Things are beginning to move once again on the Tube network
The entire London Underground network has reopened this morning, marking the end of commuters’ travel chaos. This is the first time each of the 11 lines has been fully operational since strike action began on Sunday, September 7.
However, it’s not all plain sailing from here on out as a majority are experiencing severe delays bar the Victoria, Northern, Piccaddilly and Waterloo & City lines. When approached, a Transport for London (TfL) spokesperson explained: “Our services are now restarting and we expect a good service on all lines later this morning.”
Whilst the entire route is affected in most cases, the disruption is only impacting services in West London in one case. As of 9am, there are severe delays between White City and Ealing Broadway/West Ruislip and between Leytonstone and Epping/Woodford via Hainault on the Central line.
In addition, the DLR, Elizabeth line, London Overground and Trams are all running smoothly, which should be very welcome news for passengers. DLR services across East and Southeast London were halted on Tuesday and Thursday amid a pay and conditions dispute.
This followed, but was separate to, a walkout from Tube staff belonging to the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers. The union has rejected a 3.4 per cent pay rise offer, and is instead campaigning for working hours for Tube drivers to be cut from 35 to 32.
Campaigners cite exhaustion and unsociable shift patterns – such as starting at 4am or finishing at 1am – as the key reason for this. TfL has since criticised these requests as “completely unaffordable”.
Hitting back, RMT’s secretary Eddie Dempsey called for a summit to try and resolve matters, urging Sadiq Khan to meet his members and find a resolution.
He said: “Instead of going on social media, instead of the old tired clichés, telling trades unionists to get round the table, you’re the mayor of London, you’re the chair of Transport for London.
“Stop going on social media, invite us to the meeting, let’s have a discussion, because I want to know what is going on in London.” The mayor’s office said Sir Sadiq had “ensured TfL is ready to restart talks” with the union to resolve the dispute.
Earlier this week, London First bus strikes that were set to go ahead this weekend were cancelled at the last-minute. Walkouts would’ve disrupted a vast number of routes in the north-west and south-west of London, but were called off when the majority of workers accepted a pay offer from employer London United.
For the latest updates, follow MyLondon’s live Tube strikes blog.
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