Summary

  • The biggest rail strikes in 30 years will go ahead this week after last ditch talks failed, the RMT union says

  • RMT leader Mick Lynch says the union has "no choice" but to take industrial action, blaming government cuts for "hobbling the industry"

  • Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says the government is doing its "utmost" to stop the strikes but negotiations are a matter for the union and rail companies

  • But Labour's shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh says the strikes would "represent a catastrophic failure of leadership"

  • Train services across England, Scotland and Wales are running on a severely reduced timetable from this evening ahead of the national strike tomorrow

  • The three-day walkout - on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - is expected to cause disruption across the week, including for people attending Glastonbury festival

  • A strike will also take place on the London Underground on Tuesday, with effects felt into Wednesday morning

Live Reporting

Edited by Claire Heald

  1. Good morning

    Strike poster at WaterlooEPA

    Welcome to our live coverage as Britain prepares for one of the biggest strikes by rail workers in recent history.

    We'll bring you updates as travellers are told to prepare for services winding down later ahead of the first day of industrial action tomorrow - as well as the latest from last-minute talks between unions and rail bosses.

    About 50,000 railway workers will walk out in England, Scotland and Wales on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

    In a separate dispute over pensions and job losses, RMT members on the London Underground tomorrow, which is also expected to affect services into Wednesday morning.