Coming directly to this year’s Bournemouth Air Festival by train has been ruled out on two days of the event due to strike action.
There will be no South Western Railway (SWR) services running in Dorset and the New Forest on Friday, September 1, and Saturday, September 2.
The operator has said it will not run main line trains south of Basingstoke on Friday, while services from London Waterloo will terminate at Southampton Central on Saturday.
The reduced offering on Friday is due to ASLEF union strike action.
Previous ASLEF strike dates were limited to depot drivers, who bring trains in and out of service, however, Friday marks the first day that affects SWR’s main line drivers.
Meanwhile on Saturday, an RMT union strike is due to take place. Trains will run between 7am and 7pm only.
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AFC Bournemouth fans who hoped to travel to London by train for the Premier League clash with Brentford will also be affected by the action.
Stuart Meek, SWR’s chief operating officer, said: “This is the first time our network has been subject to full strike action by members of the ASLEF Union and, as a result, we are only able to offer an extremely limited service on Friday 1 September.
“Friday 1 September will be different to previous days of strike action with a lot fewer trains running and with the majority of the network closed. Our advice to customers is to not travel unless your journey is absolutely necessary. The few services we will be running are likely to be extremely busy and we may have to use queuing systems and crowd control measures.
“A significantly reduced service will operate the following day, Saturday 2 September, with more lines open but with large parts of the network still closed. Trains will only run between 0700 and 1900 and so our advice, again, is to only travel if journeys are absolutely necessary.
“If customers must travel on either day, they should check their entire journey before travelling, with other operators also impacted by strike action. We're really sorry for the disruption."
Crosscountry confirmed there will be no services on Friday. The operator has yet to confirm the timetable, if any, that will be running on Saturday.
Bournemouth Air Festival is due to get under way on Thursday, August 31, running through until late on the afternoon of Sunday, September 3.
Organisers have encouraged visitors to plan their journeys in advance and considered travelling by train, coach, bus and, where possible, bike.
Jon Weaver, festival director, said: “There are many alternative ways to travel to the air festival including by bus and coach, with plenty of providers offering great prices on travel to and from Bournemouth throughout the summer, so although this strike action may affect a small number of travellers, I’m confident that the majority will make alternative travel arrangements to come and enjoy the Air Festival.”
Morebus is offering the £2 single fare price cap on its services, with over 65s and under sevens travelling for free from as far afield as Sailsbury and Swanage.
There will be a park and ride operating in King's Park next to Vitality Stadium every 15 minutes over the four days.
Hire bikes and e-scooters are available through the Beryl scheme.
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