There will be no trains running from Weymouth and other parts of Dorset on the Waterloo line during a day of planned industrial action.

And there will be a reduced service on the line on other days.  

South Western Railway (SWR) confirmed its services ahead of planned industrial action by the ASLEF union between Thursday, April 4 and Tuesday, April 9.

On Monday April 8, strike action will mean that a significantly reduced service will run on a limited number of lines.

Trains will only run between: 

  • Basingstoke and Salisbury 
  • London Waterloo and Basingstoke 
  • London Waterloo and Feltham 
  • London Waterloo and Guildford via Woking
  • London Waterloo and Woking

This means that customers hoping to travel on the Waterloo line from Weymouth, Dorchester South, Wareham Poole and Bournemouth should be aware that no trains will be running to or from these areas on Monday, April 8.  

There will also be no trains to north Dorset stations on the Exeter-Waterloo line and also no services at Southampton Central Portsmouth Harbour, and on the Island Line. 

Trains that are running will only do so between 7am and 7pm with no services available outside of these times.  

Customers are advised to only travel if their journeys are absolutely necessary.

For essential journeys, customers should check journey planners before setting off. Customers should also note that strike action will affect the London Underground network on this date. 

On Thursday April 4, Friday April 5, Saturday April 6 and Tuesday April 9, a revised timetable will operated across the SWR network, due to a ban on overtime working.

Customers are being advised to check their routes before they travel, as late notice cancellations are possible.   

On Saturday, April 6, engineering work will mean line closures in the Brockenhurst area on the Weymouth-Waterloo line with bus replacement services operating.

Steve Tyler, South Western Railway’s Performance and Planning Director, said: “Industrial action by the ASLEF union will mean only a significantly reduced service will run on Monday 8 April, so we are asking our customers to only travel if their journeys are absolutely necessary. For essential journeys, customers should check journey planners before setting off.

“The overtime ban on Thursday 4, Friday 5, Saturday 6 and Tuesday 9 April will mean that timetables will be revised. We are asking our customers to check before they travel, right up until they set off, as alterations on the day are possible.

“We are very sorry for the disruption that this industrial action will cause our customers and are very thankful for their continued patience.”

Strike action will impact train operators on different days during the industrial action period from Thursday 4 to Tuesday 9 April, so customers should ensure they check their whole journey.    

More information can be found at southwesternrailway.com/strike