THOUSANDS of commuters have been warned to brace themselves for massive disruption this week when train workers stage the first of a string of two-day strikes.

THOUSANDS of commuters have been warned to brace themselves for massive disruption this week when train workers stage the first of a string of two-day strikes.

Bosses at National Express East Anglia said they “strongly recommend” that people do not try to travel on their train services on Thursday and Friday because industrial action means the service will be “very limited”.

Drivers' union ASLEF and the Rail Maritime Transport (RMT) union have called the strike action, which will see members walk out in protest at pay and conditions from a minute after midnight on Thursday until a minute before midnight on Friday.

While bosses at National Express East Anglia said it was too early to say which services will be most seriously affected by the strikes, the worst case scenario is that none run at all.

The company runs services between Norwich and London Liverpool Street, via Ipswich, along with services from and to Cambridge, which stop at Thetford and Wymondham.

Other local services which could be badly hit include trains from and to Sheringham, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, but services from King's Lynn run by First Capital Connect will run as normal.