Essential Travel Only: Reduced train service due to industrial action on Saturday 25 June

24 June 2022: As industrial action by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) on the UK rail network continues, customers are reminded to only travel on Saturday 25 June if their journey is essential. Significant disruption is expected on all lines with services starting later and finishing much earlier than usual. 

We are continuing to advise passengers to only travel if it is essential, work from home if they can and to plan ahead if they do intend to travel, which will allow our severely reduced service to be utilised by those making essential journeys.  

With Saturday the third planned strike day this week, customers are reminded that trains will only run between 07:30 and 18:30, with the first and last trains as below, though c2c warns that these trains are likely to be very busy.

First trains:

• 07:30 Shoeburyness – Fenchurch Street
• 07:36 Grays – Fenchurch Street via Rainham
• 07:44 Pitsea – Fenchurch Street via Rainham

Last trains:

• 17:00 Fenchurch Street – Pitsea via Rainham
• 17:05 Fenchurch Street – Shoeburyness via Laindon
• 17:28 Fenchurch Street – Southend Central
• 17:37 Fenchurch Street – Grays via Rainham

No trains will serve Chafford Hundred or Ockenden stations as our reduced service can only operate on the routes that Network Rail has made available.

The full timetable for Saturday is available here. Timetables for the rest of the week can be viewed on our service alterations page.

Due to RMT’s nationwide industrial action, c2c is operating a service equating to less than a third of normal service levels, and consisting of:

• 2 trains per hour from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness via Laindon
• 2 trains per hour from Fenchurch Street to Pitsea via Rainham
• No trains will run via Ockendon or Chafford Hundred

The operator continues to warn that disruption is likely to continue into Sunday morning, with services set to start running from around 06:30 with a full service planned to be in operation by 08:00.

Rob Mullen, Managing Director for c2c, said, “Looking ahead to the weekend, we must ask customers to again consider if their journeys are essential; with warm weather and non-working days for many, we are at risk of seeing the network overloaded on Saturday as we operate a much reduced service due to the ongoing strike action. This creates safety concerns for those travelling, as well as our colleagues, so please consider your plans to use our very limited service as our trains are set to be severely disrupted and very busy. If you must travel, please allow plenty of time, expect disruption and make sure you plan ahead.

“We are grateful to customers who have made alternative arrangements or delayed their journeys this week to avoid strike days across the rail network. This has meant we can support those in vital roles such as key workers in healthcare and education, as well as construction workers and school children, make essential journeys to work and for educational purposes.” 

We are advising customers not to buy tickets to travel on a strike day but they will be able to get a refund if they cannot travel due to strike action. The quickest way to request a refund is via our online refund form.

For up-to-date travel advice during industrial action, check before you travel; the National Rail Enquiries website will have the latest information on services, as will the c2c website. 

NOTES TO EDITORS

About c2c

c2c is the award-winning train operator running services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, serving 26 stations in East London and South Essex. Owned by Trenitalia, c2c is one of the UK’s most punctual and popular train operators and nearly 48 million journeys are made on our services every year.

 Italian-based Trenitalia is one of Europe’s leading rail operators and the passenger rail arm of FS Italian Group.

 For more information email mediaenquiries@c2crail.net