TRAIN strikes will be taking place this week as two unions take industrial action which is set to impact journeys to and from Hereford.

It comes as the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) and the ASLEF union, which represents train drivers, announced they will be taking strike action which is likely to cause mass disruption.

It's expected that many train services that usually pass through Hereford will be cancelled later this week, impacting many travellers as rail companies urge them to prepare accordingly.

Here is all the information on the strikes.

When are the strikes?

ASLEF union is striking on Friday, September 1, meaning the affected operators will not be running any trains on this day.

On Saturday, September 2, the RMT union will be striking with ASLEF taking action short of a strike with a ban on overtime, meaning services will be heavily reduced.

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Which train companies are affected in Hereford?

Over 20 train companies across the UK will be affected by the strikes. As for the services that run to and from Hereford, the companies affected are:

  • Avanti West Coast
  • CrossCountry
  • Great Western Railway
  • London Northwestern Railway
  • West Midlands Railway (WMR)

Transport for Wales (TfW), the operator that manages Hereford Railway Station, is not included in the industrial action on these dates and services will be running. However, as other train operators' services will be limited, some TfW services are likely to be busier than usual.

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Advice to travellers affected by train strikes

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at WMR, said: "It is disappointing that our customers' journeys are again being impacted by this action."

He urged passengers to check timetables frequently, and said that anyone holding a ticket for travel on a strike day is able to claim a full refund.