GWR warns all services cancelled on Saturday in Cornwall

Great Western Railway services will not be running in Cornwall today, with disruption to continue on Sunday

A rail operator cancelled all its services on Saturday in Cornwall due to strike action and warned some disruption would continue into Sunday.

A Great Western Railway (GWR) spokesman said it was a "really dismal picture" for rail travel.

Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) were striking across the country.

Workers at 14 train operators walked out over an ongoing pay and conditions dispute.

Unions have said any pay offer should reflect the rising cost of living, which is currently above 10%.

Paul Gentleman, GWR spokesman, said: "What we have in the South West, is a really dismal picture

"I'm afraid there will be no services at all in Cornwall, the furthest we can actually get is Plymouth."

He said GWR trains would be travelling between Plymouth, Exeter and London Paddington, but disruption would be exacerbated by engineering works.

Services would also be disrupted on Sunday due to engineering works and in the aftermath of strike action, he added.

'Dispute'

Mick Lynch, head of the RMT, said the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) needed to "sort themselves out and settle our dispute with an improved offer".

Across the UK, only between 40 and 50% of trains were expected to run on Saturday, with no services at all in some places.

Strike action also impacted South Western Railway (SWR) services.

RMT members also walked out on Thursday and further strike action is planned for 30 March and 1 April.

On 19 January, the RDG offered the RMT a 9% pay rise over two years for crew and station staff in a bid to end the long-running strike action.