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Tube strike: Commuters suffer 'severe disruption' Tube strike: Commuters suffer 'severe disruption'
(35 minutes later)
Commuters travelling in London are experiencing "severe disruption" as Tube workers strike.Commuters travelling in London are experiencing "severe disruption" as Tube workers strike.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union have walked out for 48 hours over plans to close all ticket offices at a cost of 960 jobs.Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union have walked out for 48 hours over plans to close all ticket offices at a cost of 960 jobs.
Transport for London said it hoped to run between 40% and 50% of services.Transport for London said it hoped to run between 40% and 50% of services.
The strike started at 21:00 BST on Monday and ends at 20:59 on Wednesday, although disruption may continue into Thursday morning.The strike started at 21:00 BST on Monday and ends at 20:59 on Wednesday, although disruption may continue into Thursday morning.
The union and London Underground (LU) have met more than 40 times, through the arbitration service Acas, since the last 48-hour strike in February, but talks broke down on Monday.The union and London Underground (LU) have met more than 40 times, through the arbitration service Acas, since the last 48-hour strike in February, but talks broke down on Monday.
Transport for London has issued a document of travel advice to customers.Transport for London has issued a document of travel advice to customers.
It has said it plans to run as many services as possible with extra bus and river services, but customers are advised to check their journey before they travel.It has said it plans to run as many services as possible with extra bus and river services, but customers are advised to check their journey before they travel.
This is how services are running at the moment, all with a reduced frequency and with a number of stations closed:This is how services are running at the moment, all with a reduced frequency and with a number of stations closed:
Where services are being be operated, trains began to run at about 07:00 and will finish at about 23:00. Where services are being be operated, trains began to run at about 07:00 and will finish at about 23:00. The last services from central London may also depart much earlier, at about 21:30.
The last services from central London may also depart much earlier, at about 21:30. There were almost 8,000 buses on the roads - the most ever operated in London - after an extra 266 were put into service.
The RMT said it would have suspended the strike if LU had agreed to a public consultation over the plans, which do not include any compulsory redundancies.The RMT said it would have suspended the strike if LU had agreed to a public consultation over the plans, which do not include any compulsory redundancies.
John Leach, of the RMT, said: "We made it clear at Acas that what it would take would be for [LU] to suspend the implementation of the Booking Office closure programme, the 953 job cuts, until we have had a proper consultation. The acting general secretary of the RMT union, Mick Cash, described the strike as "solidly supported" and accused London Underground of backtracking on an earlier deal to review its plan to close ticket offices.
"We've spent months with this and it hasn't happened, and enough's enough." "They're looking to make £15m worth of cuts and to do that they want to get rid of every single booking office and a 1,000 jobs," he told Radio 4's Today programme.
But London Underground spokesman Phil Hufton said it had been discussing the proposals with the RMT since November and no alternative plans had been put forward by the union. "Now we took industrial action in February this year and we suspended it following a deal done with our former general secretary, Bob Crow, where they had promised to review every single station.
'Absolutely dismayed' "And there are over 200 stations and do you know what we've done, is five."
He said: "I'm absolutely dismayed that we're at this point. The RMT have not once come forward with any credible alternatives." But the managing director of London Underground, Mike Brown, told Today: "We agreed that we would start by looking at the different station types, which group into five different types, and we'd look at those first.
"And now we're in the midst of doing the full station by station review starting with the Piccadilly Line.
"So I'm afraid what you've heard from Mick Cash is nonsense."
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has also criticised the strikes and suggested the plans will go ahead.Mayor of London Boris Johnson has also criticised the strikes and suggested the plans will go ahead.
"We're going to close 260 ticket offices, we're going to change the way they operate, we're going to make them available for other functions, we're going to do fantastic things with our stations, but there's always room to discuss about the terms and conditions of our employees," he said."We're going to close 260 ticket offices, we're going to change the way they operate, we're going to make them available for other functions, we're going to do fantastic things with our stations, but there's always room to discuss about the terms and conditions of our employees," he said.
The strike is likely to hit university students taking degree exams. On its website, King's College London says it is aware of students' concerns and will review the impact of strike action.The strike is likely to hit university students taking degree exams. On its website, King's College London says it is aware of students' concerns and will review the impact of strike action.
The RMT is also holding a 48-hour strike which began at 03:00 on Tuesday on the Heathrow Express in a separate row over jobs, pay and cuts.The RMT is also holding a 48-hour strike which began at 03:00 on Tuesday on the Heathrow Express in a separate row over jobs, pay and cuts.
And football fans travelling to Chelsea's Champions League match with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday will also be affected.And football fans travelling to Chelsea's Champions League match with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday will also be affected.
The union is set to strike for 72 hours from 21:00 on Monday 5 May, if the ticket office dispute is not resolved.The union is set to strike for 72 hours from 21:00 on Monday 5 May, if the ticket office dispute is not resolved.