Tube strike: London Underground action disrupts commuters

Commuters were forced to make alternative arrangements for their journeys to and from work

Thousands of Tube passengers have endured delays on their journeys home because of strike action over planned job cuts and ticket office closures.

The first of two planned 48-hour strikes by the RMT and TSSA unions means there is a limited Tube service until Friday morning.


The RMT said talks aimed at resolving the dispute will be held on Friday.
Transport for London (TfL) said services on Wednesday were running on most lines.

Transport commissioner Sir Peter Hendy said 86% of Londoners who usually paid for travel using their Oyster cards had done so as normal.
But the TSSA disputed this claim, arguing the service had been reduced by 70%.
A second 48-hour Underground walkout is due to begin at 21:00 GMT on 11 February.

TfL says the proposed changes, which will lead to 960 job losses, will modernise systems and save £50m a year.
Mr Hendy added that many of the jobs, such as those in booking offices "were not worth doing" because of other payment options.

If staff adapted and changed they would have a "job for life", he said.
The industrial action, which began at 21:00 GMT on Tuesday, has come as the government said it was considering plans to declare London Underground an essential service in order to curb the threat of future strikes.

Were it to happen, London Underground would be subject to a "minimum service agreement" under which staff would be required to keep a core level of trains going regardless of any industrial action.
Government sources have told the BBC's chief political correspondent Norman Smith the Conservatives are considering including the proposal in the party manifesto for the next general election.

Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn called on the mayor of London to ensure there was "real engagement" with the unions before next week's planned strikes.
Mr Corbyn said the mayor and the government were more interested in pursuing an "anti-union" agenda.

Many stations, like Waterloo, were crowded with passengers

 

There were long queues as passengers had to rely on buses

 

Many commuters felt they were better off walking to their destinations

 

London Mayor Boris Johnson met with staff at London Bridge

The two sides have traded accusations over the negotiation process.
TfL's Mike Brown told the BBC: "It's difficult to consult with an empty chair which is the situation we've faced over the last several weeks."

But RMT leader, Bob Crow, rejected the claim saying: "It's nonsense to say TfL have been negotiating with an empty chair. There have been two weeks of talks and RMT has attended every session, as Acas will confirm.

"RMT understands that Peter Hendy has told the media today he is prepared to review the cuts and closures line by line.
"We are awaiting written confirmation of his proposals and RMT is ready and waiting for further talks at any time."

BBC London joins the commuters waiting to board the 139 bus

 
Mr Crow said the strike had been "rock solid", adding that during his election campaign the mayor had said
he would not close ticket offices.
"We have always had job cuts, it is the way you go about it", he said before asking the mayor to "do the honourable thing and meet with us".

London Mayor Boris Johnson has described the action as "pointless and unnecessary" and said his manifesto pledge about ticket office closures was from 2008 "before the iPhone was invented."
He also reiterated his call for a ban on strike action affecting London transport, unless it was supported by more than 50% of union members eligible to be balloted.

"That would be reasonable for vital transport functions, such as the London Underground, which has to keep the greatest city on earth moving and on which millions of people will depend for their livelihoods," he said.
He later met staff and commuters at London Bridge station.

Bob Crow: We do not call strikes for the sake of it

More than 100 extra buses were laid on and normal services were due to be running on London Overground and Tramlink, but the strike has caused major travel disruption to millions of passengers.
In the Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron "unreservedly condemned" the strike and said Labour leader Ed Miliband ought to do the same.

"We need a modernised Tube line working for the millions of Londoners who use it every day.
"The fact is only 3% of transactions now involve ticket offices so it makes sense to have fewer people in those offices but more people on the platforms and the stations.
"So I unreservedly condemn this strike."

But when Mr Miliband did not comment Mr Cameron said: "Isn't it interesting that with six questions and an invitation to condemn the strike today, not a word?"
Mr Crow and Manuel Cortes, leaders of the RMT and the TSSA, accused the mayor of refusing to meet them to discuss the ticket office closures.

On Tuesday Mr Miliband said it was "deeply regrettable" that no negotiation or meetings with the mayor and TfL seemed to have happened.