Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) will stage industrial action on Saturday, 10 October 2026, and Saturday, 17 October 2026, affecting rail services in the West Midlands. Strike picketing will occur at Birmingham Moor Street and Stourbridge Junction stations from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on both dates. Chiltern Railways anticipates operating more than 93% of its services normally during the strikes, including all trains to and from London Marylebone.
Altered Train Services and Route Changes During Strike Days
During the strike, specific Chiltern Railways services will run with altered origins or destinations. The 6:44 a.m. train from Stourbridge Junction to London Marylebone
will instead start from Banbury. The 8:19 a.m. service from Stourbridge Junction is scheduled to originate from Birmingham Moor Street. In the evening, the 6:02 p.m. train from London Marylebone to Stourbridge Junction will terminate early at Birmingham Moor Street, and the 7:32 p.m. service from London Marylebone will end at Banbury. Additionally, there will be no Chiltern Railways services operating between Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa on the strike days.
Cause of Industrial Dispute Focused on East West Rail Staffing
The dispute centers on staffing arrangements for the East West Rail route between Oxford and Milton Keynes. The RMT union opposes driver-only operation plans and calls for guarantees on the
safety-critical role of a second crew member onboard trains. Chiltern Railways asserts that every train on East West Rail will have two staff members: a driver and a colleague responsible for passenger assistance and ticket checks. The company also states that decades of experience with drivers controlling train doors have been approved by an independent rail regulator.
Official Comments from Chiltern Railways and RMT
Tony Baxter, the interim managing director of Chiltern Railways, expressed disappointment over the RMT’s decision to proceed with industrial action. He said, “We’re disappointed that RMT members have voted in favour of industrial action over how we intend to run services on the
first stage of East West Rail between Oxford and Milton Keynes.” Baxter emphasized that more than 93% of services will continue as usual, minimizing passenger disruption, and highlighted the creation of over 100 new permanent jobs.
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey criticized Chiltern Railways management’s approach, stating, “The actions of Chiltern management to not take these concerns seriously is totally unacceptable. RMT will not accept the watering down of safety on the rail network.” Dempsey also confirmed that RMT remains open to meaningful negotiations with the company.
Passenger Advice Ahead of 10 and 17 October Strikes
Passengers traveling in the West Midlands on the strike dates should consult journey
planners for updated timetables due to alterations caused by the RMT industrial action. Changes to train origins, terminus stations, and route suspensions between Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa may lead to delays and cancellations. Commuters using Chiltern Railways services between Birmingham Moor Street, Stourbridge Junction, London Marylebone, Banbury, and other affected stations should verify schedules before traveling.
