Train passengers in Dorchester are advised to only travel if absolutely necessary as railway strikes continue this week.

National strike action by the RMT union today (Tuesday), Wednesday, January 4, Friday 6 and Saturday 7 will mean a severely reduced service on infrastructure made available by Network Rail. Where services are available, they will be running between 7.15am and 6.30pm only.

Further strike action on Thursday, December 5 by the ASLEF union, which will affect depot drivers and significantly limit the number of trains that can be brought into service, will again mean a severely reduced service across the country. 

Reduced timetables being run by South Western Railway (SWR) and Great Western Railway means there will be no services running from Dorchester South or Dorchester West stations on strike days. 

South Western Railway's managing director, Claire Mann, said:  "I'm sorry that due to the damaging, national strike action by both the RMT and ASLEF unions, a severely reduced service will operate on our network. We must urge our customers to only travel if absolutely necessary between Tuesday, January 3 and Sunday, January 8.

"Large parts of our network will be closed between Tuesday, January 3 and Sunday, January 8. On Sunday, January 8 there will be a late start to services and so we urge our customers to carefully check their journeys, before they travel, using journey planners.

"We share our customers' frustration over this nationwide strike action and the impact it has on our network and services. We are grateful to our customers for their continued cooperation, patience, and understanding as the rail industry works to bring this damaging strike action to an end."

For the latest information on strike action, reduced timetables and how to exchange pre-booked tickets, visit https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/industrial-action for South Western Railway services and https://www.gwr.com/strike for Great Western Railway.