LIVE: Disruption across Greater Manchester as biggest train strike in a generation is held - latest updates

Rail passengers are facing misery on the trains this morning due to a large strike taking place. Members of the RMT Union at Network Rail (NR) and 13 train operators will strike today.

Action will also take place on Thursday and Saturday, with only around one in five trains running and disruption to services on days following the action. It includes Avanti West Coast, East Midlands, Northern, and TransPennine Express services.

Services on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, will also be hit. Workers are set to walk out in one of the biggest industrial actions seen for 30 years in a row over pay, jobs and conditions.

Yesterday, the government said it would not intervene in last-ditch talks between the Union and employers to avoid the action. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Strikes should always be the last resort, not the first, so it is hugely disappointing and premature that the RMT is going ahead with industrial action.

“The Government committed £16 billion – or £600 per household – to keep our railways running throughout the pandemic while ensuring not a single worker lost their job. The railway is still on life support, with passenger numbers 25 percent down and anything that drives away even more of them risks killing services and jobs.

“Train travel for millions more people is now a choice, not a necessity. Strikes stop our customers choosing rail and they might never return.”

However, Trades Union Congress general secretary Frances O’Grady hit back at ministers. She said: “The Government has the power to help end this dispute but rather than working in good faith to find a negotiated settlement, ministers are inflaming tensions and trying to pitch worker against worker.

“Instead of threatening to do a