Hull Trains planned strikes 2026: All upcoming dates

The good news is that, at the moment, there are no confirmed Hull Trains strikes planned for today or next week. That said, industrial action can be called at fairly short notice, so it’s always worth double-checking before you head to the station.

As of 2026, there are no confirmed strike dates specific to Hull Trains. That’s the good news. The less good news is that industrial disputes across the rail industry can escalate quickly, and Hull Trains isn’t immune from wider action called by unions such as the RMT and ASLEF.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Strike action - including overtime bans - can be announced with as little as two weeks’ notice. Keep an eye on the news and Hull Trains’ own channels.

• You won't always see complete cancellations. Some strikes lead to a reduced or “skeleton” timetable, with fewer departures spread across the day.

• On a full strike day, Hull Trains may not run any services at all, given the size of its fleet.

• Strike-day timetables are usually published a day or two beforehand, so check your journey on Trip.com before you set off.

When a strike goes ahead, you’ll likely see a reduced service - and because Hull Trains only operates around 7 departures a day in each direction, losing even a couple has a noticeable effect. On full strike days, the entire Hull Trains timetable may be suspended.

Here are a few tips to help you stay on track:

• Give yourself extra time. Even if your train is running, delays and overcrowding can add to your overall journey time.
• Plan an alternative route in advance. Look into LNER services from London to Hull and the wider Yorkshire area as a backup.
• Be flexible with your departure time. Travelling outside peak hours means the trains that do run will be quieter.
• Work from home if you can. On the busiest strike days, you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle by staying put.

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Should your usual Hull Trains service get cancelled, don’t panic - you’ve got a few other ways to make the journey. Here are your main options:

• LNER: LNER runs frequent services between London King’s Cross and Yorkshire, stopping at Doncaster and other stations along the East Coast Main Line. This is your closest like-for-like alternative. You can check what’s available for your journey on Trip.com.
• Northern and East Midlands Railway: If you’re travelling from Hull to other parts of Yorkshire or the East Midlands, Northern and East Midlands Railway overlaps with Hull Trains on certain routes. You may need to change at Doncaster or Leeds, and journey times will be longer, but you’ll still get where you need to go.
• Coaches: National Express and Megabus both run services between Hull and London. Journey times are around 4 to 5 hours, so it’s not as quick as the train, but it’s a reliable fallback if rail services are completely suspended.
• Travel via Doncaster or Leeds: If you can get to Doncaster or Leeds by car, bus or local train, you’ll have a much wider choice of onward trains to London and other destinations. Book early if you’re doing this on a strike day, as these services tend to fill up fast.

How far in advance are Hull Trains strikes announced?

Hull Trains strikes are usually confirmed 1–2 weeks before the planned date. Unions are legally required to give at least 14 days’ notice, so you’ll normally have a bit of time to rejig your plans and make alternative arrangements. Overtime bans - which can mean fewer staff working - and other forms of industrial action can sometimes come with less warning, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the news in the run-up to your journey.

Can I get a refund if my Hull Trains service is cancelled?

Yes - if your train is cancelled because of strike action, you’re entitled to a full refund on your unused ticket. You can claim this through your ticket provider. If your train ran but arrived significantly late, you may also be able to claim compensation through Hull Trains’ Delay Repay scheme. Just be sure to keep your ticket safe.

Will any Hull Trains services run during strikes?

It depends on how many staff are taking part. On some strike days, Hull Trains may run a reduced “skeleton” timetable with a handful of services. On others - especially during full walkouts - there may be no Hull Trains services at all. The operator will publish a revised timetable in advance where possible, so check before you travel.

What is the Hull Trains strike timetable?

To check the Hull Trains strike timetable, you can use the Journey Planner on Trip.com a day or two before the strike. The Hull Trains strike timetable is a temporary, reduced schedule that the operator publishes ahead of confirmed strike action. It shows which services will run and which won’t, so you can plan your day. 

Are Hull Trains the only operator affected?

Not always. If the dispute involves a union that represents workers across multiple train companies - such as the RMT or ASLEF - other operators may be affected on the same day. LNER, Northern and East Midlands Railway all run services in the same region, so it’s worth checking their services too. You can see live updates for all operators on National Rail.