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Tube strike: Second day of London Underground action Tube strike: Second day of London Underground action
(about 3 hours later)
Londoners have endured a second day 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 for the second evening rush hour 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. 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, more than on Wednedsay.
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. For a second day millions of commuters across the city were affected, forcing many to rely on buses instead of the Underground.
The service is set to return to normal on Friday morning. The strike is due to end at 21:00 GMT and service is set to return to normal on Friday morning.
'Wiggle room''Wiggle room'
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%.
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.
By 10:00 GMT on Thursday there had been more than 11,000 hires.
Ahead of Friday's planned talks, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson told BBC London 94.9, there was "wiggle room".Ahead of Friday's planned talks, the Mayor of London Boris 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." The mayor said 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."
'Get serious'
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 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". TSSA leader Manuel Cortes said it was time for the mayor to "get serious", saying 70% of the network was at a standstill.
He said: "We want no more stunts or PR baloney from Boris. We want serious and detailed talks on our genuine fears for the safety and security of passengers and staff under these far-reaching plans."
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''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. Tube strike travel delays continue
He said he was currently a supervisor at one station and had 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 had 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. The industrial action 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.
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.
Thousands of Metropolitan Police civilian staff 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.Thousands of Metropolitan Police civilian staff 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.
All Underground lines are affected by the strike with TfL running limited services on the following:All Underground lines are affected by the strike with TfL running 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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