RAIL passengers are being warned they face long delays and overcrowded trains when staff begin a two-day strike tonight.

RMT members will down tools at 6.30pm for 48 hours over a row with First Great Western (FGW) over cuts to jobs, services and safety.

Members of the Rail and Maritime Transport (RMT) Union voted to strike over plans to axe guards and buffet cars on new Hitachi Inter City Express trains between London and Bristol.

Hopes for an 11th-hour reprieve were dashed on Monday when crisis talks broke down between the union and FGW.

A warning issued on the firm’s website added: “Long distance and other services will be significantly reduced.”

Despite the staff walk-out FGW said that most of the trains through Oxfordshire should run as normal.

Routes from Banbury through Oxford to Didcot Parkway and Reading are expected to run on time, however there will be no FGW services to Weymouth, Portsmouth and Brighton.

Reduced services will run to Bristol, Cardiff and Cornwall, but there will be no service from Reading Gatwick Airport.

Passengers with tickets booked tomorrow and Friday are advised they can also use them today and Saturday and to check before they travel.

Season ticket holders will be compensated and FGW tickets will also be accepted by other operators.

Staff will refuse to work on the FGW routes between 6.30pm tonight until 6.29pm on Friday after 80 per cent of RMT members balloted in favour.

Check which lines are affected at firstgreatwestern.co.uk/strike.