A week-long strike by German train drivers began early Tuesday with no sign of a breakthrough in negotiations between the drivers' union and their bosses.

The train drivers' union, GDL, had called on its members to walk offthe job at 2 am Tuesday and not return to work until 9 am Sunday, according to the German News Agency (dpa).

Freight rail drivers began their strike Monday afternoon.

Claus Weselsky, who heads up the GDL, has blamed German rail company Deutsche Bahn for the strike, which is part of a long-running dispute over pay and labour rights. Train drivers have walked off the job eight times since September.

Deutsche Bahn said earlier it was confident that about one third of long-distance rail services would be operating despite the strike. Businesses estimate the strike could cost the economy 100 million euros about (111.3 million dollars) a day.