Paul Clifton
Transport correspondent, BBC South Today

Last-ditch talks between the RMT union and First Great Western did lead to "progress" yesterday but it wasn't enough to stop the strike.

The action is about many things but one of the biggest stumbling blocks is about who closes the doors...

On the old high-speed trains the doors are closed by the guard but in a year or so these will be replaced with new Hitachi trains.

Image source, FGW

They have automatic doors that are closed by the driver - in common with almost every other new train - but the RMT wants the guards to retain that role.

Cricket fans heading to the first Ashes test in Cardiff are being advised that services to and from the Welsh capital are likely to be "extremely busy".

Image source, Getty Images

In the morning, the 07:15 and 08:15 services from London Paddington are scheduled to get to Cardiff on time for the opening of play.

There are two services at 17:55 and 19:25 that head back to Bristol Parkway and London Paddington but neither will call at Bristol Temple Meads.

First Great Western is advising passengers to make alternative arrangements where possible.

It's not just First Great Western passengers who are being disrupted by industrial action today.

Commuters in London also face travel problems as a strike by Tube staff has shut down the entire London Underground today.

Image source, Rick Findler/PA Wire

We've been asking you how your journeys are going this morning.

Tabitha Brady tweeted, external this photo of Maidenhead station at 06:00, adding: Phase 1 of operation 'somehow get to work by leaving super early' underway and I am cautiously optimistic. #fgw

Image source, Tabitha Brady

There are no First Great Western services expected to run in Dorset during the strike, external. The advice is:

• Customers for Dorchester, Upwey and Weymouth can use their tickets on South West Trains services from Salisbury to Southampton and change for connecting services towards Weymouth

• Customers for stations in between Maiden Newton and Westbury are advised to make alternative arrangements

• Customer for Yeovil Pen Mill can change at Salisbury for South West Trains services to Yeovil Junction

First Great Western has urged passengers to follow its Twitter feed, external and go to its website, external for the latest information on disruption caused by the strike.

Image source, @fgw

Some services in the Thames Valley have been altered while the strike is on, external, they are:

• Services between Reading and Gatwick will terminate at Redhill and will operate hourly

• Customers for Gatwick are advised to take Southern services which will accept their tickets

• Trains between Reading and Basingstoke will run hourly

• Services between Maidenhead and Marlow will terminate at Bourne End

• Customers for Marlow will need to make alternative arrangements between Bourne End and Marlow

• Fast services from Reading and Oxford will be operated by turbo trains

• Tickets will also be accepted on South West Trains between Reading and Wokingham on Thursday and Friday

In Bristol, many local services have been cancelled due to the strike.

No trains on the Severn Beach line - which serves stations such as Clifton Down, Redland and Montpelier - will run.

A "limited peak service" will run on the line from Weston-super-Mare which runs through Nailsea and Backwell, Parson Street and Bedminster.

And a reduced service will run from Bath Spa to Bristol - calling at Oldfield Park and Keynsham.

First Great Western has published a network map, external showing where it expects the strike to have greatest impact.

if you're journey is being affected.

Image source, FGW

Good morning, long-distance rail services in the west of England and Wales are being severely affected by a 48-hour walkout by members of the RMT union which began at 18:30 last night.

Image source, PA

FGW is operating a revised timetable, external but has warned that capacity will be limited.

We'll be bringing you the latest news and information on the strike, what services have been affected, the results of any ongoing talks and analysis of the situation from our reporters and correspondents across the country.