UK's biggest rail strike in decades begins

In UK, biggest rail strike in decades between a union and train companies failed to reach a settlement over pay and job security.

In central London on Tuesday morning rows of trains could be seen stopped at stations. Up to 40,000 workers and station staff will walk out for three days this week.

Unions have urged the government to get involved to resolve the dispute. They say the government, which sets the rules for train companies and owns infrastructure operator Network Rail, has not given the firms enough flexibility to offer a substantial pay increase.

Unions are warning of a summer of strikes as soaring inflation hits the pay packets of workers across the economy. Salaries have not kept pace with inflation, which has hit 9% and is forecast to rise further.