Thank you for joining us on day two of the First Great Western (FGW) train strike.

Keep up-to-date on talks between the unions and FGW on the BBC News website.

Chris Ellis
BBC News Online

One First Great Western manager, who wanted to remain anonymous, told BBC News: "Generally the response from passengers [during the strike] has been great - they know we're doing our very best to keep them moving in difficult circumstances and they have been very grateful for what we are doing.

"All the managers and other staff who have turned up to work have been pulling together to do our very best for customers."

Chris Ellis
BBC News Online

On day two of the 48-hours strike, Mick Cash, RMT general secretary said: "The solidarity, unity and fighting spirit of RMT members the length and breadth of the FGW franchise has been a fantastic example for the whole trade union movement as we face up to attacks on our jobs and conditions and the safe delivery of services to the travelling public.

Image source, RMT

"Our pickets have reported strong public support for this action as the people who use these routes know only too well what profiteering and cuts mean in terms of ‎their safety and the quality of service. RMT wants to thank the public for that support."

Andrew Humphrey
BBC Local Live

As the strike draws to a close First Great Western operations director Ben Rule paid tribute to his staff who worked during the last 48hrs and said he would talk with the RMT union.

In a statement he said: "I am sorry that customers have been affected by the RMT's strike action over the past couple of days - and will continue to be so tonight.

"My first job next week will be to sit down with the RMT and discuss the issues that led to the strike further - we were very close to an agreement before the strike and I am confident there is a negotiated solution to be found here."

Chris Ellis
BBC News Online

Elaine Mundt, who is from New York and visited her friend in Helston, Cornwall, said: "I think I'm going to miss my flight back to New Jersey... it costs hundreds of dollars to buy new flights last minute.

Ms Mundt said it was the first time in almost 40 years she had seen her friend and the return journey had "stressed her out beyond belief".

Wembley parking tweets, external: We are expecting large numbers of vehicles for #EdatWembley today due to the @FGW, external strike! Please arrive earlier this evening, many thanks

Passenger Nathan J tweets, external: @FGW Stu on the tannoy on 11.55 from CDF to LDN doing the business keeping the customers happy! Top bants in tough conditions! #railstrike

FGW replies: Hi Nathan, that's great to hear and yes difficult conditions indeed. Will pass your comments on to him - Andy

Matt Pengelly
Local Live

Managers at First Great Western are warning spectators leaving the Ashes cricket in Cardiff to expect 'extremely busy' trains at the end of the day's play.

Image source, Getty Images

The FGW website, external says: "There are limited services returning from Cardiff to Bristol Parkway and London Paddington following the cricket (17:55 and 19:25). There will be no direct services to Bristol Temple Meads. These services will be extremely busy so we recommend customers make alternative travel arrangements where possible."

Andrew Humphrey
BBC Local Live

We have less than two hours of the RMT strike on First Great Western and these are the latest headlines:

• Disruption is set to continue through the night after the 18:30 end of the strike, with routes finishing early

• Passengers have been complaining of air conditioning problems, with free water given out on some services

• A round of action by members of the TSSA union would 'not have an impact' according to First Great Western

• Planned strikes on Southern Rail this weekend have been cancelled after last-minute talks

Chris Ellis
BBC News Online

Anne Dinsdale, who is travelling from Penzance to Norwich, said her journey to Plymouth had been "absolutely amazing" and the staff had been "fantastic".

"I'm not looking forward to the next bit. Delays are one thing but train cancellations are another," she said.

Disgruntled passenger Hamesh tweets, external: This train is so packed that people are sitting on the floor. It's like I'm back in India. Thanks @FGW, external

FGW replies: Sorry to hear this Hamesh, there are fewer services today due to strike action on the network, so services are busier. Jess

Press Association

Planned strikes by engineers on Southern Railway due to start this weekend have been suspended after a breakthrough in last-minute talks.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union were due to walk out from 17:00 on Sunday for five days, and not work any overtime this weekend, in a dispute over the working week, rosters and productivity.

General secretary Mick Cash said the company had agreed to a phased reduction in the working week to 37 hours by May 2017. Meanwhile, the RMT said the second day of a strike by its members on First Great Western in a separate dispute over new trains was being "solidly" supported.

Chris Ellis
BBC News Online

First Great Western (FGW) says a ballot of a "small minority of managers" by the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association was "not expected to have an impact" on services.

The union is asking more than 300 managers to vote for action short of a strike, external. FGW said: "The Office of Rail and Road has seen our approach to running services during the 48-hour strike and trains are being managed by fully qualified and competent staff.

"Many of those volunteers would normally manage our onboard teams on a day-to-day basis, and have anything up to 18 years experience of the role. Dozens more managers have volunteered to help in non-safety critical roles at stations and on trains."

Some passengers have been taking to social media to thank First Great Western for their service during the strike.

• Craig tweets, external: Kudos to the @FGW, external staff who did come in today, it must be really difficult to bear the brunt of a lot of people's (understandable) anger

• Heather Langford tweets, external: A massive thankyou to all @FGW, external staff who came to work. My commute has been hell but I would have lost pay if I couldn't get in at all!

• Sadie Jill Honer tweets, external: Trains are so packed due to delays that I'm sat nice and cosy on the floor. Nice carpets though @FGW, external

Chris Ellis
BBC News Online

The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) has called a ballot on industrial action at First Great Western, the union has revealed on its website, external.

Manuel Cortes, general secretary, said: "Proposed reductions in on-board staff numbers will have a serious impact on passenger safety. Of course, standard class passengers will also get a third class service as they will no longer have access to a buffet car. Put simply, you can't rely on the trolley service on busy express trains."

The TSSA and National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers fear guards and buffet cars will be disposed of on FGW's new fleet of Hitachi Inter City Express trains.

Matt Pengelly
Local Live

The train company First Great Western, external say it's been able to run some additional trains today, after more staff than expected turned up for work. These are the extra services still to run:

• 16:10 Weston SM to Bristol TM

• 18:17 Plymouth to Liskeard

• 19:48 St Erth to St Ives

• 20:03 St Ives to St Erth

• 20:18 St Erth to St Ives

• 20:33 St Ives to St Erth

• 20:48 St Erth to St Ives

• 21:03 St Ives to St Erth

• 21:23 St Erth to St Ives

• 21:37 St Ives to St Erth

• 21:58 St Erth to St Ives

• 22:31 St Ives to St Erth

Matt Pengelly
Local Live

Organisers of the Cornbury Music Festival are urging music fans to plan their journeys carefully to avoid problems caused by the FGW rail strike.

Image source, Cornbury Music Festival

Thousands of people are expected to flock to the three day event in Oxfordshire, external which starts tomorrow.

Festival organisers have told the BBC: "Regarding transport, we are suggesting people travel to Banbury Station and use the Tappins bus service provided directly to the festival site, or there are some services running to Charlbury."

The train strike has had many people reaching for their smart phones to vent their spleen or raise a few laughs on social media.

• Controversial columnist and broadcaster Katie Hopkins tweets, external: many thanks to the brilliant @LondonCityAir and @flybe for proving @FGW are redundant with their poxy unions

• Jeremy Pound ‏jokes on Twitter, external: Splendid, it's a @FGW strike: 'What do we want?' 'Change!' 'When do we want it?' 'Delayed by approximately 35 minutes!'

• A confused Robin Morgan tweets, external: There are no plugs on my train! And it's so busy! And it's on a road! And it's got "Megabus" on the side!

• Sophie Banat grumbles, external: Never travelling with #greatwestern again. Cancelled trains, overcrowding and 6 hours without food or water #stivestolondon @FGW

First Great Western have again rejected one of the main reasons the RMT union say, external they called the 48hr strike.

Operations director Ben Rule said: "It is more than a little frustrating that with all the rhetoric flying around there is still some confusion over this key issue. There are categorically no plans for us to axe guards from the new Super Express Trains - in fact, I want more of them."

Matt Pengelly
Local Live

Peter Bunce from Swindon is braving the rail strike disruption travelling to London to celebrate his birthday with his girlfriend.

He said when he heard the strike was taking place he was "a bit annoyed as the trains don't run on time at the best of times". As a result he came to the station an hour early and "hoped things would be OK".