Further train strikes will affect services running from Dorchester stations this Saturday (August 26).

RMT union members have announced a nationwide strike on Saturday, which will see train services significantly reduced, including those from both Dorchester South and Dorchester West stations. 

South Western Railway will only be running services between 7am and 7pm on a limited number of lines. There will be no services from Dorchester South. 

A large number of events will take place on the SWR network, including Southampton Pride; the Victorious Festival; Southampton and Brentford football fixtures; the England v Fiji rugby fixture at Twickenham; The Hundred Eliminator cricket match at the Oval; and horse racing at Windsor.  

Journey planners are up to date and customers travelling to events on the SWR network are advised to check before travelling and consider other travel arrangements if possible. Customers should also check their entire journey before travelling as other operators will be impacted.  You can find details at https://www.southwesternrailway.com/

On Sunday, September 27, South Western Railway services will start later than usual, at about 7am.. Customers should check their journey before travelling. 

The ASLEF union has announced strike action on Friday, September 1 and an overtime ban on Saturday, September 2. The RMT union will also take strike action on Saturday, September 2. South Western Railway services for these dates will be announced in due course. 

Stuart Meek, chief operating officer at South Western Railway, commented: "We're sorry that customers will once again face disruption due to strike action by the RMT union. 

"Once again, I must ask our customers to only travel if absolutely necessary on Saturday, August 26. If you do have to travel, please check your entire journey as these strikes also affect other train operators.  

"A large number of events take place on Saturday, August 26 and while some trains will be running we expect them to be very busy. If you're travelling to one of those events, please check before you travel and consider alternative transport if possible. 

"We're still to confirm our services for the ASLEF union strike on Friday, September 1 and the RMT union strike on Saturday, September 2. We will announce details for these dates as soon as we can.  

"We're thankful for our customers' patience during these latest RMT and ASLEF union strikes." 

A reduced service will also be run by Great Western Railway on Saturday, August 26 with no services from Dorchester West.

Where services are running, they will start later in the morning and finish much earlier in the evening, and are also expected to be particularly busy.  Those travelling to/from Reading Festival should note that there will be no late-night return services on Saturday evening.

Online journey planners are being updated and details are available on the Great Western Railway website https://www.gwr.com/