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Commuters should only travel by train next week if it is “essential”, Transport for Wales has urged.

Services will be cancelled on Tuesday, June 21; Thursday, June 23 and Saturday, June 25, due to rail strikes, but TfW has also warned of disruption on June 20, 22, 24 and 26.

Services running on the Rhymney and Ebbw Valley lines will be affected.

Strike action has been called by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT).

The union has said 50,000 of its members will go on strike and described it as the largest strike in the UK for more than 30 years.

RMT is in a dispute with Network Rail, not TfW. However, as Network Rail controls the signals along the Rhymney line, TfW services will be impacted while strike action goes ahead.

The majority of TfW services across the Wales and Borders network will be suspended, with only services between Radyr and Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil still running.

TfW also warned of disruption on the days before and after the strike and said trains are expected to be “extremely busy throughout the entire week”.

In a statement, TfW said it “is advising that customers only make essential journeys by train on 20, 22, 24 and 26 June, and not to travel at all by train on 21, 23 and 25 June.”

Full details of timetables can be seen on TfW’s website, as well as Traveline and National Rail’s website.

TfW, which took over responsibility for the Wales and Borders franchise from Arriva back in 2018, previously confirmed it will be suspending sales of advance tickets for the strike dates and season ticket holders will be able to apply for compensation.

“Customers with existing non-season tickets valid for travel from Tuesday, June 21 to Saturday, June 25 can use those tickets anytime between Monday, June 20 and Monday, June 27. Alternatively, customers can claim a full refund, with no admin fee charged.”