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| Tube strike: London commuters deal with queues and delays | Tube strike: London commuters deal with queues and delays |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Commuters are dealing with long queues and delays as they try navigating London during a strike that has shut down the whole Tube network. | Commuters are dealing with long queues and delays as they try navigating London during a strike that has shut down the whole Tube network. |
| About 250 extra buses have been laid on but there are reports of 200 miles of tailbacks as commuters switch to cars. | About 250 extra buses have been laid on but there are reports of 200 miles of tailbacks as commuters switch to cars. |
| The 24-hour strike by four unions began on Wednesday evening and there will be no Tube service until Friday. | The 24-hour strike by four unions began on Wednesday evening and there will be no Tube service until Friday. |
| Unions are unhappy at conditions offered to drivers on a new Night Tube service due to start next month. | Unions are unhappy at conditions offered to drivers on a new Night Tube service due to start next month. |
| Live coverage of the Tube strike | Live coverage of the Tube strike |
| Latest travel updates on London Underground | Latest travel updates on London Underground |
| London Tube strike: Facts to know | London Tube strike: Facts to know |
| 12 tips for a first-time cycling commuter | 12 tips for a first-time cycling commuter |
| How to cope with the Tube strike | How to cope with the Tube strike |
| Tube strike: No beer and sandwiches | Tube strike: No beer and sandwiches |
| A long-serving LU train driver, who wished to remain anonymous, told BBC News, "We get paid an amazing salary and the holidays are great too [43 days leave including eight bank holidays] but why should I be forced to work nights and more weekends when that is not what I signed up for? It's about the principle of changing our working conditions without discussions. | A long-serving LU train driver, who wished to remain anonymous, told BBC News, "We get paid an amazing salary and the holidays are great too [43 days leave including eight bank holidays] but why should I be forced to work nights and more weekends when that is not what I signed up for? It's about the principle of changing our working conditions without discussions. |
| "I hate striking but I will continue to do so until the company listens or they make it illegal to strike. | "I hate striking but I will continue to do so until the company listens or they make it illegal to strike. |
| "I feel sorry for commuters but instead of complaining to staff, they should complain to TfL and stand up for their rights too." | "I feel sorry for commuters but instead of complaining to staff, they should complain to TfL and stand up for their rights too." |
| Commuters told the BBC they understood the reasons for the strike but they did not think "the impact on commuters was very fair". | Commuters told the BBC they understood the reasons for the strike but they did not think "the impact on commuters was very fair". |
| Traffic was heavier than usual on London's roads at midday but extra buses have been laid on for the strike and there are hundreds of bicycles available for hire from £2 at a temporary cycle hub in Soho Square, BBC London Travel reports. | Traffic was heavier than usual on London's roads at midday but extra buses have been laid on for the strike and there are hundreds of bicycles available for hire from £2 at a temporary cycle hub in Soho Square, BBC London Travel reports. |
| At 08:45 BST there were 428 separate traffic jams around the city causing a combined 197 miles (317km) of tailbacks, traffic analysts TomTom said. | At 08:45 BST there were 428 separate traffic jams around the city causing a combined 197 miles (317km) of tailbacks, traffic analysts TomTom said. |
| That was double the congestion of the same time last week, but it was not as bad as during the previous Tube strike in July when there were 1,445 jams and 761 miles (1,224km) of delays. | That was double the congestion of the same time last week, but it was not as bad as during the previous Tube strike in July when there were 1,445 jams and 761 miles (1,224km) of delays. |
| The most congested roads were around Parliament Square, with delays of 48 minutes, and on the A40 from Wood Lane to Marylebone Road, with delays of about 30 minutes. | The most congested roads were around Parliament Square, with delays of 48 minutes, and on the A40 from Wood Lane to Marylebone Road, with delays of about 30 minutes. |
| "With many Londoners away on holiday and no school runs, the roads were not as congested this morning as they were during the last strike four weeks ago," a TomTom spokesman said. | "With many Londoners away on holiday and no school runs, the roads were not as congested this morning as they were during the last strike four weeks ago," a TomTom spokesman said. |
| Transport for London said it would have a total fleet of 8,200 buses operating at peak times during the strike with an extra 250 vehicles leased from companies around the country and old buses including Routemasters being brought back into service. | Transport for London said it would have a total fleet of 8,200 buses operating at peak times during the strike with an extra 250 vehicles leased from companies around the country and old buses including Routemasters being brought back into service. |
| But even those aiming to beat the crowds and setting out on their journeys by 06:00 BST faced travel problems. | But even those aiming to beat the crowds and setting out on their journeys by 06:00 BST faced travel problems. |
| Alessandra Bonomolo tweeted: "6:20am. Couldn't get on the first train - too crowded" while Roxy Baker said: "Not even 6:30 and you can barely get on the 205 at Bow Church... its first stop". | Alessandra Bonomolo tweeted: "6:20am. Couldn't get on the first train - too crowded" while Roxy Baker said: "Not even 6:30 and you can barely get on the 205 at Bow Church... its first stop". |
| People are being encouraged to use alternative modes of transport to reach their destinations. | People are being encouraged to use alternative modes of transport to reach their destinations. |
| River bus service MBNA Thames Clippers tweeted: "Piers are very busy at present we're doing everything we can to ensure passengers reach their destination, thank you for your patience." | River bus service MBNA Thames Clippers tweeted: "Piers are very busy at present we're doing everything we can to ensure passengers reach their destination, thank you for your patience." |
| While others have been more creative with how they executed their journeys. | While others have been more creative with how they executed their journeys. |
| Steve Davison tweeted: "#tubestrike genius - just saw some guys flag down a London open top tour bus to get to work. Crazy line at bus stop versus an open top ride." | Steve Davison tweeted: "#tubestrike genius - just saw some guys flag down a London open top tour bus to get to work. Crazy line at bus stop versus an open top ride." |
| Getting around | Getting around |
| The strike has also affected businesses across the capital in a variety of ways. | |
| David Leam, director of infrastructure at London First, which aims to promote businesses, said people had generally been better prepared for the disruption compared to July's strike. | |
| He said: "I think the last Tube strike was a bit of a shock... but people have learned from the experience so some have worked remotely or have adapted their journey. | |
| "The businesses losing out more are probably those in hospitality. All the messaging last night was about making your journey early and getting home by 1830. Certainly it was quiet for some pubs and bars and restaurants although it's not a ghost town and there are still lots of tourists around." | |
| The strike, which follows a 24-hour stoppage on 8-9 July, saw Tube staff leave work between 18:30 and 21:30 BST on Wednesday. | The strike, which follows a 24-hour stoppage on 8-9 July, saw Tube staff leave work between 18:30 and 21:30 BST on Wednesday. |
| Members of Aslef, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), Unite and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) are all involved in the dispute. | Members of Aslef, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), Unite and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) are all involved in the dispute. |
| Many union members will be standing on picket lines throughout the duration of the strike, which is over concerns new rotas to accommodate the night service will mean greater weekend working. | Many union members will be standing on picket lines throughout the duration of the strike, which is over concerns new rotas to accommodate the night service will mean greater weekend working. |
| London Underground (LU) has apologised for the disruption, saying the latest offer - a 2% salary increase this year, an extra £200 per night shift for drivers for a limited time, and a £500 bonus for Night Tube staff - was aimed at improving work-life balance. | London Underground (LU) has apologised for the disruption, saying the latest offer - a 2% salary increase this year, an extra £200 per night shift for drivers for a limited time, and a £500 bonus for Night Tube staff - was aimed at improving work-life balance. |
| Mayor Boris Johnson called the latest offer "incredibly generous", and said he would not authorise any more money or negotiate while unions were "holding a gun to Londoners heads". | Mayor Boris Johnson called the latest offer "incredibly generous", and said he would not authorise any more money or negotiate while unions were "holding a gun to Londoners heads". |
| He said: "The way forward is to get this excellent deal to their membership. They should call off this stupid strike and put the deal to their members. | He said: "The way forward is to get this excellent deal to their membership. They should call off this stupid strike and put the deal to their members. |
| "No driver is being asked to work more hours than they do today. " | "No driver is being asked to work more hours than they do today. " |
| But Mick Whelan, the General Secretary of Aslef said: "The Tube driver works intensively in very awkward conditions. It affects their health, work-life balance and they don't have the best of lives." | But Mick Whelan, the General Secretary of Aslef said: "The Tube driver works intensively in very awkward conditions. It affects their health, work-life balance and they don't have the best of lives." |
| He said the competency and skill levels required by Tube drivers exceeded that of bus drivers and as such staff needed to be compensated. | He said the competency and skill levels required by Tube drivers exceeded that of bus drivers and as such staff needed to be compensated. |
| "We are not against the Night Tube in its run in a reasonable and adequate manner... but I don't believe it can be delivered [by 12 September]," he said. | "We are not against the Night Tube in its run in a reasonable and adequate manner... but I don't believe it can be delivered [by 12 September]," he said. |
| A striking Tube driver, who later admitted he was an RMT representative, phoned BBC London 94.9 to say he had seen the new rosters and they showed LU would be "spreading staff much more thinly" to maintain the Night Tube. | A striking Tube driver, who later admitted he was an RMT representative, phoned BBC London 94.9 to say he had seen the new rosters and they showed LU would be "spreading staff much more thinly" to maintain the Night Tube. |
| He said: "As well as being made to work more nights and weekends they're also being displaced and told to work 30 minutes up the line and that their duties can be changed at 24 hours' notice. But of course there's been no mention of that." | He said: "As well as being made to work more nights and weekends they're also being displaced and told to work 30 minutes up the line and that their duties can be changed at 24 hours' notice. But of course there's been no mention of that." |
| Steve Griffiths, LU's chief operating officer, told the BBC: "The Night Tube... cannot be at any cost. They're clearly not understanding our commitment to work life-balance. | Steve Griffiths, LU's chief operating officer, told the BBC: "The Night Tube... cannot be at any cost. They're clearly not understanding our commitment to work life-balance. |
| "We've recruited 500 additional staff specifically to run the Night Tube and that's across stations and train operators. | "We've recruited 500 additional staff specifically to run the Night Tube and that's across stations and train operators. |
| "No-one's being asked to work extra hours... we've also committed that our train operators will have the same number of weekends off today as when they do Night Tube." | "No-one's being asked to work extra hours... we've also committed that our train operators will have the same number of weekends off today as when they do Night Tube." |
| One official from the RMT also told BBC London that members would "escalate action" in the run-up to the scheduled start of the night service. | One official from the RMT also told BBC London that members would "escalate action" in the run-up to the scheduled start of the night service. |
| Mr Johnson added he was "not fussed" about the night service starting on 12 September as planned, as long as it started in the autumn. | Mr Johnson added he was "not fussed" about the night service starting on 12 September as planned, as long as it started in the autumn. |
| Key points of the dispute | Key points of the dispute |
| Are you affected by the tube strike? How did you change your journey? Please let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you affected by the tube strike? How did you change your journey? Please let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |