Strike overview and which services will run
Chiltern Railways will operate more than 90% of its scheduled services on 12 November, but it will cancel all trains north of Birmingham Moor Street for the whole day. The company has published a targeted plan that preserves most London Marylebone departures while prioritizing safety and crew availability on West Midlands routes. Passengers traveling to or from stations north of Moor Street should assume no Chiltern service and make alternative arrangements in advance.
Which lines and stations face the biggest disruption
The strike will mostly affect the West Midlands corridor: Stratford-upon-Avon–Leamington Spa Chiltern services will be withdrawn for the day, and local trains between Leamington Spa and Birmingham Moor Street will not run. Hatton and Lapworth commuters will see the most impact. Additionally, every Chiltern train operating north of Birmingham Moor Street is canceled for the full day, reducing through-services towards Stourbridge Junction and beyond.
Alternatives: how to travel and use your ticket
West Midlands Railway will accept Chiltern tickets on specified diverted routes without extra charge. Travelers can use West Midlands Railway trains between Stratford-upon-Avon and Dorridge (with onward connections via Dorridge), and Chiltern tickets to/from Birmingham Moor Street and Stourbridge Junction will be valid on West Midlands services. Moor Street will operate services towards Stourbridge Junction and Worcester Shrub Hill with the last train departing at 22:57. Stations and ticket offices will remain open, and passengers with cancelled, delayed or rescheduled services can claim a free refund from the original point of purchase.
Why the strike is happening: the door-control dispute
The core dispute centers on who will operate train doors on the East–West Rail services between Oxford and Milton Keynes. Chiltern plans to use driver-controlled doors while assigning an additional onboard staff member to perform ticket checks and help passengers. RMT rejects any model that does not guarantee the continued role of a second safety-critical staff member and argues driver-only operation risks passenger safety and undermines existing train manager roles. Chiltern says its driver-controlled-door operation has independent regulatory approval and long-standing safe use on many services.
Planned picket locations and timing
RMT intends to stage pickets between 07:30 and 12:00 at Birmingham Moor Street and Banbury stations, plus a location near Stourbridge Junction on Brook Road opposite The Seven Stars. Those pinchpoints may cause localized station congestion and affect access or staffing at ticket offices during those hours.
How previous strikes inform expectations for 12 November
Chiltern ran over 90% of its timetable during October walkouts (operations reached roughly 93% on prior strike days) by curtailing routes and shortening some services. In past actions, a small number of Stourbridge Junction–London Marylebone trains started or terminated at Banbury or Birmingham Moor Street instead of running their full routes. For 12 November, Chiltern again intends to preserve the bulk of weekday services, yet it will remove all traffic north of Moor Street — a more severe regional cut than on the weekend strikes in October.
Impact on new East–West Rail passenger services (Oxford–Milton Keynes)
Passenger services on the Oxford–Milton Keynes section of East–West Rail remain without a confirmed start date; infrastructure opened in December 2024 but regular passenger operations have not yet begun. When fully launched, the plan is for two trains per hour serving Oxford, Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village, the new Winslow station, Bletchley and Milton Keynes Central using Class 196 units in Chiltern livery. Government timetabling work has at times suggested a later start window (ranging from late 2024 to late 2026); as of the strike announcement, Chiltern and the Department for Transport continue coordination and have not set a firm passenger-start date.
Practical checklist for travelers on 12 November
Before travel: check live service updates on Chiltern and West Midlands Railway websites or apps; Confirm whether your departure or arrival is north of Birmingham Moor Street. If your trip uses Stratford-upon-Avon, Leamington Spa, Hatton or Lapworth stations, plan alternatives.
At the station: expect ticket offices to be open but possibly busier; allow extra time for access if pickets are in place around Moor Street, Banbury or Stourbridge Junction during the morning.
If your train is cancelled: use West Midlands Railway services where permitted, or request a full refund from your point of purchase. For scheduled late-evening services towards Stourbridge Junction and Worcester Shrub Hill, note the last Chiltern departure from Moor Street is at 22:57.
What to watch next
Negotiations between Chiltern Railways and RMT will determine whether future strikes occur and how East–West Rail services are staffed once passenger operations begin. Stakeholders including the Department for Transport continue engagement; any change to driver-door policy or guaranteed train-manager roles would likely trigger fresh consultation and potential operational pilots. Passengers should monitor official updates in the days immediately before and after 12 November for service changes and confirmed start dates for Oxford–Milton Keynes passenger trains.
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