Severe disruption expected to Southeastern train services in the first week of January because of strike action by the RMT and ASLEF trade unions.
On Tuesday 3rd, Wednesday 4th, Friday 6th and Saturday 7th January only a very limited service will operate on the Dartford lines, the Sevenoaks line, and the Highspeed route via Ashford because of action by the RMT trade union.
On Thursday 5th January, no trains will run at all because of action by the ASLEF trade union.
Scott Brightwell, Southeastern Operations and Safety Director, said:
“We’re very sorry for the inconvenience that this industrial action by the RMT and ASLEF unions has caused. On RMT strike days, some routes will have a very limited service, and there will be no trains at all in some places. On Thursday 5th January there will be no trains on any of our lines. We urge you to check our dedicated, up-to-date, strike page before travelling.
“Train services are expected to be extremely busy on the routes that are running on RMT strike days, and so we’d advise our customers to make their journeys later in the morning and earlier in the evening if they can.”
Journey planners at www.southeasternrailway.co.uk and www.nationalrail.co.uk, as well as on the Southeastern app, are up to date.
Notes to editors
Ticketing and refunds
- If previous strike action has affected your travel plans please visit our strike refund page for more information.
- Please apply for a refund if you can’t travel during the strike action in December and January.
- Tickets for 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 January can be used the day before the date on the ticket or up to and including Tuesday 10 January. London Underground tickets will not be valid on alternative dates.
- Daily ticket holders can claim a full refund with no admin fee if they choose not to travel.
- Advance ticket holders can either apply for a full refund with no admin fee if the service isn’t running due to strike action or return to the original retailer for an eVoucher, for use purchasing a future ticket. eVouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Please note that the Book with Confidence scheme ended on 30 November. You can find more information on our Advance Tickets page.
- You can request a fee-free change of journey for all ticket types if the train was cancelled or delayed or rescheduled from that in the published timetable of the day after you have purchased a ticket.
- Season ticket holders (Flexi, monthly or longer) can use Delay Repay to claim a day travel back if they choose not to travel on strike days. For a full day back, you only need to make one claim per day of strike action, making sure to select the reason for delay as ‘Industrial Action – did not travel'. For Flexi ticket holders, to receive Delay Repay you must have activated a pass for the day you're claiming.
- Weekly tickets – Make sure that a weekly season ticket is the best value for you if you are unable to travel during strike action. Check you’ve bought the best value ticket for your journey using our handy season ticket calculator. Weekly season tickets purchased from Southeastern which have not started yet can be refunded minus a £10 admin fee. Please go to our refunds page to claim a refund.
- If you do not/cannot make your outward journey because of strike action, you can have a refund on your outward and return ticket even if the latter is not affected by strike action. The same applies if your return journey is affected, but your outward journey is not.
If you do travel and were delayed for 15 minutes or more, you are entitled to Delay Repay compensation.
