A rail operator is warning people to travel only if necessary ahead of train strikes around Bonfire Night.

RMT members will be striking on Saturday, November 5, Monday 7 and Wednesday 9.

There will be no Gatwick Express service on these days, although there will be a limited Southern and Thameslink service of eight trains an hour in each direction.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is urging people to make alternative travel plans for any bonfire celebrations as return journeys will not be running due to the early shutdown of the rail network on strike days.

Neither Battersea nor Alexandra Palace will be served past 3pm on Saturday, which are big destinations for many watching fireworks.

Angie Doll, chief operating officer, Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “I’m sorry so many people will be affected by the RMT strikes starting on November 5 and urge people not to travel by train unless absolutely necessary on any strike day.

“On Saturday, people may be considering taking the train to fireworks celebrations but the service will end early and they won’t be able to get back.

The Argus: People are being urged to only travel if necessaryPeople are being urged to only travel if necessary (Image: PA)

“In fact, there will be disruption all the way through to Thursday morning and schoolchildren in particular will be affected as services will start much later in the morning every day.

“Please plan ahead carefully by visiting nationalrail.co.uk. We continue to urge the unions to work with the industry and come to a resolution.”

On strike days there will be no service at all on most lines south of London.

Trains will not start until 7.30am and they will finish early, between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.

The day after strike days will see services start later at around 7.30am, with morning trains likely to be very busy.

On Thursday, November 10, RMT is taking strike action on both London Overground and Underground.