COMMUTERS in London have been battling to travel across the city due to severe disruption caused by another Tube strike.
Around ten thousand members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk out twice this week in a dispute over jobs, pensions and conditions.
Transport for London (TfL) said it expects severe disruption across all Tube lines on strike days (Tuesday and Thursday), while the planned action is also likely to severely affect services on Wednesday and Friday, particularly in the morning peak.
TfL has criticised the industrial action, saying there are no proposals on pensions or terms and conditions, and nobody has or will lose their jobs because of the proposals it has set out.
A statement reads: "TfL will do all it can to provide as many transport options as possible, but customers are advised to check before they travel, consider if their travel is essential and work from home if possible. They should leave more time for journeys and travel at quieter times where possible."
Read our tube strikes live blog below for the latest updates…
- Joseph Gamp
Crippling delays
London Overground, DLR, TfL Rail, and London Trams are still running – but for the majority of Londoners, journeys have been disrupted.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Our members will be taking strike action because a financial crisis at LU (London Underground) has been deliberately engineered by the Government to drive a cuts agenda which would savage jobs, services, safety and threaten their working conditions and pensions."
The Tube strike has also caused delays on London's roads, affecting private cars, commercial vehicles and buses.
- Joseph Gamp
Uber hits back at reports of over-charging
An Uber spokesperson said: "As a result of the strike action currently taking place on the London Underground network, we have capped the level that prices can surge, and all users are shown the price of their trip before they book.
"We are also working hard to ensure that there are enough drivers out on the road to match demand."
- Joseph Gamp
TomTom: London's road congestion was at 119% this morning
The Tube strike has also caused delays on London's roads, affecting private cars, commercial vehicles and buses.
Location technology firm TomTom said at 9am the level of road congestion was 119 per cent – the highest figure for the capital this year.
The level was 80 per cent at the same time last week.
- Joseph Gamp
The city 'is becoming unliveable'
John Rayner, 28, a construction worker who was waiting for a bus in Paddington, west London, said: "I missed two buses this morning because queues for buses are so long and some buses don't even bother to stop.
"I walked to Paddington for over an hour as I thought I would have more luck getting a Tube from here.
"It is a joke. This city is becoming unliveable."
- Joseph Gamp
RMT: Political failure has left workers no choice but to strike
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch says tube workers were “left with no choice” but to strike
He said: “Sadiq Khan should be standing up to Tory ministers who want to needlessly attack jobs, pensions and conditions of key transport workers.
“It is this political failure that has left Tube workers with no choice but to strike this week.
“Our members have been left paying the price for a turf war between City Hall and the government and they are not having it, as can be seen right across London today.”
- Joseph Gamp
Many take to Twitter to support staff
Many commuters have taken to Twitter to show their support for TFL staff following today’s strike.
One user said: “I’m putting my pain in the ass commute to the side but TFL workers deserve more.
“The amount of effort and dedication they put in from 4am starts too 2am finishes, from being put on the frontline to deal with the worst on most occasions. Stand with TFL workers!”
Another said: “I stand with London Underground station staff.
“They work bloody hard, deal with horrible situations, are highly trained to help keep customers safe n work unsociable hours with an exhausting shift pattern.
“They deserve to be treated with respect like any other worker #tubestrike“
- Joseph Gamp
One commuter accuses uber of being ‘scammers’ after being charged ‘extra’
One furious commuter took to Twitter to complain about Uber ‘over charging’ for their trip.
The commuter said: “You are a bunch of scammers, I can’t believe you’re making such a huge profit and business out of a tube strike, shame on you 🤮.
“Being charged over 30 pounds EXTRA for a trip because of a tube strike.”
- Joseph Gamp
Train passengers in south also subjected to delays
Train passengers in the South were also hit by disruption unrelated to the Tube strike.
Network Rail said a suspected power supply failure had led to a "complete loss of signalling" in Ashtead, Surrey.
This was causing delays to services between Epsom and Leatherhead operated by Southern and South Western Railway.
Rail replacement buses have been requested.
The disruption came on the day rail fares were increased, causing more misery for passengers.
- Joseph Gamp
Bus passengers complaining about delays on roads
Bus passengers in London are complaining of major disruption to journeys as many people who usually travel by Tube switched to road transport.
Long queues have formed at bus stops, particularly those outside stations closed because of the RMT strike hitting London Underground services.
When buses do arrive at stops they are often too full to accept any more passengers.
A Twitter user named Salman wrote: "Currently on a bus stuck in gridlock, with the journey in to Westminster expected to take longer than my journey to Solihull yesterday."
Another passenger, Michal Indrak, posted a message to Transport for London which read: "Waiting for bus 59 for an hour and late for work an hour.
"No extra buses and even those empty ones don't stop for some reason and you increasing (fares) for services you don't provide properly. In rain and cold standing and waiting. Something should be done with TfL."
- Joseph Gamp
In pictures: Miles of tube trains stacked up at Neasden depot
The image below shows tube trains lying dormant.
The grim image was taken at Neasden depot in north London.
Today marks the first of two planned walk-outs, with the second strike taking place from midnight on Thursday.
NINTCHDBPICT000715603447Credit: chris gorman / big ladder - Joseph Gamp
Mayor's spokesman says strikes will damage TfL's revenues further
A spokesman for London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the strikes will cause disruption to Londoners and businesses trying to recover from two devastating years.
They added: "It will also damage TfL's revenues at a time when TfL is already under huge financial strain due to the pandemic.
"TfL are working to mitigate the impact of the strikes but disruption is inevitable."
- Joseph Gamp
Entire London Underground suspended during rush hour
The entire underground was suspended in the rush hour, although limited services returned later on a few lines.
People tried to get to work on buses or in taxis but huge queues formed, forcing many to give up and go home.
Road congestion around the capital was at its highest level of the year so far as some commuters attempted to drive through the capital.
The disruption came on the same day as Tube and bus fares went up by an average of 4.8%.
- Joseph Gamp
Which tube lines have no service today?
There are some lines that are operating replacement buses across London today.
But the following lines have no service at all during the strike action:
- Bakerloo
- Circle
- Hammersmith and City
- Jubilee
- Metropolitan
- Victoria
- Waterloo and City lines.
Which lines are running replacement bus services?
TfL issued an update on Tube services at 11.30am:
Central Line:
- Between White City and Ealing Broadway/West Ruislip
- Between Liverpool Street and Loughton
- Between Newbury Park and Leytonstone via Woodford
Northern Line
- Between East Finchley and High Barnet/Mill Hill East
- Between Edgware and Golders Green
Piccadilly Line
- Between Acton Town and Hounslow Central
District Line
- Between Upminster and West Ham
- Between High Street Kensington and Wimbledon
RMT: Political failure has left workers no choice but to strike
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch says tube workers were "left with no choice" but to strike
He said: "Sadiq Khan should be standing up to Tory ministers who want to needlessly attack jobs, pensions and conditions of key transport workers.
"It is this political failure that has left Tube workers with no choice but to strike this week.
"Our members have been left paying the price for a turf war between City Hall and the government and they are not having it, as can be seen right across London today."
- Joseph Gamp
Transport Secretary shares frustration over tube strikes
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps expressed frustration at the Tube strike.
He tweeted: "Having funded TfL to the tune of £5bn to protect jobs & London's transport system throughout Covid, it's a kick in the teeth for Londoners to suffer from @RMTunion strikes.
"I urge the @MayorofLondon & @TfL to get this resolved + Union to call off Thurs counterproductive strike."
- Louis Allwood
Journeys taking hours longer than usual today
Due to the tube strikes, roads have become a lot busier today as commuters have ditched the trains for buses.
One commuter took to Twitter to explain how the strikes have caused his journey to take two hours longer than usual.
He said: "My usual commute is 35 mins MAX. Today it took me 2.5 hours. (I walked 2 miles of it) Thanks Tube Strike."
A second said: "Give Transport for London whatever they want to stop these tube strikes, been on a bus an hour and moved almost absolutely nowhere"
- Louis Allwood
Buses are still running
Buses and local roads in London are busier than normal (particularly buses from National Rail stations).
Commuters are advised to allow more time for your journey and consider walking or cycling if you can.
Here are bus maps of London by area.
You can also check bus status updates and traffic status updates.
- Louis Allwood
TFL confirm there will be 'disruption' tomorrow morning
TfL have confirmed on their website that during the morning after the strike there will be 'severe disruption across all Tube lines'.
Commuters can also expect severe disruption on Thursday when strike action is scheduled to resume.
- Louis Allwood
"This dispute can be solved if the Mayor meets the reasonable demands"
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said:“Sadiq Khan should be standing up to Tory ministers who want to needlessly attack jobs, pensions and conditions of key transport workers.
"It is this political failure that has left tube workers with no choice but to strike this week.
"Our members have been left paying the price for a turf war between City Hall and the Government and they are not having it as can be seen right across London today.
“The Mayor knows the plan to attack our members’ pensions and conditions is wrong and would leave our union no choice but to take industrial action.
"However, only last week the Mayor agreed to submit proposals to the government that will result in detrimental changes to pensions.
"The Mayor has to decide if he is on the side of key workers who have kept London moving during the pandemic or Tory ministers hellbent on punishing tube workers.
"This dispute can be solved if the Mayor meets the reasonable demands of his own workforce."
- Louis Allwood
Piccadilly Line update
Service operating between Acton Town and Hounslow Central at a reduced frequency.
No service on the rest of the line due to strike action by the RMT.
- Louis Allwood
Huge queues at Liverpool Street Station
Police were seen REFUSING people onto buses in the capital because of overcrowding and pushing in the commuter chaos.
Huge queues have also been seen outside of Liverpool Street station.
Public transport above ground has become extremely busy with many saying that buses are at a 'standstill' due to the traffic.
- Louis Allwood
What hours do they work and how much holiday do they get?
Drivers usually work 36-hour weeks and have 43 days of annual leave, including bank holidays.
Shifts can start as early as 4.45am and end as late as 1.30am.
The drivers cannot drink alcohol for eight hours before a shift starts.
They are sometimes asked to work as many as 17 weekends in a row.
- Louis Allwood
How much do Tube drivers earn?
During the initial 12-16 weeks training, trainee drivers are believed to earn about £24,000 which can rise to £30,000 after completing assessments.
A newly qualified driver's starting salary is about £49,000 a year and could rise to £60,000 after five years.
In the financial year from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020, the annual wage of a full time driver was £56,496.
This is before any bonuses or perks such as drivers having free travel around London for them and a partner.
They can retire on a reduced pension at the age of 50 or a full pension at 60-years-old.
Their pensions are the key issue for the strike action.
- Louis Allwood
"This city is becoming unliveable"
John Rayner, 28, a construction worker who was waiting for a bus in Paddington, west London, said: "I missed two buses this morning because queues for buses are so long and some buses don't even bother to stop.
"I walked to Paddington for over an hour as I thought I would have more luck getting a Tube from here.
"It is a joke. This city is becoming unliveable."
And office worker Jasmine Keane, 40, said: "I have had to take an Uber to get to work.
"I don't even know what time I will get to work with the traffic and weather."
Transport for London has warned 11 Tube lines are "out of service" today, with another 24-hour walkout to be held on Thursday.
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