South Western Railway (SWR) has urged people to only travel "if absolutely necessary" on Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, October 2 as they deal with rail strike action taking place.

Customers should expect severe disruption over that weekend due to both Aslef and RMT unions walking out.

SWR will be running a reduced timetable as a result, running from 7.15am to 6.15pm with fewer trains that will be a lot busier than usual.

Hampshire Chronicle: Rail strikes will cause disruption to the SWR network (PA)Rail strikes will cause disruption to the SWR network (PA)

This will consist of:

  • Two trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Feltham  
  • Two semi-fast trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Basingstoke 
  • Four trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Woking 
  • Two fast trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Southampton Central 

South Western Railway’s Performance and Planning Director, Steve Tyler, said: “I’m sorry that due to strike action we must urge our customers to only travel if absolutely necessary on Saturday 1 October and Sunday 2 October. Those needing to travel should seek to do so by other means.  

“Large parts of our network will be closed on the strike day and there will be a late start-up on the morning after. Those who must travel are urged to carefully check the times of first and last trains and avoid them if possible as they are likely to be very busy. 

“We are grateful to our customers for their continued cooperation, patience, and understanding as the rail industry works to bring this damaging nationwide strike action to an end.”