Travel advisory for customers due to planned industrial action by West Midlands Railway staff

Customers are advised that due to West Midlands Railway industrial action throughout November and December, Chiltern Railways services will be busier than usual. The strikes are due to take place each Saturday from Saturday 16th November until Saturday 28th December 2019. 

Customers in the West Midlands are advised that services will be busier than usual, and it is recommended that customers purchase tickets in advance via the Chiltern Railways app or website and collect them prior to their travel date. 

To accommodate the anticipated swell in customers travelling from Birmingham, customers may find that a queueing system is in place at Birmingham Moor Street station, and Chiltern Railways advises people to arrive early and allow extra time to complete their journey. Chiltern have strengthened Leamington Spa to Birmingham Moor Street services in order to accommodate additional passengers. Those wishing to travel between Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham can travel via Chiltern and change at Leamington Spa. 

To assist customers travelling, Chiltern Railways advises the following:    

• Purchase tickets in advance via the app or the website to save time and guarantee the best prices;
• Check the timetable for amended times before you travel; 
• If picking up pre-purchased tickets from a station, please leave extra time in case of queuing;
• Please be patient as your journey will be busier than usual.

Eleni Jordan, Commercial Director for Chiltern Railways said, “At Chiltern Railways, we are strengthening our Leamington Spa to Birmingham Moor Street service to help get customers to their destination. However, we need passengers to know that our trains will be very busy, and they should allow extra time for their journey. We will have additional staff at our stations to help and offer advice to passengers travelling during this time.”