Trains across the South West and the rest of the network will be heavily disrupted this week as the third round of industrial strikes gets underway.

The 18 and the 20 August are the official strike days but there will be ongoing disruption on the intervening days as trains will start much later than usual and will be very busy.

There were reports of cancellations yesterday (Wednesday) even though the strike had not begun.

South Western Railway (SWR) is urging customers to only travel if it is absolutely necessary because there will only be a skeleton service and much of the network will be closed completely.

There will be no trains today beyond Basingstoke. Anyone wishing to travel to the South West will not be able to do so by train.

SWR is not providing any rail replacement buses.

Network Railway have provided staff for part of the day to cover essential tasks, such as signallers.

The following trains will run on the strike days:

• Four trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Windsor & Eton Riverside via Hounslow 
• Two semi-fast trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Basingstoke 
• Four trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Woking 
• Two fast trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Southampton Central 

If you have a ticket booked for today or Saturday and you decide not to travel you will be able to claim a fee-free refund. Alternatively, you can use the same ticket to travel the day before the date shown on the ticket or up to and including Tuesday 23 August.

You can find out the latest information here.