London tube strike 2022 LIVE: Major delays expected today despite normal services after capital brought to a standstill

COMMUTERS in London have been battling to travel across the city due to severe disruption caused by another Tube strike.

Around ten thousand members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk out twice this week in a dispute over jobs, pensions and conditions.

Transport for London (TfL) said it expects severe disruption across all Tube lines on strike days (Tuesday and Thursday), while the planned action is also likely to severely affect services on Wednesday and Friday, particularly in the morning peak.

TfL has criticised the industrial action, saying there are no proposals on pensions or terms and conditions, and nobody has or will lose their jobs because of the proposals it has set out.

A statement reads: "TfL will do all it can to provide as many transport options as possible, but customers are advised to check before they travel, consider if their travel is essential and work from home if possible. They should leave more time for journeys and travel at quieter times where possible."

Read our tube strikes live blog below for the latest updates…

  • Joseph Gamp

    TfL’s finances dealt a severe blow during pandemic

    TfL’s finances were dealt a severe blow by the drastic fall in revenue raised by fares during the pandemic.

    Critics of the Mayor of London have also claimed that his pledge in 2016 not to raise fares has contributed to the situation.

    Mr Khan, 51, who is also the chairman of TfL, had to rely on a number of bailouts from Westminster to prevent London Underground and the capital’s buses from grinding to a halt.

  • Joseph Gamp

    Huge rises on rail season tickets

    A 3.8% rise on rail fares would lead to hikes in the cost of annual season tickets, such as:

    • Brighton to London (any route): Up £194 to £5,302
    • Liverpool to Manchester (any route): Up £105 to £2,865
    • Neath to Cardiff: Up £70 to £1,922

    Tube and bus fares also rose by 4.8% today

    Road congestion around the capital was at its highest level of the year so far today, as some commuters attempted to drive through the capital.

    The disruption came on the same day as Tube and bus fares went up by an average of 4.8%.

    Picket lines were mounted outside Tube stations, while the union called on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to intervene.

    Another 24-hour walkout will be held on Thursday, and there will be knock-on effects on services on Wednesday and Friday.

    • Joseph Gamp

      Thanks for reading

      This is Joe Gamp signing off the London Tube Strikes blog.

      Thanks for reading our live coverage throughout the day.

      Milica Cosic back with you at 6am.

    • Joseph Gamp

      Sadiq Khan urges RMT to sit with TfL to avoid 'more misery'

      The Mayor of London tweeted: "Transport for London’s funding deals came with conditions from the Government.

      "Not accepting these conditions means it would go bankrupt.

      "I urge the RMT to work with TfL to avoid further disruption and misery for Londoners."

    • Joseph Gamp

      Sadiq’s rivals at City Hall claim he has ‘worst strike record’

      Transport spokesman for the GLA Conservatives, Keith Princs told the Evening Standard: “If the Mayor claims that he has a good strike record he’s delusional.

      “He has the worst record of any London mayor and almost as many incidents of strike action than the two previous mayors combined. I think it’s time he admitted to himself that he’s failing London.

      “This is a catastrophic week for London’s commuters, the network will take time to reset after each strike and will then have to reckon with further strikes on Friday and Saturday evening.”

    • Joseph Gamp

      What to do to avoid getting caught out

      • If you can, consider working from home on strike days (Tue 1 and Thu 3 March)
      • If you can, travel later in the day on the days after strikes (Wed 2 and Fri 4 March)
      • Allow more time for your journey if you need to travel between 1 and 4 March

      Shaps says strike 'a kick in the teeth' for Londoners

      Transport Secretary Grant Shapps expressed frustration at the Tube strike.

      He tweeted: "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."

      Huge rises on rail season tickets

      A 3.8% rise on rail fares would lead to hikes in the cost of annual season tickets, such as:

      • Brighton to London (any route): Up £194 to £5,302
      • Liverpool to Manchester (any route): Up £105 to £2,865
      • Neath to Cardiff: Up £70 to £1,922
      • Joseph Gamp

        Tfl describes strike as ‘extremely disappointing’

        TfL has described the action as “extremely disappointing” and urged the RMT to “get around the table with us”.

        In a statement TfL warned: “Londoners whose journeys rely on Tube connections are advised to work from home if they can, consider different modes and allow extra time for essential journeys.”

        It added that no jobs would be lost as part of the proposals but vacancies would not be backfilled.

      • Joseph Gamp

        Huge crowds swarmed bus stops and train stations

        The mass-walkout over pay and pension issues has crippled the capital's underground network.

        Huge crowds swarmed bus stops and train stations during rush hour.

        Those unable to get on turned to Uber to get them to the office – but they were met with extortionate prices.

      • Joseph Gamp

        Customers advised to work from home on Thursday

        Further disruption is expected all day on Thursday during another strike, with customers advised to work from home if they can, and into the morning of Friday.

        A statement said: "We have operated as much of the network as possible given the drivers who were working.

        "Shuttle services have operated on the Bakerloo, Northern, Central, Piccadilly and District lines during the day.

        "No service has operated on the other lines, and no service is expected to run on the Victoria, Metropolitan, Jubilee, Circle or Hammersmith and City lines today."

      • Joseph Gamp

        Commuters were advised to complete tube journeys by 6.30pm

        Travellers were urged to complete any Tube journeys by 6.30pm on Tuesday night.

        TfL said disruption will continue into Wednesday morning, with no Tubes until at least 7.30am and a severely disrupted service until later in the morning.

        It said customers should avoid travelling in the early morning and aim to make their journeys later in the day.

      • Joseph Gamp

        TfL warns further disruption on Thursday

        TfL said the second 24-hour strike is set to go ahead on Thursday.

        It said in a statement: “Further disruption is expected all day on Thursday 3 March, when customers are advised to work from home if they can, and into the morning of Friday 4 March, when customers should avoid early morning journeys.”

        The RMT this afternoon said no talks had taken place today.

      • Joseph Gamp

        Thursday's strike looks set to go ahead

        A second planned 24 hour walk out will take place on Thursday.

        Speaking to BBC London, RMT's John Leach said there have been no negotiations today.

        He said: “What there has been today is an absolute display of complete and total solidarity and determination by London Underground staff and members of the RMT who will not take this attack on their pensions, jobs and terms and conditions lying down.

        “The Mayor’s announcements [today] have said nothing about addressing the issues in my opinion so we will continue.”

      • Joseph Gamp

        Crippling delays

        London Overground, DLR, TfL Rail, and London Trams are still running – but for the majority of Londoners, journeys have been disrupted.

        RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Our members will be taking strike action because a financial crisis at LU (London Underground) has been deliberately engineered by the Government to drive a cuts agenda which would savage jobs, services, safety and threaten their working conditions and pensions."

        The Tube strike has also caused delays on London's roads, affecting private cars, commercial vehicles and buses.

      • Joseph Gamp

        Uber hits back at reports of over-charging

        An Uber spokesperson said: "As a result of the strike action currently taking place on the London Underground network, we have capped the level that prices can surge, and all users are shown the price of their trip before they book.

        "We are also working hard to ensure that there are enough drivers out on the road to match demand."

      • Joseph Gamp

        TomTom: London's road congestion was at 119% this morning

        The Tube strike has also caused delays on London's roads, affecting private cars, commercial vehicles and buses.

        Location technology firm TomTom said at 9am the level of road congestion was 119 per cent – the highest figure for the capital this year.

        The level was 80 per cent at the same time last week.

      • Joseph Gamp

        The city 'is becoming unliveable'

        John Rayner, 28, a construction worker who was waiting for a bus in Paddington, west London, said: "I missed two buses this morning because queues for buses are so long and some buses don't even bother to stop.

        "I walked to Paddington for over an hour as I thought I would have more luck getting a Tube from here.

        "It is a joke. This city is becoming unliveable."

      • Joseph Gamp

        RMT: Political failure has left workers no choice but to strike

        RMT general secretary Mick Lynch says tube workers were “left with no choice” but to strike

        He said: “Sadiq Khan should be standing up to Tory ministers who want to needlessly attack jobs, pensions and conditions of key transport workers.

        “It is this political failure that has left Tube workers with no choice but to strike this week.

        “Our members have been left paying the price for a turf war between City Hall and the government and they are not having it, as can be seen right across London today.”

      • Joseph Gamp

        Many take to Twitter to support staff

        Many commuters have taken to Twitter to show their support for TFL staff following today’s strike.

        One user said: “I’m putting my pain in the ass commute to the side but TFL workers deserve more.

        “The amount of effort and dedication they put in from 4am starts too 2am finishes, from being put on the frontline to deal with the worst on most occasions. Stand with TFL workers!”

        Another said: “I stand with London Underground station staff.

        “They work bloody hard, deal with horrible situations, are highly trained to help keep customers safe n work unsociable hours with an exhausting shift pattern.

        “They deserve to be treated with respect like any other worker #tubestrike“

      • Joseph Gamp

        One commuter accuses uber of being ‘scammers’ after being charged ‘extra’

        One furious commuter took to Twitter to complain about Uber ‘over charging’ for their trip.

        The commuter said: “You are a bunch of scammers, I can’t believe you’re making such a huge profit and business out of a tube strike, shame on you ?.

        “Being charged over 30 pounds EXTRA for a trip because of a tube strike.”

      • Joseph Gamp

        Train passengers in south also subjected to delays

        Train passengers in the South were also hit by disruption unrelated to the Tube strike.

        Network Rail said a suspected power supply failure had led to a "complete loss of signalling" in Ashtead, Surrey.

        This was causing delays to services between Epsom and Leatherhead operated by Southern and South Western Railway.

        Rail replacement buses have been requested.

        The disruption came on the day rail fares were increased, causing more misery for passengers.

      • Joseph Gamp

        Bus passengers complaining about delays on roads

        Bus passengers in London are complaining of major disruption to journeys as many people who usually travel by Tube switched to road transport.

        Long queues have formed at bus stops, particularly those outside stations closed because of the RMT strike hitting London Underground services.

        When buses do arrive at stops they are often too full to accept any more passengers.

        A Twitter user named Salman wrote: "Currently on a bus stuck in gridlock, with the journey in to Westminster expected to take longer than my journey to Solihull yesterday."

        Another passenger, Michal Indrak, posted a message to Transport for London which read: "Waiting for bus 59 for an hour and late for work an hour.

        "No extra buses and even those empty ones don't stop for some reason and you increasing (fares) for services you don't provide properly. In rain and cold standing and waiting. Something should be done with TfL."

      • Joseph Gamp

        In pictures: Miles of tube trains stacked up at Neasden depot

        The image below shows tube trains lying dormant.

        The grim image was taken at Neasden depot in north London.

        Today marks the first of two planned walk-outs, with the second strike taking place from midnight on Thursday.

        NINTCHDBPICT000715603447Credit: chris gorman / big ladder

        Source: Read Full Article