Tube strikes - live: Full list of lines affected as Londoners struggle to travel around the capital
Around 10,000 Tube workers in the RMT union have walked out for 24 hours
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Only two Tube lines are operating a good service this evening amid a 24-hour strike by 10,000 London Underground workers who are members of the RMT union.
The Elizabeth line and DLR are running as usual, while the Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Piccadilly, Victoria and Waterloo & City lines are all fully suspended.
The Central, District and Northern lines are part suspended, with a pared back service on the routes that are in operation; the London Overground has a good service on “most routes” but the Liverpool Street to Cheshunt/Chingford/Enfield Town part of the network is suspended.
Earlier today, politicians hit out at transport workers in response to ongoing industrial action.
PM hopeful Liz Truss said she “will not let our country be held to ransom by militant trade unionists”, while transport secretary Grant Shapps threatened to impose new working terms on striking rail employees, revealing plans to use a section 188 order to end the disputes.
TfL's alternative tube map tells you walking time between stops
Many are opting to walk instead of using London's Underground network amid today's strikes.
TfL has published a useful map showing the number of minutes' walk between stations, which can be found on its website.
Tourists in particular may not be aware that the walk between Covent Garden and Leicester Square is just four minutes; while the distance between Oxford Circus and Bond St is just seven.
A TfL staffer recently clarified that the times shown on the “walking map” are measured from exit to entrance, rather than from the moment you get off the platform at one station to the moment you reach a platform at the next.
“The walking distances between stations on our map is from the entrance/exit to the station and not from the platform. As most stations have multiple platforms this would not be possible on the map,” an employee signing off as “Sue” wrote on Twitter.
Crowds wait for buses as Tube lines close and bus drivers strike
Amid three separate strikes by Tube workers, Overground staff and bus drivers, many Londoners have faced long, frustrating waits for buses this morning.
Photos showed crowds swarming the number 13 to North Finchley, masked tourists waiting anxiously in long queues near Liverpool Street, and throngs four-deep, some with suitcases, outside Victoria Station.
On top of the Tube strikes, which have closed most Underground lines and Tube stations, 1,600 bus drivers employed by London United have walked out for both 19 and 20 August, with further disruption to continue tomorrow.
London Cycling Campaign posts guide for getting around tube-free
A cycling advocacy group has posted their guide to getting around the capital on two wheels.
London Cycling Campaign posted: “Is someone you know thinking about cycling in London this week during the #TubeStrike & #RailStrike this Friday?
“Share our tips on route-planning to help them have an enjoyable, safe journey - how routes are marked, apps & maps, where to avoid, and more.”
Manchester mayor slams Grant Shapps for not knowing reduced train schedule
Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has slammed transport secretary Grant Shapps on Twitter for not knowing the number of trains to the city on Avanti West Coast’s reduced schedule.
“I can’t believe I’m watching this. What hope do we have when the Transport Secretary doesn’t know the details of the reduced timetable he signed off?” said Mr Burnham, posting a video of Mr Shapps being questioned on BBC Breakfast.
In the clip, Mr Shapps informs presenter Charlie Stayt that there are four direct trains an hour between London and Manchester on Avanti’s ongoing amended schedule.
Mr Stayt insists that there is currently one train an hour on this route. Mr Shapps says: “All I can tell you is there are still trains running down the west coast mainline.”
Mr Shapps also appears to misunderstand the term “direct train”, saying “Do you mean trains that stop at other stations? I’m not quite sure of your definition,” and suggests Mr Stayt “may be getting confused” about the strikes.
Avanti West Coast recently reduced its number of hourly services on the London-Birmingham-Manchester route from three per hour to one per hour.
This amended time table is in place from 14 August until at least 9 September, Avanti says, adding: “This is due to the current industrial relations climate, resulting in severe staff shortages through increased sickness, as well as unofficial strike action by Aslef members.”
Mr Burnham added: “And, by extension, this means [Mr Shapps] is unaware of the misery he has inflicted on millions of passengers. Nowhere near good enough.”
Commuters get creative with cycling and walking routes
Londoners have been sharing their alternative commutes, with the Tube and some buses out of action.
“Survived my first ever London cycling commute (necessitated by the #tubestrike obvs),” wrote Tom Palmer on Twitter.
“Cycled past 2 major trauma centres without ending up in either of them, so I’ll consider that a success!”
Dan Hett tweeted: “oh lovely, a tube strike as well. Good, up the workers, I’ll walk.”
“40 minute cycle to Euston this morning #TubeStrike,” wrote Michelle Hope, posting a photo of some Santander bikes.
Meanwhile author - not actor - Tom Holland wrote: “Thanks to the Tube strike, I will have to walk to Paddington. Fortunately, however, I am wearing THE RIGHT SHOES!”
Meanwhile, cricket fan Mark gave a tip: “For anyone at Lord’s, might be useful to know that the Elizabeth Line is running, so it’s possible to walk or get bus to Paddington after play and avoid some of the tube strike chaos.”
Truss: I’ll crack down on ‘debilitating’ strikes
Conservative leadership candidate Liz Truss says she will “crack down” on “debilitating” strikes if she becomes prime minister.
She told the Express: “Once again we’re seeing militant trade unionists holding our country to ransom, with members of Sir Keir Starmer’s party keeping them company on the picket lines.
“As prime minister I’ll crack down on the debilitating strikes that cripple the vital services that hard-working people rely on.”
Ms Truss’ plans include introducing minimum service levels on key infrastructure across the UK, and raising ballot thresholds to make it harder for unions to plan strikes.
'Get out of the way’ Grant Shapps tells union bosses
Amid a second day of transport strike misery, the UK’s transport secretary Grant Shapps has told union bosses to “get out of the way” and let members decide on a settlement with employers.
When asked why strikes were dragging on, Mr Shapps told Sky News: “Because the union bosses won’t put the settlement deals to their members.
“So we’ve had a situation where 8 per cent over two years has been offered - it’s different depending on which piece of the rail we’re talking about here - but broadly speaking,” he continued.
“And the bosses, for example, the boss of the RMT, simply make the decision without going out to their membership to ask them whether they would like to settle this and get back to work.
“It’s time for the union bosses to get out of the way and put the deals on the table to their members.”
Sadiq Khan criticised for failing to deliver on ‘zero strikes’
The City Hall Conservative group has criticised London mayor Sadiq Khan for failing to deliver on a “zero strike” pledge to the city.
Nick Rogers, the group’s transport spokesperson, said the present action leaves Mr Khan’s “zero strike” pledge “in pieces”.
He told LondonWorld: “Londoners are once again facing major disruption because Sadiq Khan is focused on political posturing and not on getting a grip of TfL.
“The mayor should face down the militant unions, secure a long-term funding settlement for TfL, and end these strikes.”
A spokesperson for the mayor’s office said: “Sadiq is extremely disappointed about the strikes going ahead on London Underground this week.
“The strikes taking place across the country, as well as here in London, will cause disruption at a crucial time when we’re working to rebuild the country’s economy.”
“Under this government, we are seeing more and more strikes taking place across the country, and it’s no secret that the conditions placed on TfL as part of previous emergency funding deals with the government following the impacts of the pandemic have been a primary motivator for strikes by London’s transport workers.
“Before the pandemic hit, Sadiq had reduced overall strike action on TfL services by over 70 per cent compared to the previous mayor’s record.
“The mayor continues to urge the unions to work with TfL and to join him in calling on the government to provide the sustainable funding needed to protect the capital’s transport network – not just for the benefit of London, but the whole country.”
Woman describes nightmare journey with closed line and terminated bus
A woman in London has told London Live about a nightmare journey this morning after a series of modes of transport failed her.
Jane Abbey told London Live that she had aimed to get the Piccadilly Line to King’s Cross; then took a bus which proceeded to terminate at Marble Arch; waited while two full buses went past; took another bus to Baker Street, was asked to disembark that; and eventually walked 35 minutes to her destination.
Grant Shapps ‘prioritising licensing cyclists rather than tackling profound transport failings’ - Simon Calder
The London Underground strike is sandwiched between two national rail strikes, in the most serious collapse of normal train services for three decades.
In addition to the rail chaos, writes Simon Calder in his weekly travel newsletter, airline and ferry passengers are facing severe problems. The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, is the obvious person to intervene.
“As the fortunes of travellers dwindle, we need urgent action from the minister in charge. Mr Shapps, though, is prioritising registering and licensing cyclists. As recently as 2018, a thorough study about such a bike scheme concluded: ‘The costs and complexity of introducing such a system would significantly outweigh the benefits.’
“The transport secretary might want to pay heed to the report, because it was conducted by his very own Department for Transport.”
The Independent’s Jon Stone has written: “Grant Shapps, with both eyes on his own political future, is throwing a little bit of anti-cycling meat out for the Tory press before the new prime minister comes in. It is a pitch to keep his job, essentially.”
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