[OLD]London Tube strikes – live: Most Underground lines suspended as walk-outs disrupt travel across capital
London Underground staff are striking on 1 and 3 March
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Your support makes all the difference.The entire Tube network is currently disrupted as London Underground staff stage the first of two 24-hour strikes set for this week, on Tuesday and Thursday respectively.
Today’s walkout has left nearly all Tube lines completely suspended, with commuters advised to work from home where possible. It began at 12.01am and will end at 11.59pm tonight.
The RMT union has blamed the dispute on “a financial crisis at LUL (London Underground Limited)”, which general secretary Mick Lynch described as being “deliberately engineered by the government”.
Transport for London (TfL) has warned travellers to expect “severe disruption to all lines and stations throughout the day [and the] possibility of no London Underground services.”
A second 24-hour strike begins a day later, running from 12.01am on Thursday, 3 March.
Commuters are encouraged to walk or cycle where possible; London buses, TfL Rail, National Rail, DLR, London Overground and Tram services will all be in operation, but are expected to be busier than usual.
Passengers have been advised to allow more time for their journeys this week due to the disruption.
More Tube trouble ahead, warns Transport for London
As the latest Tube strike by members of the RMT union closes down most of the London Underground network, Transport for London (TfL) has emailed passengers to warn them about further disruption over the coming weekend – with industrial action forecast into the summer and a reduction in services on one key line to every half-hour.
“There is planned strike action every Friday and Saturday night between 8.30pm and 4.29am the following morning until Sunday 19 June,” TfL says.
“If these strikes go ahead, normal services are expected on the Victoria line, while we expect the Central line to run a regular service through central London, with at least two trains per hour.”
Over the weekend of 5 and 6 March, no Central line trains will run in east London between Bethnal Green and Loughton/ Woodford (via Newbury Park and Hainault).
Euston taxi rank ‘virtually inaccessible'
Euston Station taxi rank is “virtually inaccessible from the east due roadworks and heavy traffic in the Bloomsbury area,” according to Twitter account London Traffic Watch.
Meanwhile, safety concerns have been raised more generally as 72 per cent of UK taxi users have reported walking home alone due to a shortage of cabs, according to new research.
In a survey of taxi users, UK taxi technology company Autocab found that 70 per cent said they have struggled or completely failed to book a cab ride since 1 December 2021.
Tube strike encourages commuters to cycle
Not all Londoners are frustrated by today’s Tube strike.
Some have reported that the industrial action has spurred them on to try cycling to work.
Twitter user Daniel Rodrigues wrote: “First time cycling this year feeling great done over 13 miles from my home to one of my projects thank you tube strike save me £8.70 today if the weather stays like this I will carry on cycling.”
How can I get around London today?
Although Tube strikes across the entire London Underground network have stalled the city today, some transport options are still in operation.
London Overground, TfL Rail, DLR, London Trams and National Rail services are all running but “will be busier than usual,” according to TfL.
“Allow more time for your journey and consider alternatives.”
Travellers are also warned to check before travel for possible station closures.
Read our full guide to getting around here:
Sadiq Khan booed at NME awards over London Underground strikes
Sadiq Khan was booed by the audience at the NME Awards over the Tube strikes that have enraged commuters this week.
Walkouts affected the entire London Underground network on Tuesday (1 March) and Thursday (3 March). The dispute is over jobs, pensions and working conditions.
The London Mayor was at the music awards ceremony last night to present a prize for Best Solo Act From the UK.
Read the full story:
Sadiq Khan booed by NME Awards crowd over Tube strikes
‘Nice to completely miss the mark and have Sadiq Khan at the NME awards… when he could be sorting out the Tube strike mess,’ said one attendee
Tube workers won’t be used ‘as political pawns’, says union
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch has said of today’s Tube Strike: “Our members across LUL are making it crystal clear again this morning that they are not going to be used as pawns in a political fight between the Mayor and the Government which threatens their futures and their livelihoods.”
Former shadow chancellor joins picket line in prime minister’s constituency
The former shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, has joined striking Tube workers on the picket line at Uxbridge – the station serving Boris Johnson’s constituency.
The Labour MP represents the neighbouring constituency, Hayes and Harlington.
The RMT union, which has called this week’s stoppages, retweeted a photo from Cat Cray, showing Mr McDonnell.
The message read: “Great to have @johnmcdonnellMP support at Uxbridge picket line.”
Disruption hits London Overground
Although today’s strike is solely on the London Underground, commuters using the London Overground are facing problems too.
Transport for London is warning that trains “will be busier than usual”, and advises: “Allow more time for your journey and consider alternatives.
“If you are using services from stations also served by the Tube, check before you travel for possible station closures.”
A fault with the signalling system between Stratford and Cheshunt means some lines are blocked, and trains running between Stratford and Meridian Water are cancelled.
On the GWR Thames Valley network, Covid-related cuts mean shorter trains. “Some services between London Paddington and Reading will be formed of eight carriages instead of 12,” the train operator says.
London grinds to a halt
Today’s Tube strike has gone ahead as planned, with all London Underground lines affected.
However, a handful of services are running.
On the Central Line, trains are running in east London to and from Liverpool Street in the City from Loughton from Newbury Park via Hainault. Trains are not calling at Leyton and Bethnal Green due to lack of staffing at those stations.
To the west of the capital, Central Line trains are running between White City and the two terminus stations of Ealing Broadway and West Ruislip.
On Tuesday, District Line trains were running a shuttle service from High Street Kensington to Wimbledon and Ealing Broadway. Transport for London says the entire District Line is suspended.
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