It said there would be “significantly reduced train services across the railway” due to industrial action.

There are walkouts planned due to pay and conditions on train services from Tuesday to Saturday this week.

Some trains are running, around 20% of the usual service, but those travelling by train are set to face delays and cancellations.

It follows months of planned strikes, among rail network staff and several other organisations including nurses, ambulance workers, driving examiners, and Royal Mail staff.

Members of the RMT union have two 48-hour strikes planned for this week, on the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th of January.

Train drivers who are members of the Aslef union plan to strike on 5 January.

Trains on Sunday 8 January are expected to start later than usual and all trains services are due to go back to normal by Monday 9 January.

Government “blocking the union’s attempts to negotiate”

Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary, said: “The government is blocking the union’s attempts to reach a negotiated settlement with the rail employers.

“We have worked with the rail industry to reach successful negotiated settlements ever since privatisation in 1993. And we have achieved deals across the network in 2021 and 2022 where the Department for Transport has no involvement.

“Yet in this dispute, there is an unprecedented level of ministerial interference, which is hamstringing rail employers from being able to negotiate a package of measures with us so we can settle this dispute.

“We will continue our industrial action campaign while we work towards a negotiated resolution.”

If you have bought a ticket in advance and you can’t travel because of a strike, you may be able to get a refund. We explain how much you can claim and how to get your money back in our guide: your rights for refunds.