Rail strikes are set to go ahead this week following the RMT Union rejecting Network Rails latest offer, meaning two 48-hour strikes will take place this week. 

RMT, the UK's largest railway union, has announced that its members have rejected Network Rails latest offer of a settlement to ensure pay rises and job security for its workers. 

This will mean that there will be major disruption this week in Brentford on South Western Railway, with a "severely reduced timetable". 

South Western Railway said on their website: "Only travel if absolutely necessary. The RMT has notified us of national strike action on Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Friday 16 and Saturday 17 December.  

"On these strike days, a severely reduced timetable will run on some routes 0730 to 1830 only, with the rest of the network closed entirely.  

"Due to the knock-on effect of strike days, first trains will be much later than usual and be very busy on Thursday 15 and Sunday 18 December - avoid these first trains if you can.  

"Please only travel if absolutely necessary throughout this strike period." 

The Waterloo to Windsor line, which runs through Brentford, will run four trains per hour in both directions, the first train leaves London Waterloo at 7:15am and the last train leaves Windsor at 5:30pm. 

Full information on the strikes can be found on the South Western Railway website. 

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said to the BBC about the vote: "The government is refusing to lift a finger to prevent these strikes and it is clear they want to make effective strike action illegal in Britain. 

"We will resist that and our members, along with the entire trade union movement will continue their campaign for a square deal for workers, decent pay increases and good working conditions." 

A spokesperson for Rishi Sunak said this claim that the government should step in: "We are not seeking to impose government over and above either the independent pay review process or ongoing discussions between employers and the unions. 

"We won't be changing the process."