Travellers have been hit by another rail strike today (May 8) causing disruption for many.

No trains were departing Newton Abbot railway station because of a strike by members of the train drivers’ union Aslef.

In a statement, Great Western Railway (GWR) said ‘Many parts of the GWR network will have no service at all and trains that are running will only be operating for a limited period during the day.’

‘No long distance services will operate on the GWR network,’ it added.

While many travellers had made alternative arrangements prior to today’s strike, some were unaware of the train cancellations.

Two ladies hoping to travel from Newton Abbot to London Paddington this morning were advised to go to Exeter St David’s by car in the hope of catching the South West Trains link to London Waterloo.

‘We had an open return. I’m from South Africa and had no idea there would be no trains today,’ one said. ‘It’s a pain in the ****,’ she added.

Further disruption will continue until Sunday with planned ‘action short of a strike’ which will involve some short-notice alterations and cancellations including the cancellation of the Night Riviera Sleeper service.

Members of Aslef are staking industrial action as part of a two year dispute over pay and working conditions.

As well as GWR, trains operated by Avanti West Coast, Chiltern railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Heathrow Express, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway, have been affected by today’s strike.