Tuesday Tube strike spills over into Wednesday morning rush hour

Commuters in London faced severe disruptions along several Tube lines on Wednesday morning following Tuesday’s strike by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union. With another 24-hour walkout planned for Thursday, the two weekday strikes almost equate to a weeklong interruption.

Some 10.000 union members working on the London Underground refused duty shortly after midnight on March 1, forcing London commuters to find above ground means of transportation on Tuesday. In some places, police officers were required to help manage cues at bus stations.

The end of the 24-hour walkout by no means meant a carefree journey on the Tube, as Londoners were advised against early morning travels on Wednesday by Transport for London (TfL). Some 19 stations remained shut earlier on Wednesday, as Tube services recovered. The Bakerloo, District and Piccadilly lines were part-suspended during Wednesday morning rush hour.

This scenario is set to repeat on Thursday and Friday morning, TfL warns. On top of that, Tube drivers will stage their weekly walkouts on the London Central line and Victoria line on Friday and Saturday evenings, severely restricting the so-called Night Tube.

As such, the strike actions, while on paper ‘limited’ to two days and two evenings, will in the end have hindered travel almost the entire week. RMT and TfL remain at odds over over rosters, work/life balance and pensions. RMT in January vowed to continue their strike action until June.

Further reading:

• London commuters brace for major strike action
• UK government throws Transport for London lifeline with extra funding
• London mayor says Transport for London at risk of bankruptcy
• Union ups the ante with call for 24-hour London tube strike
• London Underground drivers’ night strike enters fifth week
• Transport for London support extended
• New London Underground trains presented for Piccadilly line
• London Underground saved with massive second bail out