Greater Anglia service alterations due to industrial action: Monday 6 May – Saturday 11 May inclusive, including a full strike day on Tuesday 7 May

A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia

Due to industrial action by members of the ASLEF union, Greater Anglia services will be affected by strike action on Tuesday 7 May, and action short of a strike on 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 May inclusive.

During the action short of a strike on Monday 6 May and from Wednesday 8 May to Saturday 11 May, a normal timetable will be in place, with most services operating on all Greater Anglia routes, but with some planned cancellations.

However, on Wednesday 8 May specifically, services will start later than normal with the first services on most routes beginning after 07:00. These services will be very busy, and passengers are advised to check before they travel and consider travelling at alternative times.

On Tuesday 7 May, a full strike by ASLEF members will take place. A very limited train service will operate only on five core Greater Anglia routes and, with the exception of the Stansted Express service, for a limited period. Those routes and service patterns are as follows:

Norwich – London Liverpool Street: hourly

Stansted Airport – London Liverpool Street: hourly

Colchester – London Liverpool Street: hourly

Southend Victoria – London Liverpool Street: hourly

Cambridge – London Liverpool Street: approx. every 2 hours

Apart from the Stansted Express, these services will start much later and will finish earlier than normal. We expect these services to be very busy and passengers are advised to plan ahead or consider travelling on alternative dates.

There will be no services at all on any other Greater Anglia routes on Tuesday 7 May.

Journey planners will be updated with exact train times three days before each strike date.

Customers are also advised that strike action (see the list at the end of this release) and action short of a strike will affect other UK train operators between 6 and 11 May inclusive. Anyone travelling over that period is advised to check their journey details before they travel.

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia’s managing director, said:

“Unfortunately, on Tuesday 7 May, no services will run at all on most Greater Anglia routes, with just an hourly service during normal operating hours on the Stansted Airport to London route and an hourly service for limited hours on the Norwich to London, Colchester to London and Southend Victoria to London routes, plus a few services between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street.

“On the days affected by action short of a strike, the vast majority of services will be running as normal, but there will be some alterations and cancellations across our network and train services will start later than normal on Wednesday 8 May.

“Please note that an extensive engineering works programme will also take place on Monday 6 May and Saturday 11 May. This work is extremely important to help maintain the safe and reliable running of the railway and make it fit for the future. A rail replacement service will run while the work takes place.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by these service alterations and advise customers to plan ahead and check before they travel.”

Engineering Work on Monday 6 May and Saturday 11 May

Engineering work will take place across the Greater Anglia network on both Monday 6 May and Saturday 11 May and a rail replacement bus service will be in operation. Further details:

London Liverpool Street to Cambridge (Monday 6 May & Saturday 11 May)

In connection with construction work for the new Cambridge South station, the line will be closed between Audley End and Cambridge all day on Monday 6 May and Saturday 11 May.

Trains from London Liverpool Street to Cambridge will start/terminate at Audley End, connecting into rail replacement bus services to/from Cambridge North. A frequent train service will operate between Cambridge North and Cambridge.

The Stansted Airport to Norwich service will only run between Cambridge and Norwich.

Ipswich to Cambridge and Peterborough (Saturday 11 May)

In connection with track maintenance work and signalling work taking place between Stowmarket and Cambridge/Ely, buses will replace trains between Ipswich and Cambridge North, and between Ipswich and Ely on Saturday 11 May.

Connecting trains will operate between Cambridge North and Cambridge, and between Ely and Peterborough.

Engineering work will also take place on Sunday 12 May. Details can be found here: www.greateranglia.co.uk/travel-information/service-alterations