Tube strike: Londoners using Central and Waterloo & City lines hit by TfL walkout
Strikes are taking place on the Central and Waterloo & City lines on Wednesday 7 November
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A 24-hour strike is taking place on the Central and Waterloo & City lines on 7 November, with limited or no service across both lines.
The Central line will resume at around 5.30am on Thursday 8 November.
During the walkout, Central line tickets are being accepted on London Buses, London Overground, London DLR, TfL Rail and Greater Anglia services.
The GLA Conservatives have slammed today's strike and blamed London Mayor Sadiq Khan for the walkout.
Spokesman Keith Prince AM said: “Sadiq Khan described Boris Johnson’s strikes record as a ‘disgrace’, yet after only two and half years in the job he already has the worst average strikes record of any Mayor of London.
“Londoners elected Sadiq Khan after he pledged that there would be zero strikes under his leadership, but it is clear he has spectacularly failed to keep this promise.
“London desperately needs a Mayor who will stand up to the unions rather than letting them wreak havoc.”
London Labour has responded to Conservative claims that London Mayor Sadiq Khan has a questionable record on strikes compared to his predecessor, Boris Johnson.
The group tweeted: "This is just not true – Londoners know from their own experience of commuting that @SadiqKhan has the best record of any Mayor on strikes.
"Over the past two years, he has reduced days lost to strikes on the tube by 65 per cent."
Commuters are apparently using today's strike as a reason to stay in bed.
According to an overnight online poll of 500 commuters, one in 10 will avoid the Central line strike today by taking a "duvet day".
The research, from Commuter Club, also says that 20 per cent of commuters will take today as a free day off, while one in five will take a half day.
Some commuters are turning to extreme measures to get to the office during the Central line walkout...
Refunds will not generally be made during strike action, says TfL, although it will consider all requests.
Here is the link to get in touch about a refund.
Although today's strike may be frustrating for thousands of commuters, recent research found that running out of mobile phone battery annoys the British public more than transport problems.
Duracell’s Low Battery Low Study, which surveyed 1,500 Brits in October, put running out of juice as the third most frustrating occurrence after sales calls and "unexplained item in bagging area". Train delays swung into fourth place.
Today's strike action is in part motivated by RMT's demand that two sacked drivers be reinstated.
Nigel Holness, managing director of London Underground, called the walkout “totally unjustifiable”, saying: “Both are demanding the reinstatement of drivers sacked over serious safety breaches - one who deliberately opened the doors of a train in a tunnel, and one who failed a drugs test.
“We always strive to run a reliable service for our customers but our commitment to the safety of both customers and staff is absolute and something we will never compromise on.”
Some are pointing out the irony of today's tube strike coinciding with Stress Awareness Day.
However, others are using the strike as an excuse to leave work early, with some commuters already heading home. Angelika tweeted: "Sneaking out of work early due to tube strike #smallthings".
Commuters heading home will find the Central and Waterloo & City lines are still down due to today's strike.
There are 150 extra buses to help Londoners get home, but travellers can also use alternative tube lines, although these are expected to be much busier than normal.
Mile End is served by the District and Hammersmith & City lines; Liverpool Street is on the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines; Bank is on the Northern, Circle and District lines; Holborn is on the Piccadilly line; Tottenham Court Road is on the Northern line; Oxford Circus is on the Bakerloo and Victoria lines; Bond Street is on the Jubilee line; Notting Hill Gate is on the Circle and District lines; White City is on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines; and Ealing Broadway is on the District line.
Commuters can also use TfL's Tube Walking Map, which shows the walking time in minutes between stations in Zone 1-3.
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