Only 20pc of trains to run if strike talks fail

Crucial talks aimed at averting a four-day walkout by thousands of rail workers after Easter started at the conciliation service Acas, with both sides saying they wanted a deal.

As the talks continued, Network Rail said that train services will be "severely affected" if maintenance workers, signallers and supervisors go ahead with the industrial action.

Signal staff are due to strike for four hours in the morning and evening rush hours, while other workers will walk out for four days from April 6 unless there is a breakthrough to the dispute.

NR said in a statement: "As an average across the country, only around 20 per cent of passenger services are expected to run.

"Passengers should check with individual operators for more detail as this overall picture masks some routes and operators who will be able to run a near normal service between 7am and 7pm on the days of the strike."

Robin Gisby, NR's director of operations and customer services, said: "We can't bank on the union to call off the strike, despite ongoing talks, and so we are now concluding our contingency plans with full details available later this week."

NR said it will be making its negotiating team available all week to try to find a deal with the Rail Maritime and Transport union and Transport Salaried Staffs Association.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "We go into the talks in a positive frame of mind and committed to reaching an agreement which protects safety-critical jobs, safe working practices and which delivers a secure future for both our members and the travelling public the length and breadth of the UK rail network."

The start of the strike on April 6 coincides with the day Gordon Brown is widely expected to announce that a general election is to be held on May 6.