Train strikes mean there will be a reduced service for Hertfordshire this weekend and into next week. 

Thameslink and LNER are warning people to only travel if necessary on Saturday (November 5), Monday (November 7) and Wednesday (November 9).

The advice is a result of national strikes being held by the RMT union, which represents railway workers. 

On the strike days, Thameslink say that trains won’t start until 7.30am and will finish early, between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. This will affect services from Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth and Baldock and Royston to Peterborough, Cambridge and London.

Across Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink services only 20 per cent of trains will be running with “crowding expected”. 

Thameslink services on Sunday (November 6), Tuesday (November 8) and Thursday (November 10) will also be affected. On these days, services start later than usual, at around 7.30am. 

Passengers are warned that “morning trains are likely to be very busy” and are “recommended to travel later”. There are also London Underground strikes on 10 November. 

There will be no LNER services passing through Stevenage on November 5, and only limited services on November 7 and 9. Passengers are advised to check before they travel. 

As with Thameslink, LNER trains on November 6, 8 and 10 will also start later and finish earlier.

The strikes are the latest in an ongoing dispute between the RMT and the government and rail companies. There is disagreement on pay, job cuts, and changes to working conditions. 

Angie Doll, chief operating officer of Govia Thameslink Railway said: “I’m sorry so many people will be affected by the RMT strikes starting on November 5 and urge people not to travel by train unless absolutely necessary on any strike day. 

“On Saturday, people may be considering taking the train to fireworks celebrations but the service will end early and they won’t be able to get back.” 

RMT members have been offered an eight per cent rise over three years, but general secretary Mick Lynch told the Mirror that it’s a “pay cut” because of high levels of inflation. 

The Mirror asked Lynch if strikes could continue into next year. He said: “It could. I don’t want that, it’s not my plan … we’re not in this for the sake of it.

"We want the companies to make us proposals that will settle the dispute.”