Passengers advised to check their journeys due to industrial action 3-8 July

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) strongly urges customers to plan ahead, allow extra time and check trains before setting out for the station

Train companies, including GTR, have been notified of a nationwide ban on overtime by the ASLEF union in this period.

To help customers plan, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink will run an amended timetable with fewer services. This will give customers greater certainty on train times with fewer short-notice, on-the-day alterations.

Trains throughout the week will be busier than usual, especially in the peak hours. It is likely passengers will need to queue, and some may not be able to board the first service. Passengers should allow extra time to complete their journey. Online journey planners such as nationalrail.co.uk will be updated from Friday 30 June for trains on Monday to Friday 3-7 July and by 1 July for Saturday 8 July.

Gatwick Express will not operate on any of the affected days. However, the airport will be well served by Thameslink and Southern trains.

Wireless Festival, Finsbury Park

Trains that will be running on Saturday will be extremely busy and passengers will need to queue. People attending the festival should plan ahead and leave extra time for their journey, or consider using alternative travel options.

Network Operations Director at Govia Thameslink Railway, Chris Fowler, said: “We're really sorry for the disruption this industrial action by ASLEF will cause our customers. Regrettably, we’ll be running an amended timetable with fewer trains from Monday to Saturday, 3-8 July.

“By reducing service levels, we’ll have fewer short-notice, on-the-day alterations, which provides greater certainty for customers planning their journeys.

“Customers heading to the Wireless Festival at Finsbury Park will face long waits and extremely busy trains on a very limited service so they should find other ways to travel if possible. Overall, I strongly advise people to plan ahead, allow extra time and check trains before setting out for the station.”