Share

London commuters' Tube rail strike chaos

London - Millions of Londoners faced another morning of travel chaos on Thursday as a 48-hour strike by London Underground workers angry at ticket office closures and job cuts entered its second day.

Staff from the two main rail unions began the first of two planned 48-hour "tube" strikes late on Tuesday, leaving many people unable to get to work or forced to pack onto overcrowded buses, mainline trains or cycle.

The city's vital underground network is used by three million people daily.

Transport for London (TfL), which runs the capital's public transport network, reported that just one underground line was running normally at rush hour on Thursday with the remaining 10 either closed or operating a reduced service.

Talks between the unions and TfL are due to resume on Friday in a bid to avert a second 48-hour walk-out planned from Feb. 11 to Feb 14.

TfL said commuters had found alternative ways around town on Wednesday with a 50% increase in the use of its city cycle hire scheme, known by Londoners as "Boris bikes" after mayor Boris Johnson.

The strike has left many people unable to get to work, while others joined long queues to squeeze onto crowded buses and overground trains, turned to river boat services, or resorted to running or cycling to work.

"Running to #ShoreditchHouse along the high street to beat the #tubestrike," Daniel Watts posted on Twitter. "11k in the bag and feel great."

"The train was so crammed I couldn't even breathe, but I do sympathise in some ways because it's their jobs," said Omar Salahuddin, 29, a teacher, whose journey from Pinner in northwest London to Canada Water in east London took four hours instead of the usual one hour.

But the lengthy, and sometimes costly, alternative routes to work on Wednesday appeared to have deterred more commuters from battling the transport chaos on Thursday.

"#tubestrike day 2 = half empty tube pulls up as I get to the dead platform. Is everyone working from home today?!" tweeted Daniel Mryan.

The unions are protesting about plans to cut about 950 jobs and close manned ticket offices as part of a restructuring that could save $80m a year.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers (RMT) union, one of Britain's most militant, said the action was as much about service as jobs, warning that TfL's plans to reduce station staff would have a "seriously adverse impact on women, older and disabled people".

Standoff continues

Talks between TfL, the RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) union are due to resume on Friday in a bid to avert a second 48-hour walk-out planned from February 11.

But talks at an arbitration service last week and early this week have so far failed to find any common ground.

During rush hour on Thursday morning, TfL said just one underground line was running normally with the remaining 10 either closed or operating a reduced service.

Business groups have condemned the strike, with the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimating the action would cost the city's economy £50m a day.

Prime Minister David Cameron has called the stoppage "shameful" and says there is no justification for it, because a modernised tube service is critical for Londoners.

Political analysts have said Cameron, leader of the Conservative-led coalition government, could gain politically from the strike if travellers blame the unions, which have close links to the centre-left opposition Labour party.

His office has said the Conservative manifesto for next year's general election is likely to contain proposals to curb unions' ability to call strikes in key transport areas.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.91
-0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.43
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.2%
Platinum
910.50
+1.5%
Palladium
1,011.50
+1.0%
Gold
2,221.35
+1.2%
Silver
24.87
+0.9%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders