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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| First Great Western strike action enters second day | First Great Western strike action enters second day |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Commuters are again facing disruption on First Great Western (FGW) trains, as a 48-hour strike enters its second day. | Commuters are again facing disruption on First Great Western (FGW) trains, as a 48-hour strike enters its second day. |
| A limited high-speed service between London, the West of England and Wales was in place for the morning rush hour. | A limited high-speed service between London, the West of England and Wales was in place for the morning rush hour. |
| The dispute, which began on Wednesday, is over concerns guards and buffet cars will be disposed of on FGW's new fleet of Hitachi Inter City Express trains. | The dispute, which began on Wednesday, is over concerns guards and buffet cars will be disposed of on FGW's new fleet of Hitachi Inter City Express trains. |
| A separate 24-hour stoppage on London Underground ended on Thursday night. | A separate 24-hour stoppage on London Underground ended on Thursday night. |
| Click here for the latest on the first Great Western strike | Click here for the latest on the first Great Western strike |
| According to the RMT union, about 2,000 members of staff are on strike across the FGW network. | According to the RMT union, about 2,000 members of staff are on strike across the FGW network. |
| 'Determined to talk' | 'Determined to talk' |
| The union described its strike campaign as "rock solid" and said: "The message from FGW staff has rung out loud and clear and it is now down to the company to get back round the table and give us the very basic assurances on jobs, services and safety that RMT has been calling for". | The union described its strike campaign as "rock solid" and said: "The message from FGW staff has rung out loud and clear and it is now down to the company to get back round the table and give us the very basic assurances on jobs, services and safety that RMT has been calling for". |
| FGW said despite a revised timetable and warnings of much busier trains, more than 60% of services operated as normal on Thursday. | FGW said despite a revised timetable and warnings of much busier trains, more than 60% of services operated as normal on Thursday. |
| A spokesman said: "We had more people turn in for work than expected yesterday, which increased the number of people available for us to run trains by around 10 per cent. | A spokesman said: "We had more people turn in for work than expected yesterday, which increased the number of people available for us to run trains by around 10 per cent. |
| "This allowed us to run trains on top of the planned timetable, and we expect to be able to do the same today." | "This allowed us to run trains on top of the planned timetable, and we expect to be able to do the same today." |
| In an open letter to passengers, FGW managing director Mark Hopwood said he was "determined to continue talking to the RMT to try and find a way to resolve this matter." | In an open letter to passengers, FGW managing director Mark Hopwood said he was "determined to continue talking to the RMT to try and find a way to resolve this matter." |
| RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Our pickets have reported strong public support for this action as the people who use these routes know only too well what profiteering and cuts mean in terms of their safety and the quality of service." | RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Our pickets have reported strong public support for this action as the people who use these routes know only too well what profiteering and cuts mean in terms of their safety and the quality of service." |
| Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin described the strike as "unnecessary" and said it "threatens massive disruption and benefits no-one". | Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin described the strike as "unnecessary" and said it "threatens massive disruption and benefits no-one". |
| "I urge the strikers to work with FGW to resolve these issues and get back to work," he said. | "I urge the strikers to work with FGW to resolve these issues and get back to work," he said. |
| Many stations and trains were less busy than usual on Friday morning, with some passengers choosing to stay at home rather than attempt to travel. | |
| First Great Western warned it may take some time before services were running normally again, even after the strike ends at 18:30. | |
| A spokesman said trains were likely to be affected until Saturday morning. |