RMT members at Chiltern Railways will strike on two Saturdays over plans for driver-controlled doors on the Oxford to Milton Keynes line. MK passengers will not notice; the line's opening is what is at stake.
Rail workers at Chiltern Railways will strike on Saturday 10 October and Saturday 17 October. The dispute is about how trains will run on the new East West Rail line between Oxford and Milton Keynes, which is built but still has no passengers.
The RMT union announced the 24-hour strikes on 29 September, after its members “voted overwhelmingly” for action. Chiltern, the operator chosen for the line, replied on 2 October that more than 93% of its trains will run as normal on both days.
What the row is about
The union objects to driver-only operation, where the driver controls the train’s doors. The RMT says Chiltern “refused to provide guarantees over the safety critical role of the second person on board” East West Rail services.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said the plan “represented a significant risk to safety and the current Train Manager roles”. He added: “RMT will not accept the watering down of safety on the rail network.” The union says it remains available for talks.
Chiltern’s case is different. Tony Baxter, its interim managing director, said:
- every East West Rail train will have two people on board, the driver and a colleague checking tickets and helping passengers
- most Chiltern trains have run with the driver in control of the doors “for decades”, approved by the independent rail regulator
- the plan brings more than 100 new permanent jobs at Chiltern, with no change to existing staff’s roles
“We remain committed to working with the RMT to resolve this, and urge them to work with us so passengers can start benefiting from this new railway as soon as possible,” he said.
So both sides agree there will be a second member of staff on board. The argument is over who opens and closes the doors, and what the second person’s safety role is.
Which trains are affected
None in Milton Keynes. Chiltern does not run any passenger trains here yet, so Avanti and London Northwestern services from Milton Keynes Central and Bletchley are not part of this strike.
On Chiltern’s own network, its statement says these four long-distance trains will run only part of the way on both Saturdays:
| Train | Change |
|---|---|
| 6.44am Stourbridge Junction to London Marylebone | Starts at Banbury |
| 8.19am Stourbridge Junction to London Marylebone | Starts at Birmingham Moor Street |
| 6.02pm London Marylebone to Stourbridge Junction | Ends at Birmingham Moor Street |
| 7.32pm London Marylebone to Stourbridge Junction | Ends at Banbury |
There will be no Chiltern trains between Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa on either day. The normal number of trains will run in and out of Marylebone, Chiltern says.
If you are heading to London on Saturday 10 October, note that London Northwestern trains from Milton Keynes to Euston will already be running to slightly changed times that day because of engineering work. Our roadworks and travel page has the detail.
Why it matters for Milton Keynes
The line Chiltern is due to run is the first stage of East West Rail. It connects Oxford, Bicester, Winslow, Bletchley and Milton Keynes Central.
East West Rail Company says the Bicester to Bletchley section was rebuilt and handed to Network Rail in December 2024. Chiltern was appointed as the operator in 2025 and is still working with the Department for Transport “to finalise details” before services start.
Neither the union nor Chiltern gives a start date in its statement. Chiltern’s own words, that passengers should benefit “as soon as possible”, are the clearest sign that this dispute is one of the things holding the opening back.
What it means for you
- Travelling from Milton Keynes or Bletchley on 10 or 17 October: your trains are not affected by this strike. Check the engineering work on the 10th.
- Using Chiltern from Bicester, Banbury or Birmingham: almost everything runs, but check the four trains above and the Stratford to Leamington line.
- Waiting for a direct train to Oxford: there is still no date. Chiltern is also still finalising details with the Department for Transport, so a deal with the RMT would not by itself set a date.
Chiltern says its timetables for both Saturdays are already in journey planners.
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