Essential travel only due to industrial action on Thursday 18th, Saturday 20 August

16 AUGUST 2022: As industrial action by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) and the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) on the UK rail network continues, we are advising customers to only travel on Thursday 18th and Saturday 20th August if their journey is essential.

Severe disruption is expected on all lines with services starting later and finishing much earlier than usual. As with previous industrial action, trains will only run between 07:30 and 18:30 so we urge customers to plan ahead and ensure they check the times of their last trains.

We are advising passengers to only travel if it is essential, work from home if they can and to plan ahead if they do intend to travel, which will allow our severely reduced service to be utilised by those making essential journeys.

The service set to run equates to less than a third of normal service levels, and consists of:

• 2 trains per hour from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness via Laindon
• 2 trains per hour from Fenchurch Street to Pitsea via Rainham
• No trains will run via Ockendon or Chafford Hundred

Timetables are now confirmed and customers are reminded that trains will only run between 07:30 and 18:30, with the first and last trains detailed below, although these trains are likely to be very busy.

First trains on Thursday and Saturday:

• 07:30 Shoeburyness to Fenchurch Street
• 07:32 Basildon to Fenchurch Street
• 07:36 Grays to Fenchurch Street
• 07:44 Pitsea to Fenchurch Street via Rainham

Last trains on Thursday and Saturday:

• 17:00 Fenchurch Street to Pitsea via Rainham
• 17:05 Fenchurch St to Shoeburyness via Laindon
• 17:28 Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness
• 17:37 Fenchurch Street to Grays via Rainham

No trains will serve Chafford Hundred or Ockendon stations as our reduced service can only operate on the routes that Network Rail has made available.

Disruption will continue into Friday and Sunday mornings as employees return to duties. There will be no trains until after 06:30 on the days following the strike days.

Also, due to strike action on the London Underground network on Friday 19th, passengers will also see disruption at tube interchanges so are urged to travel later if they can. As well as late start up for c2c, with the tube closed, Barking station will be closed until the c2c service commences at 07:00 on Friday to ensure passenger safety at the station.

TfL has confirmed that Travelcards will be accepted on alternative services within the zones on the ticket and that PAYG users will be charged for the service(s) they use.

Rob Mullen, Managing Director for c2c, said, “It is really frustrating that we are again having to ask customers to consider their travel plans due to industrial action. We are now in peak summer holiday time, with this service reduction also impacting those travelling for work and causing unnecessary disruption in another spell of hot weather. Our teams are working to deliver a service on these days but we must warn customers to only travel if their journeys are essential as our service will be significantly reduced with trains starting much later and stopping much earlier than usual. For those making essential journeys, we are asking them to allow plenty of time, expect disruption and be sure to plan ahead to ensure they are not standed after the last trains.”

We are advising c2c customers not to buy tickets to travel on a strike day but they will be able to get a refund if they already have a ticket and cannot travel due to strike action. The quickest way to request a refund is via our online refund form. Also, if passengers cannot travel due to industrial action on 18th or 20th August, daily tickets may offer better value than a weekly season ticket.

For up-to-date travel advice during industrial action, check the c2c website before you travel; the National Rail Enquiries website has the latest information on services across the country.