More carriages are being added to trains on National Rail commuter services into Fenchurch Street to cope with the planned 48-hour strike on the London Underground starting at 9pm today.

Operators on c2c services are doubling the size of trains serving Essex, east London and the City from four to eight carriages, adding an extra 35,000 seats to off-peak services each day.

The move is aimed at the expected increase in passengers who normally use the District Line between Upminster, Barking and West Ham.

But the c2c trains can only stop at West Ham if the station is operated by London Underground staff, rail bosses warn.

The situation won’t be clear until after 9pm when the industrial action begins. Passengers using West Ham are being advised to prepare alternative routes in case the station closes.

The strike by London Underground workers called by the RMT union is in protest at proposed ticket office closures and up to 750 job cuts.

TfL plans to run a reduced weekend Underground service until normal services are expected to resume on Friday.

The transport authority is facing a £78 million budget reduction aimed at saving more than £40m a year.