Train strikes Bristol 2022: when is planned action, and which rail companies and routes are affected?

Railway workers across the country - who announced imminent strike action on Wednesday, 25 May 2022 - have officialy announced the three dates in June that will see railway services affected.

It is estimated that 80% of UK train lines will be brought to a halt, which will almost certainly cause widespread disruption.

As only one in five trains are expected to run in the UK during this time, BristolWorld took a look at what routes to or from the city could be adversely affected by strike action.

Here is everything you need to know, such as when it will take place, why workers are on strike and some of the Bristol routes impacted.

Why are railway workers striking?

Railway workers have voted in favour of striking across Network Rail, affecting 15 train operating companies.

With a turnout of 71%, 89% voted in favour of strike action.

The aim is to demand talks with officials at Network Rail to settle the railway workers dispute over pay, job security as well as health and safety.

In a statement issued on the Railway, Maritime and Transport Workers Union page (RMT), general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Today’s overwhelming endorsement by railway workers is a vindication of the union’s approach and sends a clear message that members want a decent pay rise, job security and no compulsory redundancies.

“Our NEC will now meet to discuss a timetable for strike action from mid-June, but we sincerely hope ministers will encourage the employers to return to the negotiating table and hammer out a reasonable settlement with the RMT."

When is it expected to take place?

By law, trade unions must give an employer a minimum of 14-days notice of any industrial action.

After meeting with trade unionists to discuss official dates, three days in June will see railway strike action.

The Railway Network strike will fall on 21, 23 and 25 June, bringing a halt to railway services for a week - covering what are statistically the busiest days post-pandemic, as well as the approaching Glastonbury Festival.

What rail companies have been affected across the UK?

15 train operating companies will be adversely affected by the planned strike action by railway workers in total.

Those whose RMT members have voted in favour of striking come from:

• Avanti West Coast
• c2c
• Chiltern Railways
• CrossCountry
• East Midlands Railway
• Greater Anglia
• GWR
• LNER
• Northern
• Southeastern
• South Western Railway
• TransPennine Express
• West Midlands Trains 

What Bristol train routes will be affected?

Out of the railway companies that are set to be impacted by the planned strike action, two run popular routes in and around the city of Bristol.

CrossCountry and Great Western Railway (GWR) will be impacted by strike action.

Here are the routes that will be affected by the train strike action:

CrossCountry

Popular journeys for CrossCountry include connecting Bristol to a number of major UK cities, such as Cardiff, Exeter and Birmingham - all of which will be impacted by the planned action in 2022.

Other stops include: Cheltenham Spa, Wolverhampton, Taunton, Weston-super-Mare, Plymouth and various others.

For a detailed look at other stops and routes potentially impacted by the organised action by rail workers, take a look at the official CrossCountry route map.

Great Western Railway (GWR)

GWR operate  routes from both Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol to various locations across the UK.

Popular routes and stops include a direct line to London Paddington and: Reading, Bath, Swindon, Cardiff Central, Camarthan, Taunton, Penzance and various other locations.

For a detailed look at all the routes and stops that will be adversely affected by the approaching railway strikes, visit the GWR website to view the route map.