Royal Ascot 2019 train strikes: Racegoers urged to find alternative transport on day one

Many trains linking London and Ascot will be cancelled during the racing due to strikes

Royal Ascot racegoers have been urged to seek alternative ways of getting to the racecourse because of train cancellations due to strikes.

From 18 to 22 June, hundreds of trains from London Waterloo will be cancelled as a result of a dispute between South Western Rail (SWR) and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) workers involving an issue with train guards not being resolved.

The RMT have called a strike that will reduce many of the trains running between London and Ascot this week.

The Waterloo-Reading line, which stops at Ascot, will be run four trains per hour in the three hours before the first race (2:30) and four trains per hour in the three hours after the last race (5:35).

“Additional train services will be in operation if you are travelling to Royal Ascot,” said SWR.

Additional trains from Waterloo will be put on for racegoers (Getty)

“Queueing systems will be in place at some stations during this event, so it may take extra time to board your train. We recommend you check your journey before travelling and leave plenty of time to complete your journey.”

The racecourse has asked racegoers to try and find alternative forms of travel instead of enduring the delays, with additional car parking being made available.

"Our advice to racegoers travelling by train is to connect to the racecourse website which contains a link to SWR and the company will be regularly updating their revised timetable over the course of the week,” said Nick Smith, Ascot’s director of racing and communications.

“Racegoers then have to make their own decision whether to endure the obvious delays the service will cause and perhaps make alternative arrangements. However, I do understand that SWR intend to be running as many trains as possible on the route at peak times.

"The alternative arrangements remain the same and they include travelling to the racecourse by road which is not ideal but does provide an alternative. Ascot has the extra car parking capacity which will be needed on site and those areas will of course be well signposted."

Rail replacement services will be in place and train tickets will be accepted on other rail and bus networks where possible. Those travelling to Ascot throughout the week have been advised to allow extra time to travel.