Passengers across the country face disruption

The walk-out by 3,000 members of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) is the second of three stoppages in a long-running dispute over train guards' safety role.

Some passengers complained during the last one-day strike on Friday that they were left with no way of getting to work.

Nine rail companies are affected by the strike, which runs until midnight on Monday.

'Rock solid'

A statement from Central Trains said the strike action is "unjustified, premature and unreasonable as it will cause considerable disruption and inconvenience to passengers".

Train Operators Hit Thames Trains - more than 90% service Silverlink - 75% service South Central - 75% service Connex - 70% service Virgin West Coast - between 50% and 60% service Arriva Merseyside - 50% service ScotRail - 50% service Virgin Cross Country - more than 10% service Central Trains - 10% service

"Industrial action is not the way to bring about change to safety procedures," Nick Brown, Central Trains managing director said.

But RMT Secretary General Bob Crow said union support for the strike was "rock solid".

"We are ready to talk to the employers at a moment's notice, but they are well aware that they can end this dispute by signing up to the agreement we already have with eight other employers.

"Our members are standing shoulder to shoulder in their campaign to safeguard the full safety role of the guard," he said.

The union believes the guards' function is being diminished to no more than "a glorified Kit Kat seller", and jobs are being threatened.

Compensation payment

The level of disruption varied during the last one-day strike, with only 10% of trains running on Virgin Cross Country and Central Trains routes.

However, up to 90% of services operated on Thames Trains, where many services are driver-only operated.

The level of services on Monday varies across the country.

A further 24-hour strike is planned for 17 April.