Nationwide rail strikes have been called by the RMT union at Network Rail and train operating companies to take place on Thursday 18th August and Saturday 20th August. The strikes will also impact services on Friday 19th August and Sunday 21st August.
Thameslink, Gatwick Express and Southern apologise for the disruption that will be caused by this industrial action. They are advising customers only travel if absolutely necessary and to expect severe disruption.
The railway will operate limited opening hours with services starting later than normal and finishing in the late afternoon. Please check your first and last trains carefully, as there will be no alternative travel outside of these services.
All services will be affected including Burgess Hill, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and Wivelsfield stations.
Two trains per hour will run between London Bridge and Brighton, calling at London Bridge, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Balcombe, Hayward’s Heath, Wivelsfield, Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Preston Park and Brighton only.
The disruption from an RMT strike day will have a knock-on effect as the railway will be unavailable overnight meaning that trains and crew will not be in the correct locations to provide a normal service. This means that first services will begin much later than normal and a Sunday service will be in operation on Friday 19th August and Sunday 21st August.
First services are expected to be extremely crowded and you may not be able to board your chosen service.
On Friday 19 August, London Underground, London Overground and Elizabeth line will be affected by strike action. More details can be found on the TfL website.
Further information, including downloadable timetables and FAQs can be found on the Thameslink website here: Thameslink - Industrial action (thameslinkrailway.com)