The company said that even with minimum services running, only two-fifths of the normal services were operating.

A previous strike on 4 June cost the company about €1.3 million, it said.

Further stoppages are scheduled for the north of the country on 23 and 24 June, as the unions demand trains continue to be operated by more than one person.

CP has said then even though the law allows one-man operation of trains, it has no intention of introducing this rule.