RAIL staff are due to cause significant disruption as strike action continues this weekend.

Members of the RMT and Aslef union are due to take to the picket line in a dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.

All trains from Barrow have been cancelled on Saturday. 

The unions are continuing a long-running dispute with the Government, demanding a pay offer to cope with the rising cost of living.

There are also fears over jobs being lost at ticket offices across the country, with Barrow's allegedly earmarked for closure.

Steve Nott, a Furness RMT representative, said union members wanted the dispute revolved.

"It's unfortunate again for the local residents these strikes are having to happen," he said.

"As it stands, the proposals on the table are something none of the unions could ever accept, it's carving up terms and conditions."

Mr Nott also sounded a warning about the potential loss of ticket offices.

He said they were vital for allowing people to pay fares and access information.

"Closing Barrow would be bad, and Grange and Ulverston would be particularly bad," he said.

"We don't want to lose the ticket offices."

With more unions taking action, Saturday's strikes are due to be the most disruptive yet. 

Only 11 per cent of normal services will run and there will be no trains in many areas, Network Rail said.

Services will start later than normal on Sunday morning as workers return to duties.

Strikes are also planned for Wednesday October 5 and Saturday October 8.

Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: "Despite our best efforts to compromise and find a breakthrough in talks, rail unions remain intent on continuing and coordinating their strike action.

"This serves only to ensure our staff forgo even more of their pay unnecessarily, as well as causing even more disruption for our passengers and further damaging the railway's recovery from the pandemic.

"Passengers who want to travel this Saturday, and indeed next Wednesday and next Saturday, are asked only to do so if absolutely necessary. Those who must travel should expect disruption and make sure they check when their last train will depart."

Daniel Mann, director of industry operations at Rail Delivery Group, said: "These strikes are unnecessary and damaging. They disrupt passengers' plans, undermine struggling businesses, hit major events and harm the industry's recovery. "