A UK-wide train strike is planned for Saturday, coinciding with the Commonwealth Games marathon to be run through the streets of Birmingham.

Thousands of rail workers will down tools for a train strike set to cause major headaches for travellers on the opening weekend of Birmingham's Commonwealth Games.

Services were drastically reduced on Wednesday across the United Kingdom, while West Midlands Railway announced there will be no trains at all on Saturday due to industrial action by the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen.

Those attending events that day, which include rugby sevens, the marathon, beach volleyball, weightlifting and boxing, have been encouraged to find alternative modes of transport.

However only a limited amount of event-specific transport is on offer for the Games, with spectators, staff and officials encouraged to use existing Birmingham public transport options to attend events.

Only one in five trains ran on Wednesday as 40,000 staff joined picket lines to protest against job cuts, pay, working conditions and practices, and pensions.