MPs and chiefs from the City today criticised militant union bosses regarding the timing for a tube strike. It took place in the first week following the lifting of all Covid restrictions. The Tube Strike caused chaos in capital since three years.
Industrial action ground the capital to a halt today, just as workers were returning to the office in their droves – with commuters fighting at packed bus stops and accusing cab-hailing services including Uber of ‘scamming’ the public by adding an extra £40 to fares.
London Underground will be crippled all day because of a strike by thousands of workers, suspending services on all lines except the Overground, DLR and TfL Rail – though a significantly reduced service did open on the Central, District and Northern lines by mid-morning.
MailOnline was told by a City stockbroker that this is creating chaos for all who need to enter the office. The city is doing its best to destroy Russia’s finances, while the unions make it seem harder to do their jobs.
MPs joined in the backlash with Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden tweeting that: “When Sadiq Khan ran for London Mayor, he promised zero days of strikes on the Tube. We are now entering another phase of strikes which could cause London to be unable to move. If you find it difficult to reach work, keep in mind that Sadiq Khan’s London is at your disposal.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also expressed frustration, tweeting: ‘Having funded TfL to the tune of £5bn to protect jobs & London’s transport system throughout Covid, it’s a kick in the teeth for Londoners to suffer from @RMTunion strikes.
‘I urge the @MayorofLondon & @TfL to get this resolved + Union to call off Thurs counterproductive strike.’
Andrew Bridgen stated to MailOnline that many members of the House of Commons were affected. He said, “At a moment of national emergency, as we emerge form Covid-19, and face global security issues, the Tube Strike is extremely harmful and self indulgent.
“The strikers must remember how much public money was spent on keeping the underground functioning during the current pandemic.”
Greg Smith, Tory MP for London added that despite Labour Mayor’s promises of a ‘zero strike’, he can’t keep the Tube open despite billions in taxpayer bailouts into TfL. Better deserves to be given to my constituents who commute into London, and more broadly the capital of our country.
Greg Hands, Greg’s colleague in London called it “a disgrace” and an insult for hardworking Londoners who had sacrificed so much over the past 2 years.
This morning’s photos showed large crowds, due to return in their workplaces following Boris Johnson’s announcement about ‘Living with Covid’ last Thursday. They waited at bus stops at London Victoria and London Bridge while Stanmore tube trains sat idle.
Tensions flared as people tried to push their way into the queues to get onto the buses. Fighting broke out against the backdrop of heavy rain.
Traffic was slowed by more vehicles, adding to commuters’ frustrations trying to make it to work on schedule.
TomTom is a location tech firm that reported at 9AM the amount of congestion on the roads. It was the highest level for this capital city in 2013. This level stood at 80% as of last week. These figures show the additional travel time that is required in order to achieve free flow conditions.
MailOnline received data from the company revealing that London’s roads are busier today than ever before, no matter what time or point of the day.
Uber appears to have inflated its prices significantly as a consequence. However, there are reports that cab drivers were pitting passengers against one another by cancelling certain trips to make more money elsewhere.
The company stated that it had stopped prices from rising too high and was working hard to find enough drivers to satisfy demand.
Overground trains into the city were also affected by delays and cancellations.
The community includes approximately 10,000 people. Rail, Maritime and Transport unions have walked off for 24 hour today – and they will continue to do so tomorrow – as part of a dispute about jobs, pensions and working conditions.
According to the RMT, its members were “solidly supporting” the industrial action. This added up to two hours on many commutes.
During a strike by Rail, Maritime and Transport unions (RMT), passengers waited in line to hop on the buses at Liverpool Street station, central London.
Commuters wait for a bus at Paddington Station in London, during a strike of members from the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.
Commuters wait for a bus at Paddington Station in London, during a strike of members from the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.
Google Maps captured this image in London’s capital today. Even after rush hour, the roads are still jammed through the city.
TomTom is a location tech firm that reported at 9am that the city’s road congestion levels were 119%. That figure was the highest for this year. This level stood at 80% as of last week. These figures show the additional travel time that is required in order to achieve free flow conditions.
Tube strike shuts down London’s entire system Wood Green Station on the Piccadilly Line
Alex Gordon, president of the RMT, was right at the picket lines today to declare that its members were supporting the industrial action which caused travel chaos in the city.
Tensions rose as passengers attempted to make their way through the lines and onto buses. Against a background of heavy rainfall, fights broke out.
Today, people are being forced to find alternative arrangements after tube strikes. As British Rail train cancellations are announced, people can be seen frustrated looking at New Barnet station.
Commuters queue up for buses at Victoria Train Station as the Underground is closed due to strike action
In the midst of today’s London Tube Strike, passengers cram onto buses at Willesden Junction.
During a strike of Rail, Maritime and Transport union members (RMT), there was an empty Central Line platform at Ealing Station on London’s Broadway.
New Barnet Overground Station has a full platform in response to the tube strike today. Train cancellations are also taking place at this station.
Commuters in London’s Liverpool Street Underground Station during a strike of Rail, Maritime and Transport union members (RMT).
During a strike of Rail, Maritime and Transport union members (RMT), passengers waited outside Liverpool Street Underground station.
Commuters had been warned about ‘extremely busy’ services in rush hour amid a Tube strike that has caused disruptions on all Underground lines.
An announcement about the Thameslink service was made over the speakers at Finsbury Park Station in north London. It will be available at 8.30 AM.
Although there were apparently more customers at Finsbury Park than normal, very few people were at St Pancras International to catch Thameslink trains. Most trains experienced delays in the Thameslink service, with some experiencing several minutes.
In response, Londoners said the capital is ‘becoming unlivable’ as many had to spend hours in transit before finally getting to work.
John Rayner was a 28 year old construction worker waiting for a bus at Paddington in west London. Rayner said, “I missed two buses today because the queues are so long for buses and some buses don’t bother stopping.
“I spent over an hour walking to Paddington because I believed I’d have better luck finding a tube from Paddington. This is absurd. The city is rapidly becoming inaccessible.
Jasmine Keane (40), a worker at the office, stated that she had to use an Uber in order to reach work. It is impossible to predict when my commute will be due to traffic or weather conditions.
Commuters were frustrated by this because many people had just begun to return. After the Covid pandemic, to the office.
Dulwich accountant Tim Hallan (32), said: “It’s very very frustrating. The timing couldn’t be worse, to be fair.
“I just recently started to travel back to London from the Coronavirus-hit office.
“I would normally take the London Overground from Canada Water to Canary Wharf, then I would get the Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf to Canada Water. But today I have to take the DLR.
“It seems like a great service, but it will be busier than normal so it is likely that I will be squeezed in and it won’t be a pleasant journey to work.
Frances Low, 50 years old, is a Forest Hill-based clothing producer and would normally use the Underground to travel from London’s Bloomsbury station. She said that she had to take a bus and train from London Bridge, but she was not going to do so today.
“The timing is not great, especially since it comes so quickly after the pandemic,” she said. Since the Coronavirus pandemic, I have been nervous about travel and I have done everything I can to avoid the crowds of public transportation.
“Today however, I have to take a bus. It’s going to be packed. It is something that I don’t look forward too.
People who used to travel by Tube complained about major disruptions in their trips. Many people have switched from Tube to Road Transport.
Bus stops have been jammed with people, especially those located outside of stations that were closed due to the RMT strike. Buses arrive at stop stops often full and are unable to take more passengers.
Salman, a Twitter user wrote that he was currently stuck on a bus in gridlock. His journey into Westminster is expected to be longer than his journey from Solihull yesterday.
Michal Indrak posted another passenger’s message to Transport for London, which stated: “Waiting for Bus 59 for an Hour and Late for Work an Hour.”
No additional buses or empty ones will stop. If you increase (fares), for services you aren’t providing properly, there won’t be any more. Standing and waiting in rain or cold. TfL should be used to accomplish something.
Commuters wait for a bus at Paddington Station in London, during a strike of members from the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.
Commuters queue up for buses at Victoria Train Station as the Underground is closed due to strike action
Commuters queue up for buses at Victoria Train Station as the Underground is closed due to strike action
Commuters in Stratford Station, east London, take a photo of a travel information panel during a strike of Rail, Maritime and Transport union members (RMT).
Commuters at Stratford Station, East London, during a strike led by Rail, Maritime and Transport unions (RMT).
Commuters queue up for buses at Victoria Train Station as the Underground is closed due to strike action
London Underground Tube Strike affects commuters near London Bridge today
During a strike of Rail, Maritime and Transport union members (RMT), a man seeks advice from a travel agent outside Tottenham Court Road underground Station in central London.
During a strike of Rail, Maritime and Transport union members (RMT), a passenger was seen at Ealing Broadway station in London.
Commuters endure long lines at Victoria Train station to get buses, as the underground has been closed because of strikes
Commuters queue up for buses at Victoria Train Station as the Underground is closed due to strike action
David Emmett (45), who commutes to the City from his home in London, uses the Underground to reach Aldgate Station.
He stated that he didn’t get why the strikes were going on. There are far more important issues in the world right now.
“This will significantly increase my travel time to town. Other modes of transportation, such as buses, trains, and DLR, are also going to be packed.
It is going to create chaos by shutting down the tube network in a major city that has nine million residents, at a time when people are headed back to their jobs.
Leanna Etkind (37) is an engagement manager with a national charity and said that, despite the weather, she’d get a Borisbike to her workplace near Trafalgar Square.
She replied, “I am a part of a union myself. I have no problem supporting strikers who want to preserve their jobs.” This is part of improving work – I just chose the wrong day for my commute to London.
‘I reside in Cambridge, and come to the office only once or twice per month when I am staying over at friends’ houses. Today I am going to take the train from Cambridge to London Bridge, then bike to Trafalgar Square using a Boris Bicycle – this is if any are left.
“It’s pouring down and there is a lot traffic, but it’s better than trying to squeeze onto a bus.
On Twitter, other travellers shared their frustrations. One complained about having to travel by three buses for a journey that is typically a fifteen-minute trip.
Another frustrated commuter accused Uber of ‘scamming’ the public by apparently charging £30 more than the usual fare.
A third of respondents said that delays in overground trains to and from the capital add stress to their commute.
The union called for Sadiq Khan, London’s Mayor to step in and set up picket lines outside Tube stations.
Transport for London (TfL), urged commuters not to go home and encouraged them to find other public transportation options in the wake of the strike.
Uber spokeswoman, said that because of strike action on London Underground, prices have been capped and users are told the cost of their journey before they make a booking. Also, we are working to make sure there is enough drivers on the roads to meet demand.
A 24-hour walkout on Thursday will take place, with knock-on effect on Friday and Wednesday.
Union members fear that cuts to spending will result in hundreds of job loss and reductions in retirement and work conditions.
Mick Lynch, general secretary of RMT said that Mick Lynch should stand up to Tory ministers who seek to attack the jobs, pensions, and conditions for key transport workers.
Tube workers are forced to go on strike because of this failure in politics.
During a strike waged by Rail, Maritime and Transport unions (RMT), Paddington Station, London, was packed with passengers
London Underground Tube Strike affects commuters near London Bridge today
Photographs taken this morning revealed huge lines at bus stations in London Victoria.
Today, Tube trains are still at Stanmore as London Underground workers strike
During a strike waged by Rail, Maritime and Transport unions (RMT), Paddington Station, London, was packed with passengers
London Underground Tube Strike affects commuters near London Bridge today
The Government and City Hall have engaged in a turf battle between our members and their members, which has left them with a heavy financial burden. This can be clearly seen across London today.
“The mayor realizes that our members are being attacked by their pensions and other conditions. Our union would have no option but to go to industrial action.
“However, the Mayor only last week agreed to make proposals to the government that would result in adverse changes to pensions.
“The mayor must decide whether he will stand with key London workers during the pandemic or the Tory ministers who are determined to punish Tube workers.
The Mayor must meet the reasonable expectations of his employees in order to resolve this dispute.
Andy Lord, TfL’s chief operating officer, said that there have been no changes in pensions and terms and conditions. Nobody has had or will lose work because of what we’ve proposed, so it is totally unnecessary.
“We believe our customers deserve better and we are asking the RMT for help to resolve this issue and stop this threat to London’s recovery after the pandemic.
Mr Lord added that the disruption on London’s Tube network on Tuesday and Thursday is different from the strike action held ahead of Christmas last year.
LBC was informed by him that the dispute involves the whole network. The previous Christmas dispute involved the Night Tube with only the RMT, and certain lines.
“Today it covers the whole network. While we hope to provide limited services on some lines, it is not possible to operate a full service. I urge customers to go to the TfL site and to only book travel for the essential.
He encouraged everyone to work at home Tuesday through Thursday. He answered a question about how the government has made provisions for those key workers that are unable to work remotely. They will most likely be able get to work with minimal inconvenience, I believe.
High Barnet, the northern line and High Barnet were closed to the public today due to strike. This caused travel issues throughout the capital
High Barnet, the northern line and High Barnet were closed to the public today due to strike. This caused travel issues throughout the capital
During a strike of Rail, Maritime and Transport union members (RMT), a sign was posted at Paddington Station, London.
Around 10,000 Rail, Maritime and Transport union members (RMT), walked out today for 24 hours and will again do so on Thursday in a dispute over job, pensions and conditions
Khan’s spokesperson said that strikes would disrupt Londoners and companies trying to heal from the two-dead years.
“It will also affect TfL’s revenue at a time TfL already faces huge financial stress due to the pandemic.”
Although ‘TfL is trying to minimize the strikers’ impact, disruption is still inevitable.
“The Mayor urges Londoners to consider alternative transport options and to verify that they can work remotely before making their travel plans.
“Sadiq does not want strike action, and is asking the unions for help to get to the table with City Hall.
Southbound trains were also disrupted by an incident unrelated the Tube strike. Network Rail claimed that a power failure in Ashtead had caused a “complete loss” of signalling.
It caused delays in services operated by Southern and South Western Railway between Epsom and Leatherhead.
Requests for rail replacement buses were made. Rail passengers were more miserable because of the disruption that occurred when rail fares rose.