Published on: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Last updated: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
A Stansted Express train. Credit: Greater Anglia
Stansted Express is reminding people to avoid travelling on its trains on Thursday 18, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 August due to rail strikes and engineering works.
The RMT union has called a national rail strike for Thursday and Saturday, which includes Network Rail signalling and maintenance staff as well as Stansted Express station teams– leading to a heavily reduced service.
Engineering works on Saturday and Sunday are further affecting Stansted Express services.
On Thursday 18 August there will be two trains an hour between Stansted Airport and London starting later and finishing much earlier than usual, with first and last trains from Stansted Airport at 07.42 and 17.12, and from Liverpool Street at 08.10 and 17.40.
Airport travellers are advised to make alternative arrangements to get to Stansted Airport due to engineering works on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 August.
On Saturday 20 August, there will be two services an hour between Stansted Airport and London – but part of the journey will be by a very limited rail replacement bus service between Harlow Mill and Waltham Cross between 07.00 and 19.00.
Buses are expected to be busy all day with long queues at bus stops. Air travellers who have no choice but to use the Stansted Express service should allow plenty of time for their journey.
Any passengers requiring assistance are asked to book in advance, especially if they’re travelling towards Stansted Airport, so Stansted Express can make arrangements to make the journey easier for people in wheelchairs or reduced mobility by arranging accessible taxis from the bus drop off point at Waltham Cross.
On Sunday 21 August, a limited alternative rail service will be available between London and Stansted Airport, using Great Northern and Thameslink trains between Kings Cross and Cambridge and then Greater Anglia and Cross Country trains between Cambridge and Stansted Airport, with a journey time of about two hours.
First services will start later on Friday 19 August, as a knock-on effect of the 24-hour strike.
Jamie Burles, managing director of Greater Anglia, which runs Stansted Express, said: “We’re very sorry that once again we must advise people to avoid travelling on our trains, but we can only operate a very limited service – with a later start time and last trains running much earlier than normal.
“We continue to work hard as an industry to end these disputes as soon as we can, so that people can once again enjoy reliable and punctual rail services without disruption. Stansted Express is offering free changes to customers who have pre-booked tickets for Thursday or Saturday and wish to travel on another day. Refunds will also be available.
Further information about the strike and engineering works, including timetables, are available from www.stanstedexpress.com.