Rail staff formed a picket line in Newcastle as they continued the fight to protect their jobs.
Members of The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) plan to strike over four days this week. The walkouts are set to cause disruption for commuters returning to work after the festive break.
Rail and transport workers gathered outside of Central Station from 5am on Tuesday morning. David King, the RMT's National Executive Committee Member for the North East, said they are members are striking against the Government's plans to introduce a "faceless railway".
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The 45-year-old, who worked as a guard on the railway, was on the picket line during the first day of industrial action this week. He said: "We're fighting to defend our jobs. If the Government gets their way they are going to take thousands of jobs from the rail industry.
"They want to close ticket officers and get rid of guards on trains. We will have a less safe and less secure railway without any staff on it. We're talking thousands of jobs - at least 2,000 jobs they will get rid of. We hope to get the Government to back down from the plans.
"We have gone out on strike a few times and this week we're back out there because we haven't got any further forward with the Government. Normally at this time of year the fares go up. We want to highlight that the fares are going up but people are getting a worse service."
David, who lives in Gateshead, said he has worked on the railway of 20 years. He said that between 40 and 45 members have joined the picket line throughout the day.
He said: "It's not in the public interest to have under staffed stations and no guards on trains. It's going to be a faceless railway. The passengers won't have anyone to help or assist them. The passengers like having us on the trains. There's always someone there to help out and get involved.
"The public is still very much behind us. They can see the bigger aim of us fighting to protect a decent railway. We have had amazing support, we've had people buying us stuff from Greggs. We will be here at the same time and the same location tomorrow and then Friday and Saturday.
"These strikes have been going on for a long time and there's no dropping off. Members are very much determined to support the union. The support is still really high."
RMT members will also strike at Central Station from 5am on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Network Rail has informed passengers there will be significantly reduced train services across the railway until Sunday due to industrial action. They posted on their website: "Trains will be busier and likely to start later and finish earlier, and there will be no services at all in some places."
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