RMT Union Calls Two Strikes Against Chiltern Railways
The RMT union will hold 24-hour strikes on October 10 and 17 over proposed driver-only operations on East West Rail services.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) announced two 24-hour strikes against Chiltern Railways scheduled for Saturday, October 10, and Saturday, October 17, 2026. The industrial action follows a member vote opposing the implementation of driver-only operation (DOO) on the first stage of East West Rail services between Oxford and Milton Keynes.
Union leadership argues that removing a second safety-critical staff member from the train creates a significant risk to safety and threatens existing train manager roles. Chiltern Railways interim managing director Tony Baxter disputed these claims, stating that every East West Rail service will still have two people on board: the driver and a colleague to assist passengers and check tickets. Baxter noted that the company has operated trains with drivers controlling the doors for decades under regulator approval and that the new services will create over 100 permanent jobs without altering existing roles.
Chiltern Railways expects more than 93 percent of its services to run as usual, including normal operations at London Marylebone. However, services between Leamington and Stratford will be completely suspended on the strike dates.
