There will be no service on the main section of the line that runs from Abbey Wood in the east to Paddington. A reduced service will operate from Shenfield to Liverpool Street, and from Paddington and Reading to Heathrow.

On Friday (13 January), there will be no services on the affected sections until around 07.30. Heathrow Express services from Paddington and Underground services to the airport are unaffected.

The action is the first dispute on the new Crossrail line since it opened in May and centres on pay and changes to pensions. The TSSA union said members working for Rail for London Infrastructure Ltd (RfLI) voted nine to one in favour of action last year after talks failed. Further talks have taken place since, but no agreement reached.

TSSA organiser, Mel Taylor said: “We know workers at RfLI are being paid significantly less than equivalent colleagues across the TfL network and that is simply not acceptable.  

“The company needs to understand we are serious. Our members are determined to get the fair deal they deserve having not seen an annual pay increase for almost three years. An improved offer which addresses the scandalous disparity in pay is the way to resolve this dispute.”