Chiltern Railways to Run Reduced Timetable as RMT Train Managers Strike for 24 Hours

Chiltern Railways will run a reduced timetable on Thursday because RMT train managers are taking part in a 24-hour strike over staffing arrangements on the proposed East West Rail route, the BBC reported. Services to and from Stratford-upon-Avon, Leamington Spa and Birmingham Moor Street will be affected.

Chiltern Railways' Reduced Timetable On Strike Day

Chiltern Railways is a UK train operating company running scheduled passenger services from London Marylebone to destinations across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands as part of Arriva Group. On the strike day, no Chiltern Railways services will run between Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa. Passengers are advised to use West Midlands Railway services between Stratford-upon-Avon and Dorridge before connecting onwards.

A reduced service will run between Leamington Spa and Birmingham Moor Street because local shuttle services will not operate, with changes expected to particularly affect passengers travelling from Hatton and Lapworth. No Chiltern Railways services will run north of Birmingham Moor Street, and passengers heading towards Stourbridge Junction are advised to use West Midlands Railway instead. The last northbound service towards Stourbridge Junction and onwards to Worcester Shrub Hill will be the 22:57 GMT West Midlands Railway departure from Birmingham Moor Street.

Tony Baxter, interim managing director of Chiltern Railways, said the company was "disappointed" by the industrial action but expected to run "the vast majority of our services on that day". The RMT said it is concerned about plans to introduce driver-only operation on East West Rail services, arguing it could undermine passenger safety and threaten existing train manager roles. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said the union remained determined to resist any attempt to weaken safety standards on the railway.

Baxter said: "Every East West Rail service will have two people on board - the driver and a colleague looking after passengers, checking tickets, helping people who need assistance and assisting with any issues." He added: "We have run most of our trains with the driver in control of the doors for decades, safely and as approved by the independent rail regulator." Baxter said the firm is "committed to working with the RMT to resolve this" and urged the union to work with them.

Chiltern Railways' East West Rail Dispute In Company Records

Chiltern Railways faced an industrial dispute with the RMT union over Driver Only Operation on East West Rail services, with East West Rail operations delayed indefinitely, according to akta.pro company records. The same records show Chiltern Railways officially took over East West Rail operations in March 2025 for passenger services on the Oxford to Milton Keynes line, and that the first phase between Oxford and Milton Keynes was completed in October 2024 at a project cost of £1.3 billion.

How Other Rail Operators Compare

East West Rail passenger services between Bicester and Bletchley/Milton Keynes will not start this year due to a dispute with the RMT union, New Civil Engineer reported on November 5, 2026. The dispute centres on staffing and safety responsibilities, with the DfT and Chiltern Railways confirming a 2026 start date. On November 6, 2026, Yahoo reported that eight MPs wrote to c2c and Network Rail Anglia to demand a meeting over unacceptable rail service, citing repeated disruptions.

What Comes Next For Chiltern Railways

The 24-hour strike is scheduled for Thursday, with the reduced timetable and replacement West Midlands Railway connections in place for that day.