What to do if the rail strikes mean you can't get to the airport this weekend

As rail strikes continue this summer, anyone who has to travel in the UK on certain dates in August is likely to encounter major problems, whether they are travelling by train to a holiday on home soil or to catch a flight abroad. We have highlighted the biggest problem areas below, and provide a few solutions.

Which rail companies are striking and when?

RMT workers are due to strike again on August 20. Train operators involved in the RMT strikes include: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, c2c, East Midlands Railway, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, GTR (including Gatwick Express), LNER, Northern Trains, South Eastern, South Western Railway, Transpennine Express and West Midlands Trains.

What happens if I’m struggling to get to the airport?

The biggest issue for those heading abroad will be travel to and from London’s airports, because such a high proportion of passengers use rail services to reach them.

It's possible some companies will run trains on strike days, albeit at a very limited frequency. These services are likely to be busy. Airport coach services will be running, but demand is likely to be extremely high and seats may sell out. 

The Gatwick Express is set to be heavily impacted by the August strikes. Services will be affected by the industrial action on August 20, and warns that the days following each strike will also see disruption.

Meanwhile, the Heathrow Express says a full service will operate between 7:30 and 18:10 on Saturday August 20 but there will be no services before and after due to industrial action.

The Stansted Express has urged passengers to avoid travelling on its services on Saturday 20, Sunday 21 and Monday 29 August. It says there will be no direct Stansted Express trains because of strikes or essential engineering works.

What if I have already bought a rail ticket?

If you have bought a rail ticket that you can’t use, some companies (the Stansted Express, for example) will allow you to use it on a different day but, in all cases, you can opt to claim a refund through the website of the company from which you bought it.

What problems face those driving to the airport?

The best option for many travellers will be to persuade a friend to drive you to the airport. You will normally have to pay a drop off fee (£5–£6 at Manchester for example), but you won’t have to pre-book. If you decide to drive yourself, it is essential to book parking at all airports in advance – not just to be sure of getting a space, but because the rates for turning up without a booking are much higher. At Luton charges vary from £30–£76.50 a day, depending on the proximity to the airport.