Chiltern Railways staff to strike over driver-only operation
RMT union members will walk out on two Saturdays in October over safety concerns for East West Rail services.
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Members of the RMT union employed by Chiltern Railways will strike on Saturday, October 10th, and Saturday, October 17th, 2026. The industrial action is a protest against the planned introduction of driver-only operation (DOO) for services on the East West Rail line. The dispute centres on whether drivers should be responsible for opening and closing train doors at stations, a role the union believes should remain with a conductor.
The East West railway project has faced delays, with the RMT's concerns over door operation being a significant factor. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey stated that the proposed driver-only operation on East West Rail represents a substantial risk to safety and the existing roles of Train Managers. He added that the union will not accept any reduction in safety standards across the rail network.
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The RMT union says proposed changes to working patterns, not pay, are behind the industrial action.
Operator and Government Response
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport (DfT) indicated that most services are expected to run during the strike periods. The DfT also noted that driver-only operation, where the driver controls the doors, has been in use on other parts of the Chiltern Railways network for many years and is approved by the independent rail regulator. The department stated that implementing this model for East West Rail, with additional onboard staff to assist passengers, will not alter the current roles, terms, conditions, or staffing levels of Chiltern Train Managers, and that any claims otherwise are inaccurate.
The DfT is working with Chiltern Railways on preparations for the East West Rail services to commence and has begun recruiting onboard customer support staff. The department urged the RMT to call off the strike action and collaborate on opening the railway and realising its benefits for passengers. The ASLEF union is not involved in this particular dispute.
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On Saturday, October 10th, some trains travelling to and from Marylebone station are scheduled to make additional stops at Wembley Stadium station throughout the day due to a large Girl Guides event taking place at the venue.
Questions this report answers
+When will Chiltern Railways staff be striking?
Members of the RMT union employed by Chiltern Railways will strike on Saturday, October 10th, and Saturday, October 17th, 2026. This action is planned to affect services on the East West Rail line.
+Why are Chiltern Railways staff striking?
The strike is in protest against the planned introduction of driver-only operation (DOO) for East West Rail services. The RMT union believes this poses a significant safety risk and wants to maintain conductor control over train doors.
+Will Chiltern Railways services be cancelled due to the strike?
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport stated that most Chiltern Railways services are expected to run as normal during the strike days. However, the exact impact on all services has not yet been confirmed.
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