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Tube strike: Second day of London Underground action Tube strike: Second day of London Underground action
(about 2 hours later)
Londoners have endured a second morning of Tube disruption as strike action over planned job cuts and ticket office closures continues. Londoners have endured a second day of Tube disruption as strike action over planned job cuts and ticket office closures continues.
A limited Tube service is in place after the first of two 48-hour strikes began on Tuesday night.A limited Tube service is in place after the first of two 48-hour strikes began on Tuesday night.
The RMT and TSSA unions have said they will take part in talks on Friday aimed at resolving the dispute.The RMT and TSSA unions have said they will take part in talks on Friday aimed at resolving the dispute.
But London Underground (LU) urged them to meet earlier and suspend the action.But London Underground (LU) urged them to meet earlier and suspend the action.
Transport for London (TfL) said nine of the 11 lines were running and nearly 75% of stations were open.Transport for London (TfL) said nine of the 11 lines were running and nearly 75% of stations were open.
It follows a day of delays on Wednesday, affecting millions of commuters across the city and forcing many to rely on buses instead of the Underground.It follows a day of delays on Wednesday, affecting millions of commuters across the city and forcing many to rely on buses instead of the Underground.
The service is set to return to normal on Friday morning.The service is set to return to normal on Friday morning.
'Wiggle room''Wiggle room'
TfL said some 91% of regular Oyster customers had travelled in London on Thursday morning. TfL said 91% of regular Oyster customers - which includes those using trains, buses and other non-Tube services - had travelled in London on Thursday morning.
The day before, transport commissioner Sir Peter Hendy said it was 86%.The day before, transport commissioner Sir Peter Hendy said it was 86%.
But the TSSA disputed this claim, arguing the service had been reduced by 70%. But the TSSA disputed this claim and said the Tube service itself had been reduced by 70%.
Barclays Cycle Hire journeys were up by 50% on Wednesday, with almost 30,000 hires.Barclays Cycle Hire journeys were up by 50% on Wednesday, with almost 30,000 hires.
By 10:00 on Thursday there had been more than 11,000 hires.By 10:00 on Thursday there had been more than 11,000 hires.
London Mayor Boris Johnson took the District Line earlier to Southfields. Ahead of Friday's planned talks, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson told BBC London 94.9, there was "wiggle room".
Rob Page spotted him and said: "He was apologising to everyone for the difficulties caused and saying that it will most definitely happen next week too."
Ahead of Friday's planned talks, Mr Johnson told BBC London 94.9, there was "wiggle room".
He apologised to people who had experienced disruption and repeated that he thought passengers would be safer and better protected with members of staff on concourses, instead of "behind plate glass".He apologised to people who had experienced disruption and repeated that he thought passengers would be safer and better protected with members of staff on concourses, instead of "behind plate glass".
The mayor claimed the unions had shown a "failure to engage" in talks, adding: "Rather than hurting hard-working Londoners and hard-pressed small businesses they should have been talking to TfL this week."
RMT leader Bob Crow said it was the first he had heard of "wiggle room", adding: "My negotiators have been told for the last five weeks there is none."RMT leader Bob Crow said it was the first he had heard of "wiggle room", adding: "My negotiators have been told for the last five weeks there is none."
He argued that ticket office workers heralded as "lions" during the 2005 terrorist attacks were being turned into "jackals" and attacked for being "lazy". He said he had no problem with plans to run trains on Friday and Saturday nights but questioned the wisdom of removing nearly 1,000 members of staff when they would have to deal with people "boozed off their brains".
He said he had no problem with trains running on Friday and Saturday nights, as proposed, but questioned the wisdom of removing nearly 1,000 members of staff when they would have to deal with people "boozed off their brains".
Have you seen anything different or unusual in London because you've changed your journey during the Tube strike? Send us your photos and we'll share the best ones. Email england@bbc.co.ukHave you seen anything different or unusual in London because you've changed your journey during the Tube strike? Send us your photos and we'll share the best ones. Email england@bbc.co.uk
'Don't want to strike'
James from Harrow who supervises a small station, told BBC London 94.9 he was worried about his job and the safety implications of the changes.James from Harrow who supervises a small station, told BBC London 94.9 he was worried about his job and the safety implications of the changes.
He said he was currently a supervisor at one station and has one other staff member with him. Under the changes, he would have to oversee five stations.He said he was currently a supervisor at one station and has one other staff member with him. Under the changes, he would have to oversee five stations.
He said: "I don't want to strike. It's the first time I've ever been on strike.He said: "I don't want to strike. It's the first time I've ever been on strike.
"But there are incidents every day - someone who is blind, or someone who wants guidance. Very rarely do you have one person at a station.""But there are incidents every day - someone who is blind, or someone who wants guidance. Very rarely do you have one person at a station."
Philip, from Croydon, works in a ticket office and said workers still have to handle lots of Oyster-related problems, including visitors from overseas wanting refunds before they return home.Philip, from Croydon, works in a ticket office and said workers still have to handle lots of Oyster-related problems, including visitors from overseas wanting refunds before they return home.
TfL has said its proposed changes, which will lead to 960 job losses - but none compulsory - will modernise systems and save £50m a year.TfL has said its proposed changes, which will lead to 960 job losses - but none compulsory - will modernise systems and save £50m a year.
Mr Hendy said many of the jobs, such as those in booking offices, "were not worth doing" because of other payment options.Mr Hendy said many of the jobs, such as those in booking offices, "were not worth doing" because of other payment options.
The industrial action, which began at 21:00 GMT on Tuesday, came as the government said it was considering plans to declare London Underground an essential service in order to curb the threat of future strikes. The industrial action, which began at 21:00 GMT on Tuesday, came as the government said it was considering plans to declare London Underground an essential service, akin to the police, in order to curb the threat of future strikes.
'Pointless and unnecessary' Thousands of Metropolitan Police civilian staff plan are planning to strike for two days in a row over a 1% wage rise. The action will coincide with the next planned 48-hour Tube strike.
Under the proposals, London Underground would be subject to a "minimum service agreement" in which staff would be required to keep a core level of trains going regardless of any industrial action.
London Mayor Boris Johnson has described the strike as "pointless and unnecessary" and called for a ban on industrial action affecting London transport, unless it was supported by more than 50% of union members eligible to be balloted.
All Underground lines are affected by the strike with TfL hoping to run limited services on the following:All Underground lines are affected by the strike with TfL hoping to run limited services on the following:
You can follow any disruption on the BBC London travel Twitter feed @BBC Travel Alert or on the BBC London Travel Page. You can also get regular travel updates from the BBC London 94.9 travel team.You can follow any disruption on the BBC London travel Twitter feed @BBC Travel Alert or on the BBC London Travel Page. You can also get regular travel updates from the BBC London 94.9 travel team.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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