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.

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.

"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."

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

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

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.

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.

@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

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

Image source, Philippa Hill

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

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."

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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."

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Image source, Geoff Ward

Andrew Humphrey
BBC Local Live

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

Image 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."