Five rail operators are experiencing disruption due to strike action by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.

Workers on Southern, Greater Anglia and South Western Railway are striking for 48 hours, while staff on Merseyrail and Northern have walked out for 24 hours.

The union is in dispute over driver-only operated (DOO) trains, also known as driver-controlled operated (DCO).

Aslef, which has also been in dispute with Southern, announced on Wednesday that train drivers had accepted a deal.

It means there will be a second safety-trained person on every DOO train, except in exceptional circumstances, gives drivers a five-year pay deal worth 28.5%, and confirms the terms and conditions under which members are employed.

The executive committee of the train drivers’ union had recommended its members accept the deal, which has no impact on the RMT’s continuing industrial action.

The RMT described Aslef’s deal with Southern as “shoddy”.