Rail services in many parts of the county will once again be at a standstill today as strike action causes huge disruption to much of the network.

Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) and Unite are walking out for 24 hours, affecting Network Rail and a number of train companies across the country.

That includes Southeastern and Southern, which provide services in Kent. It comes hot on the heels of action on Thursday.

Southeastern says passengers should only attempt to travel if "absolutely necessary" and warns many parts of the county will see no services at all.

It says just 43 out of its 180 stations will be open and no replacement bus services will serve stations which are closed.

Those that do travel should expect "severe disruption" it warns.

A limited service only will be operating to Dartford, Ashford (on the high speed line) and Sevenoaks.

Sunday morning train services will be affected by the knock-on effect of Saturday’s action.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “RMT will continue to negotiate in good faith but we cannot tolerate being bullied or hoodwinked into accepting a raw deal for our members.

“The Government need to stop their interference in these disputes so the employers can come to a negotiated settlement with us.”

TSSA members taking action include staff working in ticket offices, stations, control rooms, engineering, as well as planning, timetabling and other support roles.

The union is seeking guarantees of no compulsory redundancies, a pay rise in line with the cost of living, and promises of no unilateral alterations to job terms and conditions.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "It’s clear, from their co-ordinated approach, that the unions are hell-bent on causing as much misery as possible to the very same taxpayers who stumped up £600 per household to ensure not a single rail worker lost their job during the pandemic.

“Sadly, union chiefs have short memories and will be repaying this act of good faith by ruining millions of hard-working people’s summer plans.”