FGW announce service plan during rail strike

First Great Western (FGW) has issued details of disruption to its services if planned strikes by workers go ahead over the next couple of weeks.

The company has confirmed it expects to run the majority of London Thames Valley services but long distance and local rail services will be reduced, should the planned strike action go ahead.

Should industrial action go ahead it is likely to affect long distance and local rail services throughout Sunday 23 August and from Saturday 29 through to the end of service on Monday 31 August.

First Great Western Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: "These brand new trains will deliver more seats, faster journey times and more frequent journeys for our passengers. Our plans mean more train managers on board our trains, not less.

“The key issues remains, that we want the driver to close the doors - which is fundamental to our ability to run the faster, more frequent services customers should expect from a 21st century railway. This method has been used safely across the UK rail industry for decades.”

Ticket acceptance

Sunday 23 August
If you have tickets for travel on Sunday 23 August your ticket will also be accepted for travel on FGW services on Saturday 22 August. Those with Advanced Purchase tickets will additionally be allowed to travel on the service immediate before or after their booked train.

If your journey involves a line where FGW are not planning to offer a service at all on Sunday 23 August, then you can also travel on any off-peak FGW services on Monday 24 August.

Saturday 29 to Monday 31 August
If you have tickets for Saturday 29, Sunday 30 or Monday 31 you can travel on any of those days. Those with Advanced Purchase tickets will additionally be allowed to travel on the service immediate before or after their booked train.

If your journey involves a line where we’re not planning to offer a service at all on Monday 31 August, then you can also travel on any off-peak FGW services on Tuesday 01 September.

Full refunds will be available for customers who choose not to travel.

First Great Western may not be able to honour seat reservations on these days, but should you choose to alter your travel plans wukk change the reservation without penalty. Catering facilities on board will also be limited.

First Great Western are planning to run the following services in the Devon and Cornwall area:

London Paddington - Plymouth: hourly in each direction
Plymouth - Penzance: every two hours in each direction
Paignton - Exmouth via Exeter St Davids: hourly in each direction
Barnstaple - Exeter: three services a day in each direction
St Erth - St Ives: normal service
Tickets will also be accepted on Cross Country services between Bristol Temple Meads and Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance on Sunday 23 August and between Saturday 29 August and Monday 31 August.

Should industrial action go ahead the following services will be cancelled:

The Night Riviera sleeper service is cancelled on Sunday 23, Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August. FGW will contact customers
Looe - Liskeard: Customers can take the Plymouth City bus 72 between Liskeard and Looe - this service doesn’t call at Causland or Coombe
Newquay - Par. Customers can take the 21 bus which runs between St Austell and Newquay; more information can be found here. Tickets will be accepted on all routes
Falmouth – Truro. Customers can take the U1 bus which runs between Truro and Falmouth; more information can be found here. Tickets will be accepted on all routes
Plymouth – Gunnislake. Customers should make alternative arrangements
Customers can plan journeys through http://www.travelinesw.com/ and see detailed timetables and route maps on http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/devon_cornwall/

For further information visit www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk