More than 40,000 railway workers have walked out in another round of planned strikes across the United Kingdom.
Just 20% of train services will operate on Thursday as a result of the action. Unions and rail companies and operators are locked in an ongoing dispute over pay, job security and working conditions.
Four days of disruption are expected across the network.
Chief Executive of Network Rail, Andrew Haines, claims following a fall in ticket sales through the Covid19 pandemic, operators can't afford to offer the pay rises the unions are asking for.
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Unions are pointing to the cost of living crisis and surging UK inflation as one of the reasons for pushing for better pay.
Rail Unions have accused the government of not facilitating negotiations with a spokesperson for the Rail and Maritime Transport Workers Union saying a 'reasonable offer' has not yet been received.
Dr Ashok Kumar, Senior lecturer in Political Economy at London's Birkbeck University, says slow progress is being made.
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