SOUTH Western Railway has confirmed what services will be in operation during this week's strikes.

Industrial action will be taken by the ASLEF union and strike action by the RMT union.

On these days, SWR advises passengers to only travel if absolutely necessary.

Between Monday, July 17 and Wednesday, July 19, a nationwide ban on overtime by members of the ASLEF union will mean reduced services across the SWR network.

Services will usually be reduced to hourly in off-peak periods, with a small number of cancellations during the evening peaks.

Some first and last trains may also be cancelled, passengers are advised to check before travelling.

On Thursday, July 20, nationwide strike action by members of the RMT union will mean a significantly reduced service will operate on a limited number of lines.

Trains will only operate between 7am and 7pm, with the last trains departing at around 5pm.

On Friday, July 21, train services will start later than usual, at around 7:30am.

A reduced timetable will again operate due to the continuing overtime ban by members of the ASLEF union. 

On Saturday 22 July, nationwide strike action by members of the RMT union will again mean a significantly reduced service on a limited number of lines.

Trains will only operate between the hours of 7am and 7pm, with the last trains departing at around 5pm.

A normal Sunday timetable will operate on Sunday, July 23, however a small number of services will be cancelled due to RMT strike action on the previous day.

Services on Saturday, July 29 will be announced in due course, however, SWR can confirm a significantly reduced service will operate and is likely to be similar to the service on Saturday 22.

Trains will only operate between the hours of 7am and 7pm, with the last trains departing at around 5pm.

Stuart Meek, Chief Operating Officer at South Western Railway, commented: "We’re sorry that customers will again face disruption due to industrial action by the ASLEF union and strike action by the RMT union.

"Anybody planning to travel on days affected by the ASLEF union’s industrial action should check their whole journey before they set off and be aware that services are likely to be busier than usual.  

"As with the last ASLEF overtime ban, instead of making numerous short-notice amendments and cancellations to our standard timetable, we will operate an amended timetable that we have a high degree of confidence we can reliably and safely deliver.

"We hope this will give our customers greater certainty when planning their journeys.

"On days of strike action by the RMT union we are sorry to ask that customers should only travel if absolutely necessary.

"We have worked hard to improve our service offering during RMT strike action and are pleased to confirm that we will operate services to and from Ascot on Thursday 20."