A reminder : Today (January 3) is the first of a two day strike that will impacting all rail services across England, Scotland and Wales.

On strike days it is expected that just one in five trains will run and nearly all operators will be impacted.

GWR has warned that on strike days (3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 January) only a significantly reduced service will operate on a limited number of routes.

Some parts of the GWR network will have no service at all. Services will start later (07:30) and all journeys must be completed by 18:30. The day after the strikes (Sunday 8 January) will also be affected. Trains will start later and there could be short-notice cancellations and alterations.

Online journey planners are being updated with the latest timetable information, please see the passenger information table for details.

David Davidson, Network Rail's interim Western route director, said: "It is so disappointing, particularly in the first week of the new year, to have to ask passengers again to only travel if absolutely necessary, due to further strike action by both the RMT and ASLEF trades unions.

"As a result of this industrial action, train services will be severely disrupted, starting Tuesday 3 through to and including Saturday 7 January - a near weeklong period of disruption for passengers.

"I would like apologise to passengers for this latest period of disruption and urge them to seek alternative ways to travel than by train and for those passengers who must travel by train to expect severe disruption, plan ahead and check the time of your last train home."

Why are rail workers striking?

Unions are demanding pay rises for their members who are battling soaring inflation. Mick Lynch, head of the RMT, has said the union "will not bow to pressure from the employers and the government to the detriment of our members". 

For RMT, Network Rail has offered a 5pc pay rise this year and 4pc in 2023. The train operating companies said they were waiting for a mandate from the Government for an improved offer.