Passengers are queueing for the first trains after days of strike action. 

At Brighton station, it was chaos as hundreds awaited the first service of the day, the 12.30pm Southern train to Southampton Central.

The four-day strike by members of the RMT union working for Network Rail ended at 6am today, but most services could not resume until this afternoon due to the disruption.

A spokesman for Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), the operator in charge of Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express said: "Services will begin much later than usual, with some routes not having any trains until midday."

Hundreds of travellers waited in the busy forecourt of Brighton station to see which platform their train would be running from. 

There is also major engineering works going on, meaning there will be no Southern or Gatwick Express trains to or from London Victoria from today, December 27 to January 2. 

Most Southern services will run to and from London Bridge instead, and there will be no Gatwick Express services.

One passenger travelling from London Bridge to Brighton via a Thameslink train said he felt like a sardine in the queues on the platform. 

The Argus: Passengers travelling to Brighton 'felt like sardines' Passengers travelling to Brighton 'felt like sardines' (Image: NQ)

“We’re really sorry for the disruption this ongoing RMT action will cause our customers over the entire festive period, until January 8," said Angie Doll, chief operating officer at Govia Thameslink Railway.

“We urge our customers not to travel unless absolutely necessary on strike days.

“We understand this is going to make life difficult for many, and urge you to make alternative arrangements if you must travel.

“Unfortunately, trains may also be subject to late notice change on non-strike days, due to a national overtime ban.

"Therefore, our strong advice is to always check your journey before setting off, allow extra time for travel and don’t wait to catch the last train home if possible.”

Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “I am so sorry that our passengers are having to bear the brunt of the RMT’s needless strike when a fair offer is on the table and when only a third of the workforce have rejected it."