Essential travel only due to industrial action on Wednesday 27 July

25 July 2022: As industrial action by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) on the UK rail network continues, we are advising customers to only travel on Wednesday 27 July if their journey is essential. 

Significant disruption is expected on all lines with services starting later and finishing much earlier than usual. As with previous industrial action, trains will only run between 07:30 and 18:30 so we urge customers to plan ahead and check the times of their last trains. 

We are advising 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.  

The service equates 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

Customers are reminded that trains will only run between 07:30 and 18:30, with the first and last trains detailed below although these trains are likely to be very busy.

First trains:

• 07:30 Shoeburyness to Fenchurch Street
• 07:32 Basildon to Fenchurch Street
• 07:36 Grays to Fenchurch Street
• 07:44 Pitsea to Fenchurch Street via Rainham

Last trains:

• 17:00 Fenchurch Street to Pitsea via Rainham
• 17:05 Fenchurch St to Shoeburyness via Laindon
• 17:28 Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness
• 17:37 Fenchurch Street to Grays via Rainham

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

The full timetable is available here.

The operator is also warning customers that disruption is likely to continue into Thursday morning as employees return to duties. There will be no trains on Thursday morning until after 06:30.

Rob Mullen, Managing Director for c2c, said, “We are really disappointed that this disruptive action is taking place again, impacting summer holiday plans for many of our customers, as well as those travelling for work. Our teams are working to deliver a service on this latest day of action but we must warn customers to only travel if their journeys are essential as we will be running a significantly reduced service with trains stopping much earlier than usual. If customers have essential journeys, we are asking them to allow plenty of time, expect disruption and be sure to plan ahead.”

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 already have a ticket and 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.