Where the Southern rail services RMT strike will hit commuters on the way to work

Where Southern rail RMT strike will hit commuters. Credit: PA

Southern rail has issued warnings of delays and cancellations ahead of a 24 hour strike by the RMT union which kicks off at midnight.

The firm said it has continued to urge the RMT to "engage with us and avert these completely unnecessary strikes".

But it said if the strikes go ahead they will have a "significant effect" on Southern services all day, with no service on many routes and only a limited service between around 7.30am and 6pm.

Where Southern rail RMT strike will hit commuters. Credit: PA

It said "queuing systems" will be in place at many stations so commuters "may have a long wait before you are able to board a train".

Gatwick Express and Thameslink services will be largely unaffected by the strike but some services are expected to be extremely busy on these days and some Gatwick Express trains will not all at certain stations.

Southern Rail has published a map of affected services.

Southern services continue to be severely affected by train crew availability including a high level of conductor sickness, which is leading to some services being cancelled for part or all of their journey.

Check live departure boards for the latest information of services from your station.

A map of affected services. Credit: Southern Rail

On the affected days, no Southern service is expected to run on the following routes (check with other operators):

  • Clapham Junction to Milton Keynes via Kensington Olympia

  • Dorking to Horsham

  • Oxted to Uckfield

  • Haywards Heath to Lewes

  • Preston Park to Hove

  • Lewes to SeafordEastbourne to Ashford International via Hastings (Southeastern services will operate between St Leonards Warrior Square and Hastings as normal)

  • Chichester to Havant / Portsmouth Harbour and Southampton Central (South West Trains and Great Western Railway services will operate between Havant and Portsmouth Harbour / Southampton Central as normal)

  • Redhill to Tonbridge

  • Redhill to Reigate (Great Western Railway services will operate on this route as normal)

  • Earlswood, Salfords and Faygate stations will not be served

  • A limited service is expected to run on the following routes:

  • London Bridge - East Grinstead

  • Three Bridges - Chichester

  • Brighton - Bognor RegisBrighton - Eastbourne

  • London Victoria - Three Bridges

A revised service is expected to run on the following route:

  • London - Brighton

  • Southern Metro services will operate a normal service as will Thameslink, but trains on many routes are expected to be extremely busy.

  • Gatwick Express services will be largely unaffected but all services are expected to be extremely busy with some trains unable to call at certain stations. You are advised to allow more time for your journey and to avoid peak times.

  • If you are travelling to stations between Crawley and Chichester, between Hove and Littlehampton / Bognor Regis, or between London Road and Eastbourne, your last connecting train from London may be as early as 4.30pm.

A summary of the services that Southern plan to run on the affected days is available below, and the latest information is also available on the Southern website.