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Last-ditch talks to avert the strike broke down on Monday, meaning more than 50,000 members of rail union RMT will walk out for three days this week. Train and London Underground stations shut Tuesday morning, forcing people to either work from home or find alternative routes into the office.

Hordes of people were waiting at bus stops on the outskirts of London shortly after 6:00 am, but many gave up as services towards the capital carried on without stopping, already full.

RMT general-secretary Mick Lynch described as 'unacceptable' offers of below-inflation pay rises by both overground train operators and London Underground that runs the Tube in the capital.

The walkouts -- also on Thursday and Saturday -- risk causing significant disruption to major events including the Glastonbury music festival. Schools are warning that thousands of teenagers taking national exams will also be affected.

The strikes are the biggest dispute on Britain's railway network since 1989, according to the RMT. Rail operators, however, warn of disruption throughout the week, with only around 20 percent of services running during the walkouts while lines not affected by strike action still having to reduce services. RMT members on the London Underground are additionally staging a 24-hour Tube train stoppage Tuesday.