A strike by more than 40,000 workers at Network Rail and 14 train operating companies will go ahead at the end of July after talks failed to resolve a bitter dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk out on Wednesday, July 27, crippling rail services across the country.

Alongside this, a strike from the driver's union Aslef will take place on Saturday, July 30 at eight train operators across the country.

READ MORE: When are the next train strikes? - Train strike dates August 2022

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Strike action will take place next Wednesday as planned and our members are more determined than ever to secure a decent pay rise, job security and good working conditions.

St Helens Star: Mick Lynch on the picket line during the June rail strikes (PA)Mick Lynch on the picket line during the June rail strikes (PA)

“Network Rail have not made any improvement on their previous pay offer and the train companies have not offered us anything new.

“RMT will continue to negotiate in good faith but we will not be bullied or cajoled by anyone."

This may raise the question of how daily working life will be affected, as there was heavy disruption during the rail strikes led by the RMT in June.

What will the train strikes in July affect?

The strike will affect passengers travelling for holidays or attending events such as the women’s Euro 2022 semi-final in Milton Keynes on July 27, and the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham the following day.

St Helens Star: A limited timetable will be run on July 27 (PA)A limited timetable will be run on July 27 (PA) (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Network Rail expects a “very limited” timetable will be available across the country on the strike day, with around 20% of services running and some parts of the country with no rail services.

Special timetables are set to be published this Saturday (July 23) but trains will start later and finish much earlier than usual. Passengers should expect disruption and only travel if necessary.

The companies affected by the RMT strikes are: Network Rail, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express, Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains and GTR (including Gatwick Express).