SOUTH Western Railway have released their plans to combat strikes in the days leading up to Christmas.

The operator has been dealing with an unprecedented level of industrial action, with 13 days of strikes so far this month.

The only days where RMT members did not walk out were the first day of the month, and on December 12, where the reduced service timetable continued to run.

They are now looking ahead to the Christmas period and having to deal with a very busy time of the year.

SWR have released their timetables for Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 December, whilst the service for Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 December are still in planning, as is the period between Friday 27 December and Wednesday 1 January.

There will be no service, as usual, on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

On their website, SWR say: "This strike is the last thing any of us wanted.

"We will do everything possible to get you where you need to go but ask that you leave more time for your journey and check before you travel for the latest information."

They say that more than half of their usual services will run, with priority capacity given to services during peak periods, similar to that of previous industrial action.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash has called for SWR to be stripped of its franchise, saying: “This latest fiasco over the introduction of driver controlled fleet reinforces everything that RMT has been fighting for in the dispute over the safety critical role of the guard as we prepare for a further month of industrial action.”

However, SWR’s managing director Andy Mellors has labelled the strikes as “unnecessary”, saying that they have promised “that there will always be a guard on our trains”.

Bournemouth to London Waterloo

Trains between Bournemouth and London Waterloo, will be hourly in both directions, with some additional trains during peak periods. There will be no stopping service between the capital and Poole, with hourly stopping trains instead serving stations from Southampton Central to Bournemouth and Bournemouth to Weymouth.

On Monday, December 23, the last fast train will leave Waterloo at 22.35, whilst it will be at 19.00 on Christmas Eve. The final train on the Southampton to Bournemouth stopping service will leave Southampton Central at 20.55 on Monday and 19.55 on Christmas Eve, whilst the final Bournemouth to Weymouth train will be at 22.24 on Monday and 20.24 on Christmas Eve.

Salisbury to London Waterloo

Trains to London Waterloo from Salisbury, via Andover, will also run hourly, with additional peak services. The final service from London on Monday is 22.20, whilst it will be three hours earlier on Christmas Eve.

For travellers going on to Exeter, there will be one train every two hours, that start later and finish earlier. On Christmas Eve, the final service leaves Salisbury at 17.10.

Basingstoke to London Waterloo (stopping service)

The stopping service between Basingstoke and the capital will run as one train per hour in each direction, with additional services at peak periods. The final service leaves Waterloo at 22.42 on Monday and 19.11 on Christmas Eve.