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| London Tube strike begins, threatening travel chaos for millions | London Tube strike begins, threatening travel chaos for millions |
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| A 48-hour strike by London Underground workers has begun, threatening to cause travel chaos for millions in the capital over the next couple of days. | A 48-hour strike by London Underground workers has begun, threatening to cause travel chaos for millions in the capital over the next couple of days. |
| Members of the RMT and TSSA unions walked out at 9pm last night in protest at the closure of ticket offices, which could threaten hundreds of jobs. | Members of the RMT and TSSA unions walked out at 9pm last night in protest at the closure of ticket offices, which could threaten hundreds of jobs. |
| Services were hit last night immediately after the strike started, and disruption is expected to be widespread today. | Services were hit last night immediately after the strike started, and disruption is expected to be widespread today. |
| This morning, early commuters packed on to replacement buses. | This morning, early commuters packed on to replacement buses. |
| Though London Overground and National Rail services are unaffected by the strikes, train passengers were also warned of problems because of a return to the wet and windy weather which has devastated travel across the UK. | Though London Overground and National Rail services are unaffected by the strikes, train passengers were also warned of problems because of a return to the wet and windy weather which has devastated travel across the UK. |
| Commuters wait for gates to open to the District Line at Liverpool Street station at 7am this morning Southeastern trains said the forecast weather, after the wettest January for a century, presented a risk of further flooding, landslips and falling trees. | |
| As a result, Network Rail has put in place a 40mph speed restriction across parts of the Southeastern network today. | As a result, Network Rail has put in place a 40mph speed restriction across parts of the Southeastern network today. |
| Picket lines will be mounted across the capital today outside Tube stations, many of which will be closed. | Picket lines will be mounted across the capital today outside Tube stations, many of which will be closed. |
| Politicians have condemned the industrial action, with Conservatives again calling for changes to employment laws covering the numbers voting for strikes in a ballot. | Politicians have condemned the industrial action, with Conservatives again calling for changes to employment laws covering the numbers voting for strikes in a ballot. |
| David Cameron yesterday urged union leaders to call off the strike. | David Cameron yesterday urged union leaders to call off the strike. |
| His spokesman said Mr Cameron "thinks that Bob Crow's strike is plain wrong and [RMT General Secretary] Bob Crow should call it off rather than inflict misery on hard-working families in London". | His spokesman said Mr Cameron "thinks that Bob Crow's strike is plain wrong and [RMT General Secretary] Bob Crow should call it off rather than inflict misery on hard-working families in London". |
| The comments followed a confrontation between London mayor Boris Johnson and Mr Crow on an LBC radio show. | The comments followed a confrontation between London mayor Boris Johnson and Mr Crow on an LBC radio show. |
| The row broke out after Mr Crow and the general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), Manuel Cortes, went to City Hall yesterday in an attempt to confront Boris Johnson. | The row broke out after Mr Crow and the general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), Manuel Cortes, went to City Hall yesterday in an attempt to confront Boris Johnson. |
| They accused Mr Johnson of failing to meet them to discuss the closure of ticket offices. | They accused Mr Johnson of failing to meet them to discuss the closure of ticket offices. |
| The mayor was at the central London studios of LBC radio for his weekly phone-in, when Mr Crow spoke to him on his mobile from outside City Hall. | |
| "We are not here to score points - all we want is an opportunity to negotiate about the Tube. | "We are not here to score points - all we want is an opportunity to negotiate about the Tube. |
| "We are asking you to listen to our point of view. We would love to call the strike off." | "We are asking you to listen to our point of view. We would love to call the strike off." |
| Mr Crow accused the mayor of refusing to suspend the ticket office closures. | Mr Crow accused the mayor of refusing to suspend the ticket office closures. |
| Mr Johnson replied: "That is complete nonsense. We are more than happy to engage on these issues. | Mr Johnson replied: "That is complete nonsense. We are more than happy to engage on these issues. |
| "Of course there are job losses involved but there are no compulsory redundancies. | "Of course there are job losses involved but there are no compulsory redundancies. |
| "We have already had more than 1,000 people showing an interest in voluntary redundancy. | "We have already had more than 1,000 people showing an interest in voluntary redundancy. |
| "Call off this pointless strike which will do nothing other than cost your members their wages." | "Call off this pointless strike which will do nothing other than cost your members their wages." |
| RMT leader Bob Crow on the phone to Boris Johnson outside City Hall Mr Crow said later it was clear the mayor was still refusing to meet unions. | |
| The ongoing tube strike is expected to affect services for 48-hours, and at the same time next week. | The ongoing tube strike is expected to affect services for 48-hours, and at the same time next week. |
| Transport for London warned that services will be hit until Friday morning, causing travel chaos for passengers. | Transport for London warned that services will be hit until Friday morning, causing travel chaos for passengers. |
| Ahead of the radio show Mr Crow said: "We have exchanged letters with Boris Johnson and it's now time to meet face to face - if he won't come to us then we are showing our willingness to engage by travelling to him. This dispute is too important for London for anyone to retreat into their bunker. | Ahead of the radio show Mr Crow said: "We have exchanged letters with Boris Johnson and it's now time to meet face to face - if he won't come to us then we are showing our willingness to engage by travelling to him. This dispute is too important for London for anyone to retreat into their bunker. |
| "We are making it clear again today that if Boris Johnson lifts the threat to jobs we will suspend the action to allow for fresh talks from a clean slate. It is not too late for Boris to take up that fair and reasonable offer and we are at City Hall to make it happen." | "We are making it clear again today that if Boris Johnson lifts the threat to jobs we will suspend the action to allow for fresh talks from a clean slate. It is not too late for Boris to take up that fair and reasonable offer and we are at City Hall to make it happen." |
| Mr Cortes of the TSSA added: "It is time for Boris to stop playing politics with the Tube. He may impress the right wing of the Tory Party by picking a fight with us but he is doing no favours to the travelling public. | Mr Cortes of the TSSA added: "It is time for Boris to stop playing politics with the Tube. He may impress the right wing of the Tory Party by picking a fight with us but he is doing no favours to the travelling public. |
| "They want what we want. A properly staffed, safe and secure tube network." | "They want what we want. A properly staffed, safe and secure tube network." |
| On Monday, Mr Johnson accused rail union boss Bob Crow of holding London to ransom ahead of the two strikes. His comments came after photographs appeared in the press showing Mr Crow sunbathing on a beach in South America. | On Monday, Mr Johnson accused rail union boss Bob Crow of holding London to ransom ahead of the two strikes. His comments came after photographs appeared in the press showing Mr Crow sunbathing on a beach in South America. |
| In his weekly column for the Daily Telegraph, the mayor said that while he did not begrudge Mr Crow his holiday, he was not entitled to "disrupt the lives of millions of people who are not on holiday but who want to work". | In his weekly column for the Daily Telegraph, the mayor said that while he did not begrudge Mr Crow his holiday, he was not entitled to "disrupt the lives of millions of people who are not on holiday but who want to work". |
| Mr Crow hit back, however, and stressed that his holiday was "booked up well before" the strike action. Mr Crow was also questioned about whether his high-profile was a distraction and how much the holiday cost, with some claiming it was £10,000. | Mr Crow hit back, however, and stressed that his holiday was "booked up well before" the strike action. Mr Crow was also questioned about whether his high-profile was a distraction and how much the holiday cost, with some claiming it was £10,000. |
| "If I'm going to spend £10,000 on a car, or if I'm going to spend £10,000 on a holiday, or £10,000 on cigarettes, that's up to me," said Crow. | "If I'm going to spend £10,000 on a car, or if I'm going to spend £10,000 on a holiday, or £10,000 on cigarettes, that's up to me," said Crow. |
| "I'm not being a distraction at all. What do you want me to do? Sit under a tree and read books of Karl Marx every day?" he added. | "I'm not being a distraction at all. What do you want me to do? Sit under a tree and read books of Karl Marx every day?" he added. |
| Additional reporting by Press Association | Additional reporting by Press Association |