No trains will run in Kent on Friday as tens of thousands of transport works go on strike.

Operator Southeastern has confirmed there will be no services on May 12 as a result of the walkout by train drivers union Aslef while just a limited service will run the following day – on Saturday, May 13 – because of industrial action by the RMT.

People’s travel plans over the coming weeks are likely to be thrown into chaos by the new wave of strikes on the railways estimated to involve more than 40,000 union members.

Passengers trying to reach some of the summer’s biggest events – including the Eurovision Song Contest and FA Cup final – are among those now faced with having their train services cancelled.

Industrial action has been announced for May and June by both the RMT union and Aslef - which represents more than 96% of the country’s train drivers. Scroll down for the full list of dates.

Aslef will begin its fresh round of action on Friday – followed by two further walkouts at the end of this month and again the start of June – while the RMT will also embark on its own 24-hour strike this weekend that will see staff at more than 14 train operating companies stay away from work.

Thousands of passengers trying to reach Liverpool for the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday – which the UK is hosting on behalf of last year’s winner Ukraine – are likely to be hit hard by the walkout as the action involves so many of the country's train operators.

Football fans with tickets to the FA Cup final on June 3, between Manchester City and Manchester United at London’s Wembley Stadium, will also be disrupted.

The rail dispute – which first began in June last year – is said to be the largest instance of industrial action in the country since 1989.

The strikes have so far involved more than 40,000 workers and more than 14 train companies over the last 12 months who are lobbying for better pay, working conditions and a resolution to issues involving redundancies and job security.

Who is striking and when?

Industrial action has been announced for the following days:

*Friday, May 12 (action by the Aslef union)

*Saturday, May 13 (action by the RMT union)

*Wednesday, May 31 (action by the Aslef union)

*Saturday, June 3 (action by the Aslef union)

Companies affected include: Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Great Western Railway; Greater Anglia; GTR Great Northern Thameslink; London North Eastern Railway; Northern Trains; Southeastern; Southern/Gatwick Express; SWR depot drivers; SWR Island Line; TransPennine Express, and West Midlands Trains.

Additionally, an overtime ban for Aslef members will also be implemented on Saturday, May 13, from Monday, May 15 to Saturday, May 20 and again on Thursday, June 1 that could also cause some changes to train services.

How will services be affected?

Network Rail says train companies ‘are busy assessing’ how each of the walk outs will affect services.

However Aslef says as it represents almost all train drivers in the UK so it is unlikely many – if any - services will run on the three dates it leads members in a walkout. The RMT strike may cause less disruption and enable limited services to be run – but passengers are being warned to check.

In Kent, Southeastern has already confirmed there will be no trains running on Friday, May 12. There will also be no replacement bus services.

Because the walkout involves train drivers across the network there will also be no Thameslink or Southern services running in Kent on Friday as well.

On Saturday, May 13 Southeastern says it is aiming to run a limited service but some routes and stations are still likely to remain completely closed. Updated strike timetables, which could be subject to change, can be found here.

Passengers, it says, should prepare for and expect ‘significant disruption’ to train services both on the strike days and the mornings and evenings either side of each walkout.

What’s the current travel advice?

The National Rail Journey Planner will detail affected services, revise timetables and provide real-time travel advice. Passengers are being told to pay close attention to it when planning their route and before setting off or trying to come home.

Anyone hoping to use the trains should check their entire journey from start to finish – particularly if it involves using either the first trains or last services of the day – while extra caution should also be taken if you’re a passenger returning the day after your departure date.

If you have an existing ticket now dated for a strike day – says Network Rail – you will be able to use your ticket on an alternative day or seek a refund depending on the type of pass you have purchased. The latest refund information is available here.

Those passengers with season tickets who do not travel can also claim compensation through the Delay Repay refund scheme.