Drivers will go on strike at seven companies this Saturday and Aslef members at two more train operators voted overwhelmingly in favor of union action.
Only about one in five trains ran on Wednesdays, and some areas had no services at all.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of Insultsaid: “Strikes are always the last resort.
“We don’t want to harass passengers – our friends and families also use public transport – and we don’t want to lose money by going on strike, but we have been forced into this position by the companies, who say they are being driven to do so by the government.”
A row broke out between unions and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps after he made plans to curb union action, including stopping coordinated union action, limiting picketsand having a cooling off period after strikes.
The RMT and TSSA will hold more strikes on August 18 and 20, while London Underground workers will leave on August 19.
On Friday there will also be strikes by BT employees and those of the AQA Examination Board.
Royal Mail employees have voted to strike amid disputes over pay for public sector workers, including teachers and health workers.