Summary

  • First Great Western (FGW) operated a revised timetable with limited capacity

  • FGW says it needs to modernise, no compulsory redundancies

  • Strike action due to continue on Friday

  • Updates on Thursday 9 July 2015

  1. This page terminates here...published at 20:01 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Thank you for joining us on day one of the First Great Western train strike.

    We'll be bringing you the latest on the strike on Friday from 06:30, including the delays and cancellations.

    We will also keep you across the results of any ongoing talks and analysis of the situation from our reporters and correspondents across the country.

  2. Strike 'threatens massive disruption'published at 19:59 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Chris Ellis
    BBC News Online

    In response to the 48-hour First Great Western (FGW) train strike, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "This is an unnecessary strike that threatens massive disruption and benefits no one.

    Patrick McLoughlin

    "We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with workers, families and commuters who want to go about their lives without disruption.

    "I urge the strikers to work with FGW to resolve these issues and get back to work."

  3. 'Packed like sardines'published at 19:50 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Spirituality Cardiff tweets, external: Silver lining of #fgw #strike - friendly conversations with fellow commuters when packed like sardines into #Cardiff train!

  4. Strike questionspublished at 19:38 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Chris Ellis
    BBC News Online

    The social media team at First Great Western have been having a busy day, answering specific questions about services in detail. Here are a couple of examples:

    • Julia Llewellyn Smith tweets, external: @FGW, external will seat reservations be honoured on 11.06 Paddington to Plymouth tomorrow? Thanks!

    • FGW replies, external: @JuLlewellyn Hi Julia. Unfortunately we won't be able to honour reservations. - Ollie

    • Fiona Campbell-Howes tweets, external: This train strike is officially BRILLIANT - I have a table to myself in a mostly-empty, rush-hour @fgw, external train from Plymouth to Truro. Nice!

    • FGW replies, external: @patroclus Hi Fiona. Glad to see you're having a good journey with us today. -Ollie

  5. Strike could cost FGW '£3.4m a day'published at 19:25 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Scott Ellis
    BBC Points West

    It's going to be tricky for First Great Western staff tomorrow as some commuters might be tempted to go back to work.

    Train at Swindon station

    It is interesting trying to work out how much the strike has cost. They have an average of 300,000 customers spending an average of £25 a head.

    They're running 45% fewer trains. I think it is costing First Great Western something like £3.4m a day.

  6. Ashes angerpublished at 19:15 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    @Rocketfrancis tweets, external: @RMTunion, external was really looking forward to taking my 65 year old Dad to his 1st ever Ashes game 2morro. But cant now thanks to ur #railstrike

  7. Bristol Temple Meads 'so quiet'published at 19:00 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Philippa Hill tweets, external: Never seen Bristol Temple Meads so quiet - well done to @fgw staff keeping a service going! #fgwstrike

    Bristol Temple MeadsImage source, Philippa Hill
  8. 'Frustration' as strike affects servicespublished at 18:52 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    The Gloucester Citizen reports, external there is frustration as the RMT strikes "significantly" affect First Great Western services in Gloucester.

    First Great Western train

    The paper says commuter Emma Maund, 33, said: "Annoyed is an understatement.

    "I am now unable to get to work on time and have to make up that time in my lunch break. The roads are hugely busy as people are avoiding travelling by train, and what impact will this have on the environment? I feel punished enough by the high train fares and this is a disgrace."

  9. Sport fans returning to Englandpublished at 18:35 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    BBC Sport

    Are you travelling back from Cardiff after the Ashes? With limited rail services because of the 48-hour strike, what's the situation like on the trains and stations where you are?

    You can email us your pictures and comments: bristol@bbc.co.uk and Tweet us, external

    Great performance by England today, by the way ... Catch up on the action here.

  10. 'No rise' on Tamar Bridgepublished at 18:28 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Neil Gallacher
    Correspondent, BBC South West

    Despite the strike by some First Great Western workers and fewer trains and people at Plymouth railway station, the Tamar Bridge - which connects Cornwall to the rest of England - has not seen significantly more traffic, staff said.

    Tamar Bridge

    However, with the strike lasting for 48 hours, the most pressurised day on the railway locally could well be tomorrow, which is - let's not forget - a Friday in high summer.

  11. Strike questionspublished at 18:17 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Andrew Humphrey
    BBC Local Live

    The social media team at First Great Western have been having a busy day, answering specific questions about strike-hit services. Here are a couple of examples:

    • Dale Heenan tweets: Hi @FGW, external why is the last train on Friday from Paddington to Swindon at 2045? What happens for people with later tickets...?

    • FGW replies: Hi Dale. This is because of the strike action. You will need to travel on this service where possible. Jess

    • Chloe Bond tweets: @FGW, external did the 9.14 service from Taunton - London Paddington run ok today? Getting that train tomorrow as was due to get the 10.28.

    • FGW replies: Hi Chloe, yes it arrived one minute late in to Paddington today - Andy

  12. Last trains 'significantly earlier'published at 18:01 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    First Great Western tweets, external: Please ensure you check the last trains, external of the evening, as they are likely to be significantly earlier than normal

  13. FGW claims 'pure fiction'published at 17:48 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Matt Pengelly
    Local Live

    Rail union leaders have rejected claims from the train company First Great Western (FGW) that more than 60% of train services are operating as normal despite today's strike action.

    rail

    RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "These figures are pure fiction", adding: "The solution to this dispute isn't manufactured fi‎gures and PR stunts, it is serious talks addressing the core issues that have forced our members to strike.‎"

    In an open letter to passengers, external, FGW managing director Mark Hopwood has said: "I am determined to continue talking to the RMT to try and find a way to resolve this matter."

  14. Get in touchpublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Chris Ellis
    BBC News Online

    With the 48-hour train strike affecting the First Great Western network, what's your experience on the commute home? Are you waiting for your train or packed into a carriage?

    You can email us your pictures and stories: bristol@bbc.co.uk and Tweet us, external.

  15. Rail viewspublished at 17:27 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    via Facebook

    BBC Radio Oxford asked its listeners if they had sympathy for the striking rail workers. Here's what you said on their Facebook page, external.

    Dave Walker wrote, external: If I don't like my work conditions I quit I don't strike I'm not selfish.

    Simon Munday said, external: Yes I do, I haven't had a pay rise for 6 years - employers can get away with it because I don't have a union to support me.

    Michael Harvey-rice posted, external: Where's Maggie when we need her?

  16. The high-speed futurepublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Chris Ellis
    BBC News Online

    The 48-hour strike by some First Great Western staff is over plans to dispose of guards and buffet cars on First Great Western's new Hitachi Inter City Express trains.

    Hitachi Inter City Express trains being taken off a boat

    The first Hitachi trains will run on the Great Western main line from 2017 and the East Coast main line from 2018.

    The new trains are being introduced under the Intercity Express Programme (IEP), external on routes between London Paddington and Oxford, Bristol and South Wales.

  17. Strike snack starvationpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Diana Massey tweets, external: 6hr journey back from Penzance and no buffet car due to #trainstrike . I'm practically hallucinating about a sandwich #firstworldproblems

  18. Passengers 'stay away'published at 16:49 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Neil Gallacher
    Correspondent, BBC South West

    In the Plymouth area the most visible hallmark of the strike has been the number of people who stayed away from the railway altogether rather than put up with a reduced service.

    Plymouth train station

    The 05:00 BST service to London, I'm told, had five passengers boarding at Plymouth when it left for Paddington.

    Services from Cornwall have been busier, according to platform staff, but as the 09:10 First Great Western service left Plymouth for Penzance, I counted 75 passengers on an eight-carriage train. They could all have got into just one of the carriages.

  19. Rail strike rush hour startspublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Geoff Ward tweets, external: On the 16.30, delighted!

    Paddington stationImage source, Geoff Ward
  20. Green's Bennett 'stands in solidarity' with strikerspublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 9 July 2015

    Andrew Humphrey
    BBC Local Live

    Green Party leader Natalie Bennett said she supported the striking First Great Western and London Tube workers.

    Natalie BennettImage source, Getty Images

    In a statement she said, external: "These strikes are the last resort of workers seriously concerned over issues of safety, staffing and pay, and it is clear that employers in both cases have failed to provide the reasonable assurances that their employees have the right to ask for."