Tube strike: Wimbledon spectators leave after Andy Murray match, with taxi queues forming outside grounds

Spectators told to leave the grounds as soon as possible to avoid travel chaos

People wait in line for taxis in Wimbledon, south west London, as tennis fans leaving the All England Club faced a difficult journey home due to a Tube strike which will cripple services until Friday morning. (Rick Findler/PA Wire)

Wimbledon spectators were advised to leave the grounds as soon as possible following Andy Murray’s match against Vasek Pospisil, as a capital-wide strike brought the London Underground to a halt.

At around 4pm during the match's third set, an announcement appeared on the Centre Court scoreboard advising crowds intending to use the Underground to leave Wimbledon “as soon as possible.”

“Due to industrial action, TfL advises that Underground services will be severely disrupted from the early evening onwards.

"Anyone relying on the Tube for onward connections should consider leaving as soon as possible," the scoreboard read.

While many ticketholders stayed for the Novak Djokovic versus Marin Cilic and Richard Gasquet versus Stan Wawrinka quarter-finals, it was clear that many had chosen to avoid an onerous journey, The Guardian reported.

Images from outside Wimbledon showed spectators waiting for taxi services in a length queue, as Underground services wound down from 5pm in preparation for a 24-hour walkout starting at 6:30pm on Wednesday.

People wait in line for taxis in Wimbledon as tennis fans faced a difficult journey home due to a Tube strike which will cripple services until Friday morning. (Rick Findler/PA Wire)

 

As no Tube services will run on Thursday, spectators will need to reconsider their usual routes and leave extra time for their journeys. Travellers must chose between taking alternative modes of public transport, including the Overground and bus, or opting to cycling, drive or take a cab.