LIVE: Disruption across Greater Manchester as biggest rail strike in 30 years continues - latest updates

Rail workers are striking for a second time this week after last-ditch talks between the union leaders and rail companies failed to make a breakthrough. Around 40,000 members of the RMT Union at Network Rail and 13 other train operators walked out on Thursday as a bitter dispute about jobs, pay and working conditions rumbled on.

It's the largest industrial action on the railways in over 30 years. During the first walk-out on Tuesday only one in five trains were running, disrupting millions of journeys.

The third and final strike of the week is planned for Saturday. The RMT has accused Transport Secretary Grant Shapps of 'wrecking' the latest negotiations. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Grant Shapps has wrecked these negotiations by not allowing Network Rail to withdraw their letter threatening redundancy for 2,900 of our members.

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"Until the Government unshackle Network Rail and the train operating companies, it is not going to be possible for a negotiated settlement to be agreed. We will continue with our industrial campaign until we get a negotiated settlement that delivers job security and a pay rise for our members that deals with the escalating cost-of-living crisis."

Mr Shapps hit back, saying the RMT claim was a 'lie'. A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson: "With passenger numbers still at only 80% of pre-pandemic levels the industry remains committed to giving a fair deal on pay while taking no more than its fair share from taxpayers. We can only achieve that by making improvements – like offering better services on a Sunday – that reflect the changing needs of passengers so we can attract more back.

"We call on