West Coast rail strike dispute turns personal as union bosses attack Virgin founder Richard Branson

It came as the train operator said it was running the majority of its services despite the 24-hour strike called by the RMT and TSSA unions in their pay dispute.

Around 1,800 train managers, on-board catering staff, station and clerical workers have walked out, hitting up to a third of Virgin Trains services across the West Midlands.

There are five further stoppages planned, with action next Friday threatening Christmas travel plans.

At the same time, RMT general secretary Mick Cash launched a personal attack on Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson. He said: "Virgin is a wealthy outfit and there is no excuse whatsoever for Sir Richard Branson to ‎under value and discriminate against the very same staff whose hard work finances his luxury lifestyle.

"Virgin should stop trying to play divide and rule and should address the fundamental issue of workplace equality which is at the heart of this dispute."

He added: "Our members the length and breadth of the Virgin West Coast operation are standing solid and determined this morning in their fight for workplace equality and justice."

TSSA leader Manuel Cortes added: "TSSA apologises unreservedly to all passengers adversely affected by our industrial action today. But the company have really upset their workforce by awarding such different pay rises."

And he added: "Passengers and staff are keeping Richard Branson up to his Necker Island in luxury, while they pay more for fares and work harder for less."

Virgin Trains has dismissed the action as "unwarranted", saying it has offered a "significantly above-inflation" pay rise, which the RMT and TSSA unions had rejected

But it said that its contingency plans meant most West Coast services would run today, although passengers were warned services would be busier than usual and no catering would be available on its trains.

Phil Whittingham, managing director for Virgin Trains on the West Coast, said: “The RMT and TSSA leadership are attempting to cause disruption when many will want to travel by train to spend time with loved ones.

"We have explored a generous 3.6 per cent pay increase, however the unions’ leaderships are insisting on four per cent, double the two percent average increase seen across the UK this year.

“We know how important it is for friends and families to get together over the festive season, so whilst we’re sorry for the disruption we will keep the majority of our trains running with fully-trained staff onboard and at stations. We remain open to talks with the RMT and TSSA, and urge them to call off these strikes which will cost their members pay for no gain.”

Virgin Trains said it expected to run its normal timetable of one service each way per hour between London and Liverpool.

Two services each way per hour will run between London and Manchester via Stoke, but not Crewe. And trains will not serve Wilmslow.

There will be two services each way per hour between London and the West Midlands and the normal timetable of one fast service each way per hour between London and Glasgow).

But, apart from this morning's 4.48am Holyhead to London service and the return at 5.10pm this evening, Virgin Trains will not serve Chester and North Wales. There is a replacement bus service between Chester and Crewe, and Arriva Trains Wales will accept tickets between Chester and North Wales stations.

Trains will not serve Edinburgh which can be reached via other operators’ services. Tickets will be valid on those operators.