Train strikes: Last minute talks continue

Eleventh hour talks will take place today in a bid to avert the biggest railway strike for 30 years.

Industrial action is set to affect services in Scotland, England and Wales, with passengers advised to avoid non-essential travel.

Nine in ten ScotRail services will be cancelled as Network Rail staff walk out on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday this week.

The Rail Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union says its members have suffered "pay freezes, threats to jobs and attacks on their terms and conditions" and that Network Rail plans to cut 2,500 maintenance jobs over two years, which will increase the risk of accidents.

The Trades Union Congress and 13 trade unions have written to UK transport secretary Grant Shapps seeking an intervention by the Westminster government and Steve Montgomery, chairman of the Rail Delivery Group, has said that rail chiefs "want to give our people a pay increase" but must carry out "modernisation and reform" amidst lower passenger numbers.

Negotiations will continue today and a temporary timetable will be put in place for travellers.

Heavy road congestion is expected on the roads as more people turn to cars and buses.