HOLIDAYMAKERS were today hit by knock-on effects of a 48-hour rail strike after trains to Stansted airport were cancelled.The 6.55am Stansted Express train from London Liverpool Street was cancelled and no replacement bus service was laid on, although five more trains leaving between 4.

HOLIDAYMAKERS were today hit by knock-on effects of a 48-hour rail strike after trains to Stansted airport were cancelled.

The 6.55am Stansted Express train from London Liverpool Street was cancelled and no replacement bus service was laid on, although five more trains leaving between 4.10am and 5.55am were replaced by buses.

Travellers returning to Britain were also affected as the 5.30am train from Stansted into London was cancelled and not replaced by a bus service.

Stansted Express apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers.

The two-day walkout by members of Aslef and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) finished at midnight last night.

The unions are currently in a dispute with National Express East Anglia over pay and conditions.

A National Express East Anglia spokesman said everything is now running to schedule again.

He said there were some pre-planned cancellations early today because certain trains were in the wrong place. The spokesman added that this had been announced before the service today.

A Stansted airport spokesman said the train disruption had not resulted in anyone missing their flight.

The disruption is expected to continue tomorrow due to engineering work, with a bus replacement service running between Liverpool Street and Stansted until 1pm.

Further strikes are planned for next week, and will be joined by members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association, unless the deadlock is broken.