Train passengers in Berkshire and Hampshire hit by biggest rail strike in 30 years
Rail passengers across Berkshire and Hampshire are being hit by major problems due to the largest strike by rail workers in decades.
Usually busy stations are very quiet this morning, including Newbury, Alton and Bracknell.
South Western Railway's urging people to only try to travel by train today if it is absolutely necessary.
SWR's reduced timetable will run from 07:15 to 18:30 on the three strike days, and will consist of:
• Four trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Windsor via Hounslow
• Two semi-fast trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Basingstoke
• Four trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Woking
• Two fast trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Southampton
Trains will not stop at all stations on these routes.
There will be no SWR services across the rest of the network.
For some places only a fifth of services will run, half of lines will remain closed, and the network will be shut down at 6.30pm.
Much of Britain will have no passenger trains for the entire day, including most of Scotland and Wales, the whole of Cornwall and Dorset, and places such as Chester, Hull, Lincoln and Worcester.
Last-ditch talks failed to resolve the dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
Around 40,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at Network Rail and 13 train operators have walked out.
Grant Shapps has called the biggest walkout in 33 years 'unnecessary' and Boris Johnson is calling for a 'sensible compromise'.
Labour say the government should be involved in talks, to help bring an end to the disruption.