Tube strike misery continues into Wednesday as RMT walkout hits Londoners

Strike disruption continues on the London Underground network amid a 24-hour walkout.

The strike began at midday on Tuesday and will continue until midday on Wednesday , causing cancellations and severe delays.

It means Tube services will not begin until 7.30am on Wednesday morning.

Tube drivers who are members of the RMT union are striking in a dispute with Transport for London ( TfL ) over working hours.

The strike closed the Circle line completely, several other lines were part-suspended and others faced severe or minor delays.

After the strike ends at midday, minor delays are expected to continue throughout the afternoon, with normal service not returning until the evening.

Commuters are also facing a second 24-hour walkout starting at midday on Thursday.

This is similarly expected to impact Tube services on Friday afternoon and evening.

TfL has urged passengers to check before they travel amid the widespread delays.

The RMT is planning four more 24-hour strikes in May and June unless the row is resolved.

Pubs and restaurants in London fear this week’s strikes will have a big impact on their business.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “At a time when so many locals are already operating on a knife edge because of huge costs, significant disruption to trade will be acutely felt.”
RMT official Jared Wood said union members felt strongly about the issues at the heart of the dispute.

He said the row was not just about a four-day week and that other issues were involved such as the length of shifts and changes to annual leave.

He said: “TfL need to come forward with changes to their proposals for this dispute to be resolved.

“There is absolute unanimity among our members that we have to fight these proposals.”
Mr Wood said there was now “a lot of bad feeling” between the drivers and London Underground.

Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: “We have set out proposals to the RMT for a four-day working week.

“This allows us to offer train operators an additional day off, whilst at the same time bringing London Underground in line with the working patterns of other train operating companies, improving reliability and flexibility at no additional cost.

“The changes would be voluntary, there would be no reduction in contractual hours and those who wish to continue a five-day working week pattern would be able to do so.”
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Some bus routes in the capital operated by Stagecoach will be affected by a separate 24-hour strike from 5am on Friday.

As it stands, members of the RMT union will strike on the following dates (times in BST):