Tube strike: Talks to resume in bid to avert a second walk-out

Union officials will meet with London Underground managers to resolve a row over ticket office closures

Last week's 48-hour strike saw widespread travel disruption across the capital (EPA/Andy Rain)

Talks will resume today in a bid to avert further strikes by London Underground (LU) workers.

Officials from the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) and Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) unions will meet with LU mangers under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas to try to resolve a row over ticket office closures.

Update: TSSA union suspends strike action

Union members staged a 48-hour walkout last week, which resulted in travel chaos in the capital.

Another 48-hour strike is planned for Tuesday evening unless a deal can be agreed.

Last week’s strike saw millions of commuters forced to rely on a limited service, with widespread queues as commuters crammed onto packed trains and replacement buses.

Talks commenced on Friday, before the opposing parties adjourned over the weekend to consider their positions.

On Sunday, union leader Bob Crow apologised to commuters for the disruption, but confirmed that a second strike is still due to start at 21.00 GMT on 11 February.

Speaking to BBC London, he said: "The strike is on Tuesday night unless the company (TfL) move their position.”

The action is a response to the Government’s plans to revolutionise the London Underground's ticketing service, which will incorporate the shutting down of ticket offices and the loss of 950 jobs.

Transport for London has said the proposals will save £50million a year and that it has the backing of 82 per cent of Londoners.

But a survey of 1,000 tube users for the RMT suggested that almost two thirds of passengers believe strike action is justified.