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Chiltern Railways faces two Saturday strikes over East West Rail doors
RMT members will walk out on 10 and 17 October in a row over who controls the doors on East West Rail. The Department for Transport expects most Chiltern trains to run.
Key facts
- RMT members at Chiltern Railways plan to strike on Saturday 10 and Saturday 17 October 2026
- The dispute is over driver-only operation planned for East West Rail
- The Department for Transport expects most services to run
- Some Marylebone trains will make an extra stop at Wembley Stadium on 10 October
Chiltern Railways passengers face two days of strikes this month. RMT members employed by the operator plan to stop work on Saturday 10 October and again on Saturday 17 October 2026, in a row over drivers operating the doors on East West Rail trains.
The union said its members voted for industrial action by a large majority. At the heart of the dispute is who opens and closes the doors at stations on the new line. The RMT wants the conductor on board to keep a safety role and control of the doors, instead of the driver.
What the strike means for Chiltern services
The full effect of the walkouts is still to be confirmed. A Department for Transport spokesperson said most services were expected to run, and the department said Chiltern expects nearly all of its trains to operate.
Separately, Chiltern’s travel information says some trains to and from Marylebone on Saturday 10 October will make an extra stop at Wembley Stadium station throughout the day, because a large Girl Guides event is being held at the stadium.
Why the RMT is striking over East West Rail
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said driver-only operation on the East West route posed a significant risk to safety and to existing Train Manager jobs. “RMT will not accept the watering down of safety on the rail network,” he said.
The Department for Transport said drivers have had full control of the doors across most of Chiltern’s network for decades, an arrangement the independent rail regulator has signed off. On East West Rail, it said, a second member of staff would be on board to help passengers, and current Train Managers would keep their roles, terms and conditions and staffing levels. The department has already begun recruiting onboard customer support staff and urged the union to call off the action.
East West Rail should have opened more than a year ago. Additional works at Winslow station explain part of the delay, but the door dispute is the main reason. Chiltern Railways moved into public ownership less than a fortnight ago. ASLEF, the other main rail union, has not joined the dispute.
Key questions
When are the Chiltern Railways strikes?
RMT members plan to stop work on Saturday 10 October and Saturday 17 October 2026.
How will Chiltern services be affected?
The full impact has not been confirmed, but the Department for Transport says it expects most services to run.
Why is the RMT striking?
The union opposes plans for drivers, rather than conductors, to control the doors on East West Rail services.
Is ASLEF also striking?
No. ASLEF, the other main rail union, has not joined the dispute.
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