KentOnline readers are split on the ongoing strikes.

As more than 40,000 railway workers went walked out yesterday, the first of three days of action planned for this week, we asked whether our readers support them.

More than 1,100 voted in our poll, with 56% (647) against industrial action and 44% (506) backing what is being described as the biggest dispute on the network since 1989.

Many of the 500-plus comments on our Facebook page were behind the workers.

Sarah Goodall wrote: "I really worry about the cuts to the people that check the lines, safety workers etc.

"Plus the national press always push the narrative that it's greedy and they are striking when they earn huge amounts...but this strike is about all the roles...cleaners, admin, everyone.

"I am put out by the strike, I can't get to work, I can't get to personal appointments – but I still support this strike. People and safety before profits!"

Kate Guyon agreed saying: "Yes, the reason so many jobs have bad pay and working conditions is due to lack of unions.

"Those that have good unions should fight to keep good working conditions in their industry."

Many questioned the timing of the strikes, particularly with pupils due to take their GCSEs this week.

Chris Galton said he generally supported the downing of tools, but added: "I think it would be more appropriate as a last resort rather than going straight in with industrial action.

"I also think its a bit thoughtless when children are having their exams at the moment.

"I think the country needs time to recover after Covid and I'm not convinced the public will support industrial action for very long.

"I fully support the reasons behind the strike but not the timing of it."

Ann Heather added: "It's up to them. If they can afford time off that they don't get paid for it's their choice.

"If they didn't strike and cause madness and mayhem how else can they get their point across?"

However, the three days of walkouts has also been met with a lot of criticism, with some readers disagreeing with the railway workers' reasons for striking.

Di Wain added: "No, the country is in a mess - kids are taking exams, people can't get to hospital appointments and shops can't get deliveries.

"Not everyone can work from home, so if you can't go to work you don't get paid. How does that win you support?"

Wendy Fielding called the strikes "blackmail", adding: "No, not when so many others are struggling to live on a fraction of what they earn, plus others have had to take a drop in wages.

"Shame on them for being so greedy, no way I will ever support this sort of 'blackmail'."

Ian Woodbridge agreed. He posted: "No group of workers should have the ability to hold the public to ransom as the rail unions have time and time and time again.

"Hopefully the strikes will continue long enough for every traveller to find a permanent alternative to rail travel, which is already hilariously expensive and award-winningly unreliable."

Michael Stirling commented: "I do understand why they are on strike but it will not solve the problem, it will only increase inflation.

"It will also make the cost of travelling by train outside many people's pockets, they have already lost a lot of passengers since the pandemic, this could mean more job losses."

The next walk out is tomorrow and there will be a third on Saturday but union the RMT has warned strikes could continue until Christmas.

Southeastern warned people not to travel on any of the strike days – the second is tomorrow and the third on Saturday – as the majority of trains will not be running and most stations will be closed.

Yesterday, our reporter caught the first train out of Kent at 7.48am, hours after it would usually depart.

She was one of the few who had made the trip but was told by workers who had to get in that the strikers were "selfish".

Bricklayer Geoff Pasifull, 50, from Sellindge, said: "I need to work, if I don't work I don't get paid.

"Obviously there's no tubes either so then I have to get the bus. I'm not very happy.

"I don't really agree with the strike, nurses and doctors are more deserving plus they've had billions from the government and a lot were on furlough so how does that work?

"I'm two hours late. I usually get 4.51 from Westenhanger but this was the first train. My employer has been understanding but it's a waste of a day.

"Also I don't appreciate turning up to see them picketing outside. I think it's rubbing it in. It's ridiculous everyone wants a pay rise but I don't think it's practical at the moment."

He was referring to members of the RMT union protesting outside.

Union member Nick told our reporter: "We're on strike because we believe that our pensions should be protected. We believe that we shouldn't have any job losses because 3,000 job losses are going to happen. We haven't had a pay rise for three years.

"Hopefully this will send a message to this government. We don't believe they will do anything.

"We don't want to be here, no one does."

Martin added: "If you get rid of jobs it makes the network more unsafe."

Back on the train plumber Frank Woods, 56, from South Ashford, said: "If I don't go in I've got 30 blokes who can't work today.

"I'm usually there for 7am so it's an hour and a half. It's a bit awkward but at least people will be able to work.

"I usually get the 6.16am but this was the first one. A lot of people have lost money today because they can't get in. It's going to cause a lot of self employed people a lot of grief. That's the knock on impact of the strike. You can't put pipes in from sitting indoors.

"I don't understand it. It's a bit selfish from my point of view. If it's for safety reasons I might understand but it doesn't seem to be. I understand people want there fair share of the cake but doctors, nurses, teachers... there are all affected as well."

Visual merchandiser Catherine Xu usually gets a train from Canterbury straight to Stratford but her journey was not been so straightforward.

The 29-year-old said: "I can't not go to work otherwise I won't get paid.

"My work is physically at the store, there is no way for me to do it from home.

"I had to get a taxi to Ashford from Canterbury and then I had to get this train into London so it has already had a big impact.

"I usually start at 7am but this was the first train I could get. Work is very understanding but the trains for tomorrow are even worse for me.

"The first train leaving from Canterbury to Ashford is going to be at midday which is four hours into my shift.

"I will have to do the same as today, get a taxi then a train into London.

"I think the strikes are ridiculous. If it was one day I would understand but it's constantly one day after another and it has a huge impact on my whole week."

Billy Mackenzie, from Willesborough, who works for an American law firm, would normally travel into London Bridge but had to upgrade his ticket to the high speed just to get to work.

He said: "I have to do it from time to time so it's not a problem.

"It does impact a lot of people but it is what it is. As long as I can get to work and do the hours I normally do it's not a problem.

"I don't really have an opinion on the strikes, it's entirely up to them, but personally if I was their boss I would sack them all, including the transport secretary because he just hasn't got a clue."

Among those commuters caught up in the strikes at Dartford station, where a handful of trains were running, was lab worker Sangam Gurung who was in a race against time to get to work.

The 38-year-old physiologist said: "It has been a little bit difficult to reach my work at Guy's St Thomas on time.

"There are trains but most are not running so I'm planning to get the next one."

Chris Waterton, 44, was also hoping to catch a train to the capital and had travelled to the commuter town from Swanley due to the strikes.

The city worker said: "It is a massive disruption. I live in Swanley so coming over to here is a bit of a pain."

Despite the disruption he was sympathetic towards the industrial action, adding: "I feel for these guys. I work for a union representing professionals so I know what it is all about."

The strike is a dispute between rail bosses and union members over pay and job cuts.

The union claims Network Rail and the train operators have subjected their staff to 'multi-year pay freezes' while also planning to cut thousands of jobs, which it says will make the railways unsafe.

RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, had previously said he's organising 'a sustained campaign of industrial action which will shut down the railway system' if he couldn't get a deal for his members, all of which - he says - are facing a cost of living crisis like the rest of the country.

The ballot for strike action opened at the end of April and the RMT said its members had voted overwhelmingly in favour of the action.

Alicia Andrews, the commercial director of Southeastern, said: "We are running a limited service for 12 operating hours between 7.48am and 5.33pm. It's a controlled method for people who do need to travel. The first train was slightly quieter than we might have expected.

"We've encouraged everyone who can to replan but understand some need to travel. We understand it is inconvenient.

"It's difficult to speculate about how long this will go on for. The cost is difficult to calculate at this point. The government has put about £16 billion into the railway throughout the pandemic and we really want to work with our colleagues to find a resolution to this dispute. We want to give them a pay rise."

Talks will continue today to try and resume the dispute.

Tube services won't be back up and running until gone 8am while Southeastern is warning Kent commuters while services will be back today they face severe disruption.