How to check if trains are out of service during a strike

The country braces for more rail strikes as Network Rail staff tour England, Scotland and Wales.

The first series of strikes, the biggest rail strike in 30 years, faced further hardship for train passengers amid a record UK heatwave that also disrupted rail services.

The strike is scheduled for August 18, with approximately 40,000 rail workers and members of the RMT union taking the first action of a two-day strike, the second on August 20, with members of the TSSA also beginning to act.

RMT unions are also on strike on the London Underground and London Overground lines on Friday 19th August over a wage and pension dispute.

If you’re planning a trip this week, the big question is… are the trains really running?

Here’s how to find the latest service updates:

How to check if a train has been canceled

Network Rail has warned that at least 20% of its services will be running during future strikes and that there are several ways to verify travel.

First, enter the service you’re looking for on the National Rail website.

This is a website that provides nationwide rail information.

When you search for the ride you want to take, you’ll see if it’s actually running and what time it’s running. If there are no services available at the time you wish to travel, nothing will be returned.

The website also has a list of outages affecting each British rail company, which can be found here.

If you need to travel by tube, you can also check the status of the tube on the Transport for London website.

Why do strikes happen?

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said:

“We have made progress on forced evictions. But Network Rail, like other rail operators, tries to impoverish their members even if they are paid double for the service they provide.”

“Railway companies remain stubborn and reject new wage and job security proposals.”

“The strike is the only way for both the rail industry and the government to know that this dispute will continue until a negotiated solution is reached.”

“Public citizens upset about our strikes need to understand that the government shuts down the rail network and TOC means the rail network will be closed 24 hours a day.”

“We are open to further negotiations,” he said.

Earlier this year, Transportation Secretary Grant Shaps tweeted:

“The modernization of our rail industry is absolutely necessary for the benefit of all, and that will never change.

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