, Luton Airport Parkway, Luton, Leagrave, Harlington, Flitwick and Bedford only.

St Pancras International and Luton

Two trains per hour will run between St Pancras International and Luton, calling at St Pancras International, Kentish Town, West Hampstead Thameslink, Cricklewood, Hendon, Mill Hill Broadway, Elstree & Borehamwood, Radlett, St Albans City, Harpenden, Luton Airport Parkway, Luton.

Services between King’s Cross and Peterborough / Cambridge / Ely

King’s Cross and Ely

One train per hour will run between King’s Cross and Ely, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Potters Bar, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn North, Knebworth, Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Baldock, Ashwell & Morden, Royston, Meldreth, Shepreth, Foxton, Cambridge, Cambridge North, Waterbeach, Ely only.

Cambridge and Ely

In addition to the above, one train per hour will run between Cambridge and Ely, calling at Cambridge, Cambridge North, Waterbeach and Ely only.

King’s Cross and Cambridge

One train per hour will run between King’s Cross and Cambridge, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Baldock, Ashwell & Morden, Royston and Cambridge only.

King’s Cross and Peterborough

Two trains per hour will run between King’s Cross and Peterborough, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Stevenage, Hitchin, Arlesey, Biggleswade, Sandy, St Neots, Huntingdon and Peterborough only.

King’s Cross and Welwyn Garden City

Two trains per hour will run between King’s Cross and Welwyn Garden City, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Harringay, Hornsey, Alexandra Palace, New Southgate, Oakleigh Park, New Barnet, Hadley Wood, Potters Bar, Brookmans Park, Welham Green, Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City only.

King’s Cross and Stevenage via Hertford North

Two trains per hour will run between King’s Cross and Stevenage, calling at King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Harringay, Hornsey, Alexandra Palace, Bowes Park, Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill, Grange Park, Enfield Chase, Gordon Hill, Crews Hill, Cuffley, Bayford, Hertford North, Watton-at-Stone and Stevenage only.

Gatwick Express services will not run.

Downloadable Timetables

Timetables are now available below.

Always check your journey immediately before you travel at National Rail Enquiries


Day after RMT strike day

The disruption from an RMT strike day will have a knock-on effect as the railway will be unavailable overnight meaning that trains and crew will not be in the correct locations to provide a normal service. This means that first services will begin much later than normal.

We expect first services to be extremely crowded and you may not be able to board your chosen service.


ASLEF only strike day

Our drivers are not involved in this strike action, however as London Overground, Southeastern and other neighbouring train companies will be affected, we expect our services to be busy impacted. In addition a reduced service will run between Tonbridge and Redhill.

Services towards Tonbridge

Redhill
07:24
 11:00
 13:00
 15:00
 17:00
20:00
Nutfield
07:28
 11:04
 13:04
 15:04
 17:04
 20:04
Godstone
07:34
 11:10
 13:10
 15:10
17:10
 20:10
Edenbridge
07:40
 11:16
 13:16
 15:16
 17:16
 20:16
Penshurst
07:46
 11:22
 13:22
 15:22
 17:22
 20:22
Leigh
07:50
 11:26
 13:26
 15:26 17:26
 20:26
Tonbridge
07:55
 11:31
 13:31
 15:31
 17:31
 20:31

Services towards Redhill

Tonbridge
 06:28
 09:01
 12:01
 14:01
 16:17
18:01
Leigh
 06:32
 09:05
 12:05
 14:05
 16:21
 18:05
Penshurst
06:36
 09:09
 12:09
 14:09
 16:25
 18:09
Edenbridge
06:43
 09:16
 12:16
 14:16
 16:32
 18:16
Godstone
 06:49
 09:22
 12:22
 14:22
 16:38
 18:22
Nutfield
 06:55
 09:28
 12:28
 14:28
 16:44
 18:28
Redhill
07:01
 09:33
 12:33
 14:33
 16:49
 18:33

Please see below for FAQs regarding your options if your journey is affected.

If you travel anywhere on our network on an ASLEF strike day you should expect disruption and overcrowding, and always check immediately before you travel for the latest information and advice.


FAQ - RMT strike day

If you no longer wish to travel on an RMT strike day you can get a full fee-free refund on your Anytime, Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak and Advance ticket. If you didn’t buy your ticket from us, you will need to go back to the retailer you originally brought your ticket from.

If you no longer wish to travel on the strike date and you have a flexi season ticket or a monthly or longer duration season ticket, you can use our Delay Repay scheme to claim the value of one day's travel for the strike day, you do not need to have travelled or have been delayed. This is only available for strike dates, not for days after.

See the FAQs below for more information on how to arrange a refund or claim compensation.

Booked Passenger Assist? If you would like to cancel or rearrange your booking, please contact our Assisted Travel team.

Instead of you having to apply for a refund, there are some alternative travel date options for you. For the latest RMT strike dates on:

1 October

If you have a ticket for Saturday 1 October (RMT strike days) you can use it on the day before the date on the ticket or any day from then through to 4 October (inclusive).

8 October

If you have a ticket for Saturday 8 October (RMT strike days) you can use it on the day before the date on the ticket or any day from then through to 11 October (inclusive).

  • Please note if your ticket is for a through fare that includes the London Underground it will not be valid on London Underground services on an alternative date
  • If you’re travelling on a different day and have an Advance Ticket, where possible, please try to travel on the same time as your original booked train
  • If you have a seat reservation and choose to travel on a different day, you will not be able to use your original reservation, so please visit one of our Ticket Offices and we can try to reserve you a seat on the new travel date
  • If you travel and your train is delayed, you will be entitled to Delay Repay as usual. Note that delays will be calculated against the strike day timetable
  • Booked Passenger Assist? If you need to change your booking to another day or time, please contact our Assisted Travel team



Including for Advance tickets, you can change the time and / or date of travel at any of our Ticket Offices, using our Book With Confidence policy, which is in place until 18:00 on the 30 November 2022.

You need to do this before 18:00 on the day before your original travel date.

We can then change your ticket, without charging you the normal £10 change of journey fee, but you will need to pay any difference between the price you’ve already paid and the price of the best available ticket for your new travel date.

Booked Passenger Assist? If you need to change your booking to another day or time, please contact our Assisted Travel team.


If you have a ticket and your train/trains are still running you don't need to do anything further. If you have yet to buy your ticket, then you may wish to consider only buying your Anytime, Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets once you know the train you plan to take is running, as the cost of the ticket will not change and fees to refund may still apply.

If you travel and your train is delayed, you will be entitled to Delay Repay as usual. Note that delays will be calculated against the strike day timetable.

If you have an impacted assistance booking which starts on one of our services, we'll get in touch with you to make new arrangements. In the meantime, if you have any concerns then please contact our Assisted Travel team.

There will be no replacement buses or taxis on RMT strike days because there simply aren’t enough available to replace the train service.

There will be no planned ticket acceptance on RMT strike dates on other train operator’s services. However, on RMT strike dates you may use:

  • Any ticket on our other services (Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern) to travel to the destination on your ticket, but please note that train services are expected to be extremely busy and we do expect disruption
  • Your paper ticket on TfL bus, Tube, tram or DLR services on any reasonable route to complete your journey

We expect the trains that are running to be extremely busy, so First Class areas will be declassified on RMT strike dates (all day) and until midday the next for customer safety and comfort on Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern trains. If you have a First Class ticket you can apply for compensation here.

On RMT strike dates only, anyone needing to complete an essential journey with us who holds an APCOA GTR car park season ticket will be able to park in any Southern, Thameslink or Great Northern carpark regardless of the location of their existing parking permit. Please check National Rail Enquiries to check which stations car parks this applies to. Car parks will be busier than usual due to the reduced services running on these RMT strike dates and availability cannot be guaranteed. Car Park season ticket customers do not have to do anything before parking at a different location other than arrive at a selected alternative location and park.

We expect that the trains will be very crowded. To maximise the space available for all customers, our cycle policy will remain in place on these RMT strike dates and we would encourage you not to travel with your bike. Some of our stations have Cycle Hubs, click here for more information.

Advance tickets are no longer available to buy for any RMT strike dates. If your journey involves another operator, please check with them.

The latest information on the availability of Advance fares can be found on this National Rail Enquiries website.

FAQ - ASLEF strike day

click to expand each section

The service on some of the routes we share with other operators may be impacted where ASLEF strike action directly impacts the service provided by that operator.

If you have an Advance ticket for a route or with an operator who’s service is impacted by the ASLEF strike action and you still need to travel on an ASLEF strike day, then you may want to consider reviewing other options, including;

  • checking whether there is any ticket acceptance in place with another operator that may enable you to complete your planned journey and,
  • considering applying for a fee-free refund and purchased a ticket via an alternative route or operator

We recommend that you check your entire journey on National Rail Enquiries as close as possible to your planned travel time.

If you have a ticket for an ASLEF strike date and still need to travel, instead of having to apply for a refund, there are some alternative travel options for you. This includes travel on our services where part of the journey is made with us.

If you have a ticket for Wednesday 5 October (ASLEF strike day) you can use it the day before (4 October) or any day from the 4 to Friday 7 October (inclusive).

  • Please note if your ticket is for a through fare that includes the London Underground it will not be valid on London Underground services on an alternative date
  • If you’re travelling on a different day and have an Advance Ticket, where possible, please try to travel on the same time as your original booked train
  • If you have a seat reservation and choose to travel on a different day, you will not be able to use your original reservation, so please visit one of our Ticket Offices and we can try to reserve you a seat on the new travel date
  • If you travel and your train is delayed, you will be entitled to Delay Repay as usual. Note that delays will be calculated against the strike day timetable
  • Booked Passenger Assist? If you need to change your booking to another day or time, please contact our Assisted Travel team

If you’d prefer a refund and you purchased your ticket through us (excluding season tickets) and you decide not to travel or you have begun your journey but decide not to complete it because the service/s you originally intended to travel on are cancelled or delayed or rescheduled or your reservation will not be honoured, you can get a full fee-free refund.

Please see the below ‘refunds’ FAQs and our refunds process for full details.

If you bought your ticket from someone else, then you’ll need to go back to the original retailer of your ticket to arrange a refund.

We recommend that you check National Rail Enquiries and the relevant operators’ website for the latest advice.



Advance tickets may not be available to buy if you are connecting with another train operator who is disrupted by an ASLEF strike date.

The latest information on the availability of Advance fares can be found on this National Rail Enquiries website.

Assisted travel

click to expand each section

We expect stations and services to be very busy, as we will be unable to run our normal timetable. At all stations served by trains on RMT strike dates our station and onboard staff will be able to provide you with the assistance you need. If the train is too busy, we’ll work with you to find the best solution for you. If you’re unable to board the train, we may arrange alternative transport for you.

Onboard our trains our disabled customers have priority in the accessible carriages. We also have priority seats available for those that need them.

You can book Assisted travel for planned services on strike dates but please note that train services are expected to be extremely busy.

If you have any queries or concerns then please contact our Assisted Travel team.

Upon arrival at the station please make yourself known to a member of staff.

'Turn up and go’ assistance will continue to be supported on our services, in line with the strike date timetable in place.

Upon arrival at the station please make yourself known to a member of staff or contact us via a Help Point.

Please check before you travel as close as possible to your intended departure time on National Rail Enquiries, as your whole journey may include travel with other operators who are impacted by a strike.

If you have booked assistance through us and your journey is affected by a strike, then, once strike date timetables are confirmed, we'll attempt to contact you to discuss your options. If you have any concerns then please contact our Assisted Travel team. We strongly recommend you check before you travel as close as possible to your intended departure time on National Rail Enquiries.

Alternative accessible transport may be arranged, as per our Accessible Travel Policy, from stations which are unstaffed, or inaccessible due to a physical feature (such as steps to platforms) that have services stopping at them under our amended strike date timetables.

However, due to the high demand expected it may take us longer to book suitable alternative transport than usual. If you have any concerns, please contact our Assisted Travel team.

Compensation

For monthly and longer Season Ticket holders

If you were unable to travel or followed our advice and chose not to travel on a strike date, you can claim compensation through our Delay Repay scheme by claiming a delay of 120+ minutes which will provide you with the value of one day’s travel.

This is only available for strike dates, not for days after.

This only applies to monthly and longer season ticket holders and not for weekly season tickets.

On this occasion, you do not need to have travelled or have been delayed to claim the compensation.

You need to apply for compensation online within 28 days of the strike date.

For Flexi Season Ticket holders

In order to claim compensation, you must activate a Day Pass on the strike date (not on days before or after). Once you’ve activated your Day Pass you can claim compensation through our Delay Repay scheme by claiming a delay of 120+ minutes which will provide you with the value of one day’s travel.

This is only available for strike dates, not for days after.

On this occasion, you do not need to have travelled or have been delayed to claim the compensation.

You need to apply for compensation online within 28 days of the strike date.

This is only available for strike dates, not for days after.

If you travel and your train is delayed, you will be entitled to Delay Repay as usual. Note that delays will be calculated against the strike date timetable.

 

Refunds

If your ticket (excluding season tickets) is for a strike day and the alternative dates do not work for you then you can apply for a refund.

If you purchased your ticket (excluding season tickets) and you decide not to travel or you have begun your journey but decide not to complete it because the service/s you originally intended to travel on are cancelled or delayed or rescheduled or your reservation will not be honoured, you can get a full fee-free refund. If you didn’t buy your ticket from us, you will need to go back to the retailer you originally brought your ticket from.

If you have a ticket on departure booking and you have not collected your ticket, please apply for a refund via the online refund form.

The following information is based on the different ticket types in place, if you hold a paper ticket and you’re not sure what type of ticket you have, please check the information printed on the orange stripe in the top left corner of the ticket for one of the following.

If you bought your ticket from us, then we can arrange a refund for you. If you bought your ticket from someone else, then you’ll need to go back to the original retailer of your ticket to arrange a refund.

If you bought your ticket from us and no longer want to travel we can refund your ticket without an admin fee, up to a maximum of 28 days from the expiry date of the ticket, please see our refunds process for full details

If you were planning to use the return portion of an Anytime, Off-Peak, or Super Off-Peak ticket on the strike date and haven’t used the outward portion yet. You can also get a full refund of your ticket without paying an admin fee.

If you have already used the outward portion of the ticket, and no longer want to use the return portion. Your refund will be calculated based on the travel you’ve already made, and you won’t be charged an admin fee.

If you bought your ticket from another retailer or train company, you will need to contact them to request your refund.

If you have an Advance ticket for a journey on a strike day you can get a full fee-free refund, this includes:

If you bought your ticket from us: You can obtain a refund via our online refund form (for all ticket types) or visiting one of our ticket offices (for paper or smartcard refunds).

If you bought your ticket from someone else, then you’ll need to go back to the original retailer of your ticket to arrange a refund.

Unexpired Season tickets and Flexi Season tickets can be refunded at any time prior to the expiry of the ticket.

We will calculate how much is refunded based on the value left on your ticket on the day you submit your Season ticket less a £10 admin fee for refund.

You can find out how much refund you are due by using this calculator: Season ticket refund calculator

Please see our refunds process for tickets here, for full details.

For more information see the Season Ticket Conditions page.

Please do not date your carnet ticket until you know for certain that you are going to travel, as it is not possible to amend the date of travel with these tickets once dated.

We can only refund your Carnet tickets, less a £10 admin fee if they are:

  • Within 28 days from the expiry date of the tickets
  • A complete unused book of tickets

A full refund is available before the period of validity starts with no fees applied. Tickets cannot be refunded once the period of validity has started.

These tickets are not refundable. Please only purchase them if you are certain you will travel.

If you will not be using your car park season ticket for some time, you can request a refund by following the normal refund process through APCOA:

Great Northern

Southern

Thameslink

Please contact Transport for London for any refunds for tickets purchased on Oyster.

How do I get a refund?

For paper and eTickets, please use our online refund form.

For smartcard refunds please use our Key Smartcard refund form.

Alternatively, please visit one of our Ticket Offices for assistance.