How to sort out mess with rail strikes

[Purplesilkpyjamas]

Four of us have bought train tickets for an event. We will be travelling back on the 20th July which has just been announced as a strike day.
None of us can take our chances that there will be trains to take us to the other side of the country on the strike day (20th) as we have no accommodation and have commitments so need to return on 20th.
I have tried the refund button but says my ticket for 20th July is non-refundable and non-changeable.
Are passengers expected to buy new tickets if they cannot take the chance of not being able to get home?

Did you buy on Trainline? They may not have caught up with the news yet.

I’ve just bought new tickets with LNER. I’m assuming they’ll catch up and let me cancel like they did the many previous times.

If it's a strike day and the train isn't running you will get a refund anyway.

Thank you. Can you cancel one leg of the return journey that is on the strike day without causing problems with your outbound journey?

Did you cancel and get a refund or cancel and change ticket?

Your strike day timetable won't have been announced yet https://www.thetrainline.com/trains/great-britain/industrial-action

Where did you buy the tickets and did you buy singles or a return?

Who did you buy the ticket from? That Trainline page explains their process & has links to the rail operators if you bought direct.

Wish the fucking government would just authorise a proper pay offer so we can all get on

Bought returns from Trainline but looks like you cannot reschedule just one leg of the journey according to the information on their website.