There will be no trains running in Kent this Saturday, train operator Southeastern has confirmed.

With thousands of railway workers and train drivers launching 24-hours of industrial action, all services across the county - as well as those in and out of London - run by the train operator have been cancelled with passengers being told to make no attempt to travel by train on October 1.

This Saturday's strike by the RMT, train drivers' union ASLEF and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) will see thousands of staff across all three unions down tools in an ongoing row over pay and working conditions.

It is the first of three national train strikes scheduled for early October with another by train drivers expected on Wednesday (October 5), that will also see the majority of services wiped out, before a second strike by RMT members on Saturday, October 8.

This Saturday's combined industrial action, which will also cancel Southern and Thameslink trains in Kent aswell, is expected to disrupt the travel plans of thousands of runners and spectators heading to the capital for Sunday's London Marathon. Those needing to collect their all-important running numbers and bibs from the Excel exhibition centre in the days before the race are also being warned to pay close attention to disrupted services.

Across the UK just 11% of normal Saturday services will run, says the Rail Delivery Group, with some areas like Kent seeing no public rail services at all.

Daniel Mann, Director of Industry Operations at the Rail Delivery Group, said: "These strikes are unnecessary and damaging. They disrupt passengers’ plans, undermine struggling businesses, hit major events and harm the industry’s recovery.

"It is particularly disheartening that next weekend’s strike will hit the plans of thousands of runners who have trained for months to take part in the iconic London Marathon. That will also punish the many charities, large and small, who depend on sponsorship money raised by such events to support the most vulnerable in our community as a result of thousands of railway workers going on strike."

Alongside no Kent services on Saturday, trains in and out of the county on Friday night are expected to be wound down earlier than normal as preparations for the walkout are made.

With trains finishing much earlier than usual, passengers are asked to only travel by rail if absolutely necessary with those intending to use the trains on Friday evening being told to pay close attention to live journey travel information for the latest updates.

Runners and spectators hoping to use the trains to travel to the London Marathon on Sunday are being given the same advice, as services are expected to start in and around the county much later than normal to allow for trains to be brought back into position and safety checks to be carried out.

While many services on Sunday morning will be delayed, Southeastern says it hopes to run a special timetable to support the London Marathon and will run trains from its London terminals towards the start lines in Greenwich from around 7am.