Train services are due to begin later on Tuesday following the latest round of strikes by railway workers.
Members of the RMT union working for Network Rail will end a strike at 06:00 GMT on December 27th.
However, this means that many trains only start running between 09:00 and 12:00.
Network Rail said 70% of services will be operational but urged passengers to check their travel times with train companies.
“Staff are returning to work, that’s the way it is [a] much later start for passenger services,” said a spokesman for Network Rail.
“Passengers should really do their research before they travel so they don’t just show up at a station where there are no trains.”
ScotRail said it would start restoring some services from around 7.15am but warned there would be disruption throughout the day.
“Services will begin later than normal on routes across the country as signal boxes open at different times following labor disputes,” it said.
- Why are there rail strikes?
- Who is on strike and what wage claims do they have?
Thousands of RMT members at Network Rail, which operates and maintains the rail system, and 14 rail companies have been involved in consecutive strikes over pay and conditions.
It coincides with major industrial unrest across a range of sectors, including nurses and ambulance drivers and border guards at six of Britain’s busiest airports.
Employees go for pay at a time when price growth, or inflation, is at a 40-year high.
Rail strikes resume between January 3-4 and January 6-7.
In the meantime, there is a ban on overtime for RMT members at 14 railway companies, which is to apply until January 2nd.
Network Rail said 70% of normal services will operate on Tuesday, rising to 90% in the coming days.
However, this is expected to drop to 20% of normal services once the next series of strikes begin in early January.
Mick Lynch, General Secretary of the RMT said: “The union remains available to discuss this dispute.
“But until the government gives the rail industry a mandate to come to a negotiated settlement on job security, pay and working conditions, our industrial campaign will continue into the new year if necessary.”
A Network Rail spokesman said: “The only way we can resolve labor disputes is through negotiation and talks, so of course we will try to sit around the table.
“It’s just unclear at the moment where we can go as all the cards we have to deal are already on the table.”
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