We are writing to update you that our customer information campaign has started. This includes the publication of the network map below, on our websites to help customers to understand immediately which sections of the network will be open, and which will be closed on Tuesday 21st, Thursday 23rd and Saturday 25th June 2022.

In addition, the briefing below has been updated to include an additional two trains per hour between London Bridge and Three Bridges via Redhill and Gatwick Airport. We ask if you can, that you consider sharing the briefing and map to help us to ensure customers are fully aware of the severe impact to all routes, everyday next week.

Our websites are being updated with additional information for customers, this includes:

• Exchanging tickets for travel on a different day or fee-free refunds.
• Easement of ticket restrictions within the GTR network, such as the validity of Uckfield to London Bridge (line closed) tickets on Gatwick Airport to London Bridge.
• Car park season ticket acceptance at alternative car parks.

The information is identical across the Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express websites. As of now, the Thameslink webpage is updated, with others to follow later this evening:

https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/industrialaction

As the strike action includes colleagues from Network Rail and other train operators across the UK, there will be very significant disruption across our network. This is because critical staff such as signallers and emergency response staff will be unavailable. Network Rail has some contingency cover, but this is only available for mainlines and will only allow for the railway to safely open for a limited period.

Regrettably, many customers will be unable to travel by rail, and our advice with the limited passenger capacity available, is to travel only where necessary, and if customers do travel, to expect severe disruption and plan ahead.

On the days after each strike day (Wednesday 22nd, Friday 24th, Sunday 26th), trains will start running after approximately 07:00 on a reduced timetable. This is because the strike action is based around shift booking on times, meaning that the network cannot open overnight or in the early morning. Services will then run to Sunday-timings as trains and crew will be displaced across the network.

This means that customers will need to check journeys very carefully as train times and station stopping patterns will be different. This will be especially important for students undertaking examinations and planning on travelling by rail.

The original briefing is available below and has been updated to include this information. As always, if you have any questions, please let us know.

GTR stakeholder team emails

Faz Hakim - farzana.hakim@gtrailway.com 

Paul Codd - paul.codd@gtrailway.com

Yvonne Leslie - yvonne.leslie@gtrailway.com

Rahul Sareen - rahul.sareen@gtrailway.com

(SNGX)

Olivia Barlow - olivia.barlow@gtrailway.com  

Rob Whitehead - rob.whitehead@gtrailway.com

(TLGN)

Patrick Ladbury - patrick.ladbury@gtrailway.com 

Andrew Chillingsworth - andrew.chillingsworth@gtrailway.com

Briefing: Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express services

Briefing: Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express services

Nationwide rail strikes have been called by the RMT union at Network Rail and by other train operators to take place on Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 June. Although our colleagues are not on strike, this national action will severely affect all journeys on Southern, Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Great Northern between Tuesday 21 June and Sunday 26 June. We're really sorry if this affects your journey plans.

Between Tuesday 21 June and Sunday 26 June inclusive, please only travel if your journey is absolutely necessary, and expect severe disruption. The railway will operate limited opening hours with services starting later and finishing much earlier than usual. On strike days, the last trains will finish late afternoon. Please check your first and last trains carefully, as there will be no alternative travel outside of these services.

As this Industrial Action is affecting the whole country, we will be unable to provide alternatives such as replacement buses and ticket acceptance with other local rail and bus operators. We recognise that it will be very difficult to travel and our advice, regrettably, is to travel only if your journey is absolutely necessary.

Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 June

Many stations and routes will be closed. Trains will only be able to run during limited hours from around 7.15am and will finish in the late afternoon. There will be no alternative travel options after the last trains. This means, if you do have to travel, you should carefully check the first and last train for your station. Expect these trains to be very busy.

Please be aware that Transport for London are also expecting Tube strikes on Tuesday 21 June. Visit the Transport for London website for more information.

Please note that on Saturday 25 June, engineering work is currently planned to take place between Cricklewood and Luton Airport Parkway.

We anticipate National Rail journey planners for these days will be updated on Friday 17 June.

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, Haywards Heath 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, Purley, 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 Epsom, 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

Two trains per hour will run between London Victoria and West Croydon, calling at London Victoria, Battersea Park, Clapham Junction, Balham, Streatham Hill, West Norwood, Gipsy Hill, Crystal Palace, Norwood Junction and West Croydon only.

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, Purley, 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.

Wednesday 22 and Friday 24 June

Services will also be severely disrupted and we will run an amended Sunday service, no trains will start running before 0715 and this means the first train may reach your station much later than this. This will allow us to run a more reliable and consistent service throughout the day.

We anticipate journey planners for these days will be updated on Saturday 18 June.

Sunday 26 June

No trains will run before 0715, however after that our regular Sunday service will run. These changes will be available in Journey Planners on Saturday 25 June.

Check again before any necessary journeys prior to travelling as there may also be changes on the day to the planned service. Ensure you have checked when your last train departs as there will be no alternatives once services end.