Which stations will stay open on South Western Railway network during RMT strike on Saturday 8th October

RAIL users hoping to use the network during the strikes this Saturday will be faced with even fewer options than usual.

Previous strikes by the RMT – called in a row over pay and job security – have seen all stations south of Southampton closed, including local sites in the New Forest and Christchurch.

However, there will also be engineering work as well as industrial action on 8th October, shuttering all stations south of Basingstoke.

South Western Railway is typically urging customers to travel by rail "if absolutely necessary" on Saturday, as well as Sunday, which will see a later start to its usual timetable.

Saturday's timetable, which runs from 7.15am to 6.30pm, comprises:

• Four trains per hour in each way between London Waterloo and Woking
• Two semi-fast trains per hour each way between London Waterloo and Basingstoke
• Two trains per hour each way between London Waterloo and Hounslow

South Western Railway’s performance and planning director, Steve Tyler, said: “I’m sorry that due to strike action we must urge our customers to only travel if absolutely necessary on Saturday 8th October and Sunday 9th October. Those needing to travel should seek to do so by other means.

“Large parts of our network will be closed on the strike day and there will be a late start-up on the morning after. Those who must travel are urged to carefully check the times of first and last trains and avoid them if possible as they are likely to be very busy.

“We are grateful to our customers for their continued cooperation, patience, and understanding as the rail industry works to bring this damaging nationwide strike action to an end.”

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has written to Transport Secretary Anne Marie Treveleyan to take "urgent steps to allow a negotiated settlement".

In the letter, Mr Lynch wrote: "As you know, when we met on 22nd September, I described the meeting as ‘positive’ but the only public statement since then has been from the Chancellor during his fiscal event stating he will be bringing forward legislation to remove rail workers’ right to strike.

"Despite our positive discussion, the Chancellor’s intervention has made an already difficult dispute harder to resolve."