'Severe disruption' ahead of more railway strike action

Rail operators in Maidenhead, Windsor and Slough have warned of 'severe disruption' ahead of more industrial strikes this weekend and later this month.

The action is planned for Saturday August 13, Thursday, August 18 and Saturday, August 20, with days immediately after the strike days also affected.

A 'significantly reduced temporary timetable' has been put in place by rail operators to cope with the loss of staff.

Strike action is being organised by the RMT, Aslef and TSSA unions, with services unable to operate across many routes.

It comes less than a month since the last industrial action by unions brought railways to a near standstill in July.

Passengers are advised to find alternative ways to travel on affected dates and only use trains if 'absolutely necessary'.

An extremely limited Great Western Railway service will operate between 7am and 6.30pm on strike days, with last trains leaving much earlier.

Where trains are able to operate, they will be extremely busy, the operator said, adding it will operate 'as many trains as possible' during the strike action.