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:
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Applying for a refund and
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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.
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The ASLEF union has announced that action will take place by its members on the following dates:
- Wednesday 6 December (Southern & Gatwick Express)
It has also been announced that there will be a ban on overtime from Friday 1 December until Saturday 9 December (inclusive).
You must check every journey, every day, as services will be running to different timetables each day. Service plans for each day are listed below.
Trains will be busier than usual throughout this period, especially during peak hours. It’s likely you will need to queue, and you may not be able to board your chosen service. You should allow extra time for your journey.
Engineering works may also be taking place on parts of our network. For further details, please visit our engineering work page.
Other train companies will also be affected by industrial action and engineering works, so check individual operator websites for further details, and always be sure to check your full journey.
No Gatwick Express services during Industrial Action
We will not operate the usual non-stop Gatwick Express service between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Brighton during this period. To help customers we 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.
During industrial action, Gatwick Express branded trains may be used for some Southern services. Customers with a Southern or Thameslink ticket may board these trains during this period.
Travel Advice for Monday 4, Tuesday 5, Thursday 7, and Friday 8 December
An amended timetable with fewer services will run on these days. Services may start later and finish earlier than usual.
On Monday 4 and Thursday 7 December, services will start later than usual due to the ASLEF strike action the previous day.
Please see below for a summary of the services we plan to run on these days:
Travel Advice for Wednesday 6 December
A limited Southern shuttle service will run, calling at Gatwick Airport and London Victoria only. No other Southern services will be running on this day.
An amended Thameslink and Great Northern timetable will run, with fewer services than normal. These services will start later and finish earlier than usual.
Please see below for a summary of the services we plan to run on this day:
Download the service map (pdf)
Travel Advice for Saturday 9 December
A limited timetable with fewer services will run. Services will start later and finish earlier than usual, with some stations having no service for the whole day.
Please see below for a summary of the services we plan to run on this day:
Download the service map (pdf)
Journey planner updates
The list below will show the dates affected by Industrial Action followed by (in brackets) the date that journey planners will be up-to-date. Please ensure you check every journey, every day, at National Rail Enquiries before you travel.
- Monday 4 December (Live now)
- Tuesday 5 December (Live now)
- Wednesday 6 December (Live now)
- Thursday 7 December (Live now)
- Friday 8 December (Live now)
- Saturday 9 December (Live now)
Cancellation of strike action
If strike action is cancelled or suspended at short notice, we will not be able to immediately restore our normal timetable.
Rail services are created and depend on complex and integrated systems. It therefore takes some time to get everything back into place. If this is the case, more details will be published here.
FAQs for:
- ASLEF strike days Sunday 3 December (Thameslink & Great Northern) and Wednesday 6 December (Southern & Gatwick Express)
- ASLEF overtime ban from Friday 1 December until Saturday 9 December (inclusive)
Click to expand each section
How do I get a refund?
If you bought your ticket from us, we can process your refund.
For paper, eTickets, and smartcards, please use our online refund form.
Alternatively, for paper tickets and smartcards you can also visit one of our Ticket Offices for assistance.
If you bought your ticket from another retailer or train company, you will need to contact them to request your refund.