Tough time ahead for rail commuters

UPDATE: (Friday, April 2) The High Court yesterday granted Network Rail an injunction which will prevent next week's strike going ahead.

This was our original story:

Rail commuters from Uckfield face a tough time next week if the signallers’ and maintenance workers’ strike takes place on April 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Network Rail will be operating a limited number of signal boxes between 7am and 7pm.

Southern plans to operate an hourly service between Uckfield and Oxted, calling at all stations.

Passengers will have to change to catch London Victoria services from East Grinstead.

There will be two trains an hour from East Grinstead calling at: Dormans, Lingfield, Hurst Green, Oxted, Woldingham, Upper Warlingham, Riddlesdown, Sanderstead, South Croydon, East Croydon, Selhurst, Streatham Common, Balham and Clapham.

On the Brighton line there will be two trains per hour calling at: Haywards Heath, Three Bridges, Gatwick Airport, Redhill, East Croydon and Clapham Junction.

First Capital Connect will operate two trains per hour on its Thameslink service calling at: Preston Park, Hassocks, Burgess Hill, Wivelsfield, Haywards Heath, Three Bridges, Gatwick Airport, Redhill, East Croydon, London Bridge and London Blackfriars.

Many stations in the Southern franchise area will have no services and the company expects services it does run to be “exceptionally busy”.

People intending to travel should note that all services will have stopped by 7pm each day and there will be no service until 7am the following morning.

Go to the Southern website for further information.

Network Rail is planning to take legal action to prevent the strikes.

(Added to site Wednesday, March 31st, 2010)