The travel chaos caused by yesterday’s Tube strike continues in London today, with severe delays, part closures and minor delays on at least nine Tube lines.
The network-wide 1 March walkout affected all Tube lines on Tuesday, running from one minute past midnight to one minute to midnight, with another 24-hour strike planned for Thursday.
But the industrial action is still having a major impact this morning. First thing, commuters reported that very few London Underground services were running, with many stations still closed by 7.30 or 8am.
Londoners have shared their frustrations on social media.
“Just about to head off to work… Why the flip are most of the lines still suspended after yesterday’s #tubestrike ?! Sack walking it in the rain,” wrote one Twitter user.
Another shared a picture of the London Underground service updates page, which shows most lines as being suspended or part suspended, alongside the caption: “I thought the #tubestrike was yesterday and tomorrow….. What happened today?”
Transport for London (TfL) warned passengers to expect “Severe disruption across all Tube lines in the morning” on the days after the strikes.
Follow below for the latest updates:
Key points
- Tube services continue to be impacted this morning
- Nearly all lines suspended or part suspended
- Union blames strike on ‘cuts’ agenda which would savage jobs, services and safety’
- Commuters get creative with walks, cycles and Thames boats
Show latest update
1646218445Are we likely to see further strikes like the ones this week?
Many Londoners are worrying that the Tube strikes we are seeing this week could continue if the RMT union fails to reach an agreement with TfL bosses.
Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent, said:
“Talking to London Underground staff yesterday, both in person and on social media, the message was clear: we kept going all through the coronavirus pandemic, and we’re not prepared to brook anything that we would regard as disadvantaging us. Pensions, job cuts and more flexible working are simply not up for discussion.
“The problem is: they are working for an organisation that has seen its revenue collapse, with little prospect of any recovery in the short term. Transport for London is now dependent on government hand-outs, and they inevitably come with strings attached.
“So I am afraid right now I can see no prospect of an early settlement.”
Get more background on Tube workers’ reasons for the strikes here:
Lucy Thackray2 March 2022 10:54
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Circle Line now operating with severe delays
The Circle Line, which was suspended this morning following yesterday’s strike action, is now up and running – albeit with severe delays.
TfL’s website does not give any information on how reduced the service is at present, merely giving the update: “Severe delays following RMT strike action.”
Lucy Thackray2 March 2022 10:26
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Tube passenger levels almost back to normal before strikes
Before transport chaos hit during this week’s strikes, the Tube’s passenger levels had recovered to almost pre-pandemic levels, reports The Independent’s policy correspondent Jon Stone.
“Some good news for TfL’s finances – Tube ridership is starting to recover from Covid. This weekend it hit 85 per cent of pre-pandemic ridership on both Saturday and Sunday – a record since the start of the pandemic,” he writes this morning.
“Tube ridership is a still lagging on weekdays: but Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week were all between 65-68 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, all higher than any other weekday since March 2020. Interestingly, Mondays are a few per cent lower, suggesting it’s a popular day to WFH.”
According to government data, TfL bus passenger levels were also at 89 per cent of pre-pandemic levels on Saturday.
Lucy Thackray2 March 2022 10:18
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Tottenham Hale station now open
Tottenham Hale tube station in North London is now open, reports Greater Anglia.
The rail operator tweeted the reopening at 9:30 AM.
The busy station is on the Victoria Line, linking overground services with the Tube for many passengers.
“Thank you for this information, better response from you than @TfL,” replied customer Teresa Richmond.
Lucy Thackray2 March 2022 09:58
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How can I get around without the Tube today?
With many Tube lines still out of action following yesterday’s strike, many people are looking for an alternative commute through the capital.
Buses, Thames boats and certainly cycle lanes should all prove more reliable than the Underground – but overground trains and trams will still have good services across the city.
Here’s everything you need to know about alternatives to the Tube, should the disruption continue throughout the day.
Lucy Thackray2 March 2022 09:51
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Rail disruption outside Liverpool Street
While the London Underground struggles back to life after Tuesday’s strike by members of the RMT union, commuters to the capital face disruption on National Rail services.
A points failure near Bethnal Green, just outside the key station of London Liverpool Street, is causing delays and cancellations until 10am.
On the other side of the capital, the South Western Railway line between Twickenham and Barnes is blocked. Trains are being diverted via Hounslow, with cancellations and delays of up to an hour.
Disruption is expected until 12 noon.
Simon Calder2 March 2022 09:22
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What has Sadiq Khan said about the Tube strikes?
The striking union, RMT, has blamed this week’s strike action on Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, with general secretary Mick Lynch saying: ““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.”
But the Mayor hit back at these claims, saying that the union is “letting the government off the hook” and “punishing Londoners” by “pointing the finger at” him.
Mr Khan said in a statement: “Had I declined support from the government, had I not acceded to the conditions attached by the government, TfL would have gone bankrupt. TfL going bankrupt means every single person employed by TfL loses their job, and that includes not just RMT workers but workers from other unions and indeed those workers who are not a member of any union. Additionally, that would have caused many challenges for businesses across our city that employ millions of Londoners.
“It’s in nobody’s interest for TfL to go bankrupt, and what I’d say to RMT is, rather than going on what is at best a premature strike, let’s sit down to resolve differences because the strike today, and the strike on Thursday, is bad for TfL, it’s bad for Londoners, it’s bad for businesses who have really struggled after the last two years in the pandemic.
“It’s really important for us to realise that these are government conditions. The RMT pointing the finger at me or at the [TfL] commissioner, is A) letting the government off the hook, and B) punishing Londoners and punishing their members and punishing TfL. How is that good for the RMT?”
Lucy Thackray2 March 2022 09:12
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Central, Victoria, Bakerloo and Northern Lines open – with some small print
TfL is currently advising that the Central, Victoria, Bakerloo and Northern Lines are open – but the Bakerloo Line is experiencing minor delays and some Northern Line stations are reportedly still closed.
TfL Rail and the DLR are also operating a good service.
Clapham South and Chalk Farm are two of the stations commuters found closed at the beginning of the day.
The Circle Line is suspended, and the District, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Piccadilly and Jubilee Line all have severe delays.
The London Overground is also running a reduced service.
Lucy Thackray2 March 2022 08:52
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Commuters confused by continuing chaos
Commuters have shared their confusion after finding no Tube services running this morning.
“Tube strike was yesterday, why is nothing back open and running today?” tweeted one Londoner.
Readers have asked why, if Tube workers are no longer striking, services are still impacted today.
The Independent understands that early trains are operated by night shift workers, who carry out duties at depots before preparing the first public services. They normally sign on before midnight – but, as this was still within the RMT strike instruction, many did not report for work.
The morning shift can pick up, but not until halfway through what would normally be the morning rush hour.
Helen Coffey2 March 2022 08:09
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Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s travel liveblog. We’ll be bringing you all the latest updates on the fall-out from yesterday’s Tube strike.
Helen Coffey2 March 2022 08:02
https://independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/tube-strike-london-today-when-b2026481.html
