Watford trains will be among services “significantly disrupted” by strikes at the beginning of January 2023.

National Rail has warned there will be further disruption after strike action by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) hit services throughout December.

Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) strikes are already bringing some services to a halt today and tomorrow (December 28 to 11.59am on December 29).

Below are details of how services that operate via Watford Junction and surrounding stations will be affected in the first week of the new year.

London Northwestern Railway

There will be at least some disruption to London Northwestern Railway services every day for the first seven days of January, with customers advised to only travel if necessary.

This ranges from the Abbey Line being replaced by buses on January 2, to no services on any London Northwestern Railway route on January 5.

Tickets for January 3,4,6, and 7 can be used the day before the date on the ticket, or up to and including Tuesday 10 January.

Watford Observer: London Northwestern Railway disruption January 2023London Northwestern Railway disruption January 2023 (Image: London Northwestern Railway)

Avanti West Coast

Avanti has “strongly advised” customers to only travel if necessary on January 3,4,6, and 7 as their journey will likely be “severely disrupted”.

The timetable and operating hours are expected to be reduced significantly with those that do run being extremely busy.

Southern and Thameslink

On January 1, a “normal festive planned service” is expected, with a normal service expected for January 2.

On January 3,4,6, and 7 there will be a limited service. There will be no trains on January 5 and a late start up on January 8.

It also advises customers to only travel if “absolutely necessary”.

Watford Observer: Thameslink and Southern disruption January 2023 Thameslink and Southern disruption January 2023 (Image: Thameslink)

Chiltern Railways

Chiltern Railways advised customers to “only travel if absolutely essential throughout the whole period of industrial action" (December 13 to January 9).

Services start later and finish earlier throughout the whole period, with no trains on January 5 and 6.

TfL

On January 3, 4, 6, and 7 most TfL services will continue to run, including most of the tube, but there will be disruption.

There will be two trains per hour will run between Euston and Watford Junction with all London Overground services only running between 7.30am and 6.30pm.