A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia Rail passengers in East Anglia are advised to check before they travel on 16, 18, 30 March and 1 April when strike action will affect Greater Anglia services. On 16 March there will be a reduced service operating on a limited number of routes between 07.00 and 19.00, with all last trains reaching their destination by 19.00. Some services will be running on some additional routes – Clacton-on-Sea to London Liverpool Street; Southminster to London Liverpool Street; Hertford East to Stratford, Norwich to Cambridge/Stansted Airport – which had no services operating on previous strike days. However, many routes will still have no service at all. On 18, 30 March and 1 April, services will operate between 07.00 and 23.00, with all last trains reaching their destination by 23.00. Some routes will have a reduced frequency, but many routes will have a normal or near normal service during the hours that trains are running. Additionally, engineering works will affect some services to London on 18 March and 1 April, and some regional services on 30 March. Summary for 16 March The services planned to operate on Thursday 16 March are as follows:
- Hourly service between Norwich and London Liverpool Street; Norwich and Cambridge/Stansted Airport; Colchester and London Liverpool Street; Clacton-on-Sea and London Liverpool Street; Southminster and London Liverpool Street; Cambridge and London Liverpool Street; Hertford East and Stratford.
- Half-hourly Stansted Express services between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street and between Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street
- Trains that do run are expected to start from 07.00 onwards, with all last trains then completing their journeys before 19.00
- No services running on other lines, including on regional/branch lines, other than those listed above
Full timetable details should be available online by Monday. There will be no rail replacement buses to replace those trains not running due to the strike. Services are expected to run normally on the day before and the day after the strike. Summary for 18, 30 March and 1 April On 18, 30 March and 1 April, many more services will operate with trains running on all Greater Anglia routes and for longer hours (between 07.00 and 2300, with all last trains reaching their destination by 23.00). Some routes will have a reduced frequency, but many routes will have a normal or near normal service during the hours that trains are running. More details will be available nearer the time, with full timetable details for 18 March due to be available on Tuesday. Again, services are expected to run normally on the day before and the day after the strike. Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: “We are very sorry that once again our customers will be disrupted by strikes. We’re able to run a reduced service on some routes on 16 March and far more services, but still not a full service on 18, 30 March and 1 April, so customers are advised to check before they travel on strike days. The rail industry is working hard to resolve these disputes and talks will continue with RMT to try and reach an agreement.” Anyone who has pre-booked tickets to travel on strike days can change them, use them to travel on either the day before or up to two days later, or apply for a refund by going back to their original retailer. Passenger assistance will be available as usual for all trains which are running. Anyone requiring assistance who cannot avoid travelling by train on strike days should plan their journey and book assistance in advance if possible. Further information is available from greateranglia.co.uk/strikes