The country's biggest rail union has been warned by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps that this week's strikes will be a "huge act of self-harm" which could jeopardise the future of the industry.
A call from the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union for the Government to intervene as a "stunt" was dismissed by Mr Shapps, saying the union had been "gunning" for industrial action for weeks.
However, Labour said ministers needed to step in to prevent the network "grinding to a halt" in a dispute over pay, conditions and job losses.
