Railway strikes: Travel disruption continues as negotiations stall.

Passengers are still experiencing travel disruption due to the impact of strikes on the rail network, with the third day of action scheduled for Saturday.

Approximately 60% of trains are running, with delays caused by some railway personnel not working overnight.

National Rail has issued a list of more than 25 different service disruptions for the weekend.

Talks to resolve the pay and conditions dispute have stalled.

Union leaders have warned that more strikes are likely if a job settlement cannot be reached, while the government has said the strikes are an unnecessary response to needed rail network reform.

Members of the Rail, Maritime, and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail and 13 train operators went on strike on Tuesday and Thursday as part of the dispute, in which they are seeking a 7% pay increase and assurances that no compulsory redundancies will occur.

Many train companies are terminating services early on Friday in preparation for the third day of action on Saturday, which is expected to bring the network to a halt once more.

The Heathrow Express line, which takes passengers to London’s busiest airport, was among the services disrupted on Friday. British Airways employees are also threatening to strike over the summer.

Some of Friday’s rail delays were caused by trains being unable to leave overnight depots until around 06:00 BST because staff working night shifts were not present.

Services in all parts of England are affected, including the Great Western Railway, LNER, and East Midlands Railway.

Even though their rail networks are devolved, services in Scotland and Wales have been disrupted because they rely on trains from England and Network Rail staff. Trains in Northern Ireland are unaffected.

Meanwhile, a Network Rail source told the BBC’s Katy Austin that talks with the union were still ongoing.

They stated that there appeared to be some good conversations and that the parties were getting closer.

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, said the strikers were “leading the way in standing up for all working people trying to get a pay rise and some job security.”

He urged ministers to “get in the room or get out of the way” of the dispute, noting that the RMT had “successfully struck dozens of deals” with rail companies.

“RMT’s industrial campaign will continue until a negotiated settlement is reached.”

Mr. Lynch also reiterated his claim that the government was to blame for the impasse, telling the audience that rail companies had told him “face to face they could achieve a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies” but were “not being allowed to.”

The government has previously stated that it is the responsibility of the unions and rail companies to resolve the dispute and has denied interfering with or delaying negotiations.

Network Rail, with whom the RMT is negotiating alongside the rail operators, has also stated that the stalemate is due to the union, not the government.

The “needless and premature” strike action, according to CEO Andrew Haines, will cause people to “suffer again” over the weekend.

“We remain at the table and ready for talks, day or night,” he said, adding that “we will do everything we can to avoid further disruption for our passengers.”

The Rail Delivery Group’s Chair, Steve Montgomery, stated that the union must collaborate with rail operators to modernize “outdated working practices” so that the industry can adapt to changing travel patterns.