London underground strike.

[MAKEM]

Seems likely to go ahead from 6pm tonight ...Monday 3 rd Sept, for 3 days with perhaps more next week if not settled.

[Globaliser]

Email just received:-

Subj: Metronet strike action

Date: 03.09.2007 14:53:56 GMT Daylight Time

From: Transport_for_London@emailaddress.com

To: Globaliser

 

Dear Globaliser,

 

Metronet strike affecting Tube services from this afternoon until end of Thursday 6 September

 

We continue to work to avoid the strike by Metronet staff.

 

If the strike goes ahead, it will affect services from this afternoon's peak period. If possible, please complete your journey by 1700 this evening or use alternative routes, including DLR, National Rail and bus services.

 

The Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines are the only lines expected to operate normally. We anticipate that they will be very crowded.

 

Services may not return to normal until Friday morning, unless the strike is resolved.

 

Please check local news, travel reports or visit tfl.gov.uk for the latest information: http://www.tfl.gov.uk

 

Yours sincerely,

Managing Director, London Underground

 

For the quickest way to plan your journey in London, visit Journey Planner:

http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk

 

24 hour travel information: 020 7222 1234

Textphone: 020 7918 3015

[MAKEM]

Email just received:-

THANKS for that Globaliser,

 

That is a bit of more news,good or bad for friends from across the pond or any travellers using London over the next 3 days.

 

BG

[Stevesan]

Well, they done did it. At least they're talking:

 

From the BBC UK web site:

 

Underground strike talks resume

 

Talks have begun between a union and London Underground (LU) officials in a bid to end a three-day strike which has crippled the Tube network.

Millions of people are experiencing delays and disruption as workers walked out over jobs and pensions.

The strike by the RMT union, in a row following the collapse of maintenance firm Metronet, has closed two-thirds of the Tube network and affected 10 lines. Prime Minister Gordon Brown described the walkout as "wholly unjustifiable".

 

 

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "As a result of discussions last night with London transport commissioner Peter Hendy, talks will now take place.

 

AFFECTED LINES

Bakerloo

Central

Victoria

Circle

District

East London

Hammersmith & City

Metropolitan

Waterloo & City

Piccadilly

 

 

 

"This is a positive development and we hope that Metronet and its administrator will now take our members' legitimate concerns seriously."

But a Transport for London (TfL) spokesman said: "The RMT has been given cast iron guarantees that no staff will lose jobs, pensions or be transferred as a result of Metronet's collapse.

"The other unions have accepted these guarantees. The RMT has ignored them, harming Londoners and their union."

The prime minister said: "This is a wholly unjustifiable strike.

"It is causing an enormous amount of trouble to the people of London and disruption to the business of this city."

 

 

 

Nine lines have been shut by the industrial walk out, which began at 1800 BST on Monday.

They are the Bakerloo, Central, Victoria, Circle, District, East London, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, and Waterloo & City.

The Piccadilly line has been suspended between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge.

Only the Jubilee and Northern lines are operating a full service.

They are maintained by another firm along with the Piccadilly line.

[vortigern]

As reported in the 'meeja', most of the Underground was closed today. Those lines that were running (Jubilee / Northern / Piccadilly) did seem to maintain a reasonable service but journeys took longer as station times were longer due to delays in loading/unloading. Buses were very busy and with traffic levels also heavier than normal their journey times were extended.

 

Best advice for situations like this - avoid the rush hours (now effectively 0730 - 1000 in the morning and 1630 - 1830 in the evening), and if you can - walk! London is a great city for walking and the central area is quite compact (the Tube map is NOT a geographical representation). Mainline trains out from the centre are not affected and quite a few of these routes have useful interchanges which avoid using the Tube, including the Thameslink / First Capital Connect service right across London from London Bridge via City Thameslink (St Pauls) to Kings Cross (station for Scotland, York and the North East.

 

From Heathrow Airport the Heathrow Express into Paddington is unaffected (although Underground services on from there aren't running) and the Piccadilly Line from the Airport to Central London is also running. From Gatwick, the Gatwick Express and Southern services are also unaffected as well as the cross-London service mentioned above which means you can get from Gatwick to Kings Cross on a single train.

 

No Tube is an inconvenience but the sheer number of alternatives around London mean that you can still get around. It may take a bit longer, but it is still possible - we don't let strikes or service interruptions defeat us.

 

Hope this helps reassure anyone worried about coming to London!

 

Vortigern

[Globaliser]

It may take a bit longer, but it is still possible - we don't let strikes or service interruptions defeat us.

Very true. But it doesn't stop me wanting to see Bob Crow's head on a spike.

[MAKEM]

Seems likely to go ahead from 6pm tonight ...Monday 3 rd Sept, for 3 days with perhaps more next week if not settled.

 

The Tube strike is over for this time, & get back to normal ?

let,s hope is is fully resolved.

[Globaliser]

FWIW, next week's strike (which had been due to start at 1800 local time on Monday 10 September) is now officially off. Phew!