Although the Guardian reports that the government has secretly attempted to broker a deal which would mean the end of the industrial action, the decision by the RMT union to call further strikes in north and south England has added to the pressure on the government's handling of transport policy.

However, embattled transport secretary Stephen Byers claimed on Tuesday that he would still be in the job at the next general election, by which time improvements to the rail network would be seen.

Speaking to the BBC, he said: "I speak to the prime minister on many occasions and I know he is in full agreement with the action we have taken so far on transport, in particular the railways."

The prime minister has nevertheless appointed Matthew Elson, a McKinsey management consultant, to oversee transport policy.

Meanwhile, Tony Blair is facing calls to focus on domestic issues such as the crisis in the rail system following his return from a six day tour of south east Asia yesterday.