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Rail Strike affecting South Wales train services over August Bank Holiday

13 August 2015

Due to the Rail Union RMT dispute, there will be rail strikes taking place on Sunday 23rd August and between Saturday 29th and Bank Holiday Monday 31st August, significantly affecting First Great Western services.

How will my journey be affected?

First Great Western (FGW) have confirmed they will be running the following services in the South Wales area:

  • London Paddington - Cardiff via Bristol Parkway: one train an hour in each direction.
  • Cardiff - Taunton services will only be running between Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton. Customers can change at Bristol Temple Meads for trains to Bristol Parkway and South Wales. 

Customers can use the Greyhound 100 bus between Swansea and Cardiff (a daily adult ticket costs £5.50). Season tickets will be accepted on this route. Further information can be found by clicking here.

Arriva Trains Wales services will accept First Great Western tickets on strike days on the following routes:

  • Carmarthen - Swansea
  • Swansea - Newport 
  • Newport - Hereford
  • Newport - Cheltenham 

Arriva Trains Wales expect their services between Cardiff and Swansea to be busy and are looking to add extra capacity and services where possible.

Ticket Acceptance

Sunday 23rd August
If you have tickets for travel on Sunday 23rd August your ticket will also be accepted for travel on FGW services on Saturday 22nd 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 23rd August, then you can also travel on any off-peak FGW services on Monday 24th August. 

Saturday 29th to Monday 31st August 
If you have tickets for Saturday 29th, Sunday 30th or Monday 31st August, 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 FGW are not planning to offer a service at all on Monday 31st August, then you can also travel on any off-peak FGW services on Tuesday 1st September.

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

For more information about which services will be affected, please see the First Great Western website here.

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