Runners taking on The Big Half marathon in London this weekend will be lacing up their trainers as organisers have confirmed it will go ahead despite the planned Tube strike from Sunday, September 7 through to Thursday, September 11. Participants have been worried for days over whether their months of training will go to waste or not and whether their loved ones will get to line the route to cheer them on.
Event director Hugh Brasher has put those fears to rest by announcing today (Wednesday, September 3) The Big Half will be happening and is urging those taking part and spectators to use the DLR, Elizabeth line, Overground, National Rail services of London buses to get there and home again due to the London Underground industrial action on Sunday, September 7.
Concerns weren’t unfounded as Post Malone funs are unsure on what will happen to his gigs at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday and Monday, September 7 and 8. MyLondon has contacted the organiser of the Post Malone gigs about whether they are going ahead, but is yet to receive a reply. Just last week, Coldplay were forced to move some Wembley gigs, with organisers saying it was “impossible” to transport 82,000 fans without Tube services.
The Big Half starts close to Tower Bridge and finishes at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. the 13.1-mile run which will start with the elite wheelchair races at 8:25am. Five minutes later, at 08:30, the elite men and women will set off with the thousands of mass runners behind them.
The day of events will also include The New Balance Big Relay, which encourages groups of up to four people to break down the half marathon distance together, and The Big Mile, a family-friendly run for all ages that also finishes at the Cutty Sark. A festival area will run in Greenwich Park throughout the day, which is free and open to everyone.
Event director advice on how to get to Big Half
Mr Brasher said: “We are aware of the planned industrial action by members of the RMT Union scheduled to take place on The Big Half event day, Sunday, September 7. Participants have been advised to use DLR, Elizabeth line, London Overground, National Rail Services, buses and River Services to get to the Start line on Sunday. All event information, including travel advice, is available at thebighalf.co.uk.”
Below are the National Rail stations within walking distance of the start and assembly areas.
South Assembly Area
- London Bridge (300m)
- Liverpool Street (1.3 miles)
- Fenchurch Street (900m)
- Cannon Street (1.1 miles)
- Moorgate (1.5 miles)
- Waterloo (1.6 miles)
- Blackfriars (1.6 miles)
North Assembly Area
- London Bridge (900m)
- Liverpool Street (900m)
- Fenchurch Street (600m)
- Cannon Street (900m)
- Moorgate (1.1 miles)
- Blackfriars (2.1 miles)
The best stations to use to get home
- Greenwich National Rail
- Greenwich DLR
- Maze Hill
- Deptford
- Blackheath
Tube strike disruption day by day
You can find the projected level of disruption below:
- Friday September 5 to Saturday September 6 – No expected impact on customers’ journeys
- Sunday September 7 – Disruption expected across London Underground, with limited services operating. Services that do run will close earlier than normal with customers advised that all journeys should be complete by 18:00
- Monday September 8 to Thursday 11 September 11 – Little or no service expected across London Underground. Any services that do run will start later than usual with no service before 08:00
- Tuesday September 9 and Thursday September 11 – No service expected on the DLR
- Friday September 12 – No service before 08:00, with a good service on all lines expected by late morning
TfL’s Chief Operating Officer has described the decision by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers as ‘disappointing’ and renewed calls for the RMT to put its ‘fair, affordable pay offer’ to members. Claire Mann said: “We are disappointed that the RMT union has announced strike action.
“We regularly meet with our trade unions to discuss any concerns that they may have, and we recently met with the RMT to discuss some specific points. We are committed to ensuring our colleagues are treated fairly and, as well as offering a 3.4 per cent pay increase in our ongoing pay discussions, we have made progress on a number of previous commitments.
“We welcome further engagement with our unions about fatigue and rostering across London Underground, but a reduction in the contractual 35-hour working week is neither practical nor affordable.”
She added: “Given the improvements we have recently put in place in response to concerns raised by our unions, we urge the RMT to call off this action, which will only disrupt Londoners. We want them to continue to engage with us and put our fair, affordable pay offer to their members – which reflects a figure that is line with offers accepted by RMT across the rail industry.
“If this strike action goes ahead customers should check before they travel as on some days during the strike, there will be little to no service.”
The impact and nature of the strikes will vary each day, with customers advised to check TfL’s website for the latest on how the strikes will affect each day.
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