This is the Guardian.

Today, as rail strikes continue, could this be the star of a British summer of industrial action?

Train stations were eerily empty.

Traffic jams surged.

We need to get to where we're then and by doing this the three days it's going to cause chaos.

I'm a bit zero ever contract, basically if I don't work I'll get paid so every time I go on

straw I can't end up losing money.

It disrupts my travel but you know if they feel they need to strike that's their business

and I support them.

I totally, totally, totally 100% back them. They have a right stand up for the working rights

and it's unfortunate that we don't have more unions that are strong enough to stand up for that.

After weeks of fail negotiations, on Tuesday 40,000 rail workers held firm and joined the

biggest nationwide rail strike Britain has seen in 30 years.

Today, they are staging the second of their three planned walkouts this week.

With inflation running at 11%, wages and benefits falling across the board,

it's becoming impossible to keep up with a spiraling cost of living.

So will other unions follow the rail workers lead in the months ahead?

This is just the beginning of an entire period in which politics is going to be turned upside

down. There is a lot of powerful anger at a system that isn't working, that is making people

poorer and I would not bet that it stops here. From the Guardian, I'm Nushy Nickbarl.

Today I'm focused. The rail unions fight to keep wages on track with living costs.

Go ahead and top them, you're the Guardian and observers transport correspondent.

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