NATIONAL industrial strike action by ASLEF is set to halt all Island Line services for two days.

Seven days of strikes and overtime bans will affect the South Western Railway (SWR) network from Friday and into the weekend and much of next week.

There will be strikes on Saturday, September 30, and Wednesday, October 4.

All Island Line services will cease on those two days.

Those intending to travel by rail from Portsmouth and Southampton stations are being told they (as well as the vast majority of the network) will not be served, with only an extremely limited service operating on a small number of lines on those days.

"Customers are advised to only travel if absolutely necessary. If customers must travel, they should check their entire journey before travelling, as other operators will also be affected," an SWR spokesperson said.

An overtime ban on five other days will also have affect on travel. 

On Friday, September 29, and next week, Monday (October 2), Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, a normal weekday timetable will operate, with a small number of cancellations.

An hourly service will run on the Island Line.

SWR will be running journey planners during the period of industrial action. 

Stuart Meek, SWR’s chief operating officer, said: “I’m sorry to say that due to industrial and strike action by ASLEF over the next two weeks, we will be forced to make changes to our timetables.

“On all seven dates of industrial action, customers should check their entire journey before they travel, as other operators will be affected. 

"We’re very sorry for the disruption that this will cause and we’re very grateful to our customers for their continued patience.”