WEST Midlands Railway is urging passengers to plan their travel in advance ahead of two separate days of strike action next week.

On Wednesday, July 27, a very limited service will be in operation due to strike action by members of the RMT union.

Passengers are advised to only travel if essential as trains will only run between 7.30am and 6.30pm on a small number of routes.

On Saturday 30 July there will no service on any WMR route due to strike action by members of driver union ASLEF.

Passengers will not be able to travel with WMR as a result.

People attending Commonwealth Games events will be encouraged to use alternative modes of travel, including specially laid on road transport.

Jonny Wiseman, WMR customer experience director, said: "It is very disappointing that these planned strikes are set to cause significant disruption to our customers.

"On both affected dates customers should only travel if their journey is essential and they have no means of transport available to them.

"On Saturday, July 30, the extent of the strike action means there will be no West Midlands Railway services at all and customers with essential reasons to travel will need to use alternative modes of transport.

"People holding advance tickets for travel on the affected dates can use them on alternative dates or return them to their point of purchase for a refund."

Routes with a limited service on Wednesday 27 July from 7.30am to 6.30pm are:

  • Cross-City Line (Lichfield Trent Valley – Redditch/Bromsgrove via Birmingham New Street) – 2 trains per hour
  • Wolverhampton – Birmingham – 1 train per hour
  • Birmingham New Street – Birmingham International – 1 train per hour

No trains will run on any other WMR route, including all routes via Birmingham Snow Hill, Birmingham-Shrewsbury, Birmingham-Worcester-Hereford and Nuneaton-Leamington Spa.

Some minor disruption to services on the morning of July 28 (Thursday) is expected due to displacement of trains.

For further information, see www.wmr.uk/industrialaction