TRAIN companies have urged people to avoid unnecessarily travel later this week as rail workers take further strike action.

Members of the RMT union at Network Rail and 13 train operators will go on strike again on Thursday, August 18 and Saturday, August 20, with services across the county set to be cancelled or delayed.

The walkout, which is expected to include 40,000 workers, is likely to cause the same scale of disruption that customers and commuters saw in June.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which operates Southern, Gatwick Express and Thameslink services, have warned that trains will start late and finish earlier, with no alternative travel available.

A skeleton service is set to operate on Thursday and Saturday, with around a quarter of services running and many lines closed altogether. Gatwick Express services will not operate on strike days.

The Argus: A map of GTR service availability on strike days this weekA map of GTR service availability on strike days this week

Angie Doll, GTR chief operating officer, said: “Our strong advice to passengers is to travel by rail only if absolutely necessary on August 18 and August 20.

“Strike action by RMT members means train services across the country will be significantly limited once again, with many routes not running at all.

“Services for the whole period between August 18 and August 21 will also start much later in the morning than usual, so please travel later in the day if you can.

“First trains will be extremely busy and therefore you may not be able to board. Trains on strike days will also finish as early as 4.30pm, so please plan ahead if you absolutely have to travel on these days.

“We’re so disappointed that rail disruption due to strikes is affecting our passengers again. We urge the RMT to work with the industry and come to a resolution.”

GTR has been in touch with stakeholders, including hospitals, to notify them of the impact of the strike action.

The Argus: RMT workers at Network Rail and 13 train operators will walkout on Thursday and SaturdayRMT workers at Network Rail and 13 train operators will walkout on Thursday and Saturday

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has threatened to take further strike action in the coming weeks and months unless transport minister Grant Shapps stops interfering to prevent a deal from being reached in the dispute over pay.

Mr Lynch said: “He is threatening our members with P&O style fire and rehire and the reintroduction of driver-only operated services, which will lead to a fall in safety standards and job losses.

“If these proposals become law, there will be the biggest resistance mounted by the entire trade union movement, rivalling the general strike of 1926.”