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Central Line strike: London Underground drivers in 24-hour walkout | Central Line strike: London Underground drivers in 24-hour walkout |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Hundreds of thousands of London Underground (LU) passengers have had their journeys disrupted in a 24-hour strike by drivers. | Hundreds of thousands of London Underground (LU) passengers have had their journeys disrupted in a 24-hour strike by drivers. |
The Central Line was closed earlier but is now operating a limited service with severe delays. The Waterloo and City Line is suspended. | |
People are experiencing overcrowded stations, trains and replacement buses. | People are experiencing overcrowded stations, trains and replacement buses. |
Union Aslef said the strike, which started at midnight, was over working conditions. LU said it was "needless". | Union Aslef said the strike, which started at midnight, was over working conditions. LU said it was "needless". |
Transport for London said there was a "queuing system in place" at Ilford, Manor Park and Forest Gate to cope with the crowds. | Transport for London said there was a "queuing system in place" at Ilford, Manor Park and Forest Gate to cope with the crowds. |
The Central Line is currently running a "severely delayed" service between Ealing Broadway and White City and between Woodford and Liverpool Street. | |
On social media, passengers have been speaking about their nightmare journeys. | On social media, passengers have been speaking about their nightmare journeys. |
Lewis Allcock tweeted that his 167 bus to Ilford was "so ancient, there was no Oyster tap system - free ride!". | Lewis Allcock tweeted that his 167 bus to Ilford was "so ancient, there was no Oyster tap system - free ride!". |
Another Twitter user described the "bizarre sight of vintage Routemasters and tourist open-tops ferrying commuters". | |
Aslef's Finn Brennan said the strike was over a number of issues, including "unsafe" working practices. | Aslef's Finn Brennan said the strike was over a number of issues, including "unsafe" working practices. |
"Drivers are continually forced into overtime and unsafe new working practices are pushed through without agreement," he said. | "Drivers are continually forced into overtime and unsafe new working practices are pushed through without agreement," he said. |
"It would be a dereliction of our duty as trade unionists if we did not take action to stop our members being treated like this." | "It would be a dereliction of our duty as trade unionists if we did not take action to stop our members being treated like this." |
Nigel Holness, director of network operations for LU, apologised to commuters for the "unnecessary disruption". | Nigel Holness, director of network operations for LU, apologised to commuters for the "unnecessary disruption". |
On the scene: Tom Edwards, BBC London transport correspondent | On the scene: Tom Edwards, BBC London transport correspondent |
A misty Epping Tube station at 07:30 and lots and lots of passengers were still turning up who didn't know about the strike. | A misty Epping Tube station at 07:30 and lots and lots of passengers were still turning up who didn't know about the strike. |
The options - a shared cab or the dreaded bus replacement service to Chingford. | The options - a shared cab or the dreaded bus replacement service to Chingford. |
I joined the commuters on the top deck. And so began a long, slow arduous crawl through Epping forest through traffic-clogged roads. | I joined the commuters on the top deck. And so began a long, slow arduous crawl through Epping forest through traffic-clogged roads. |
There were lots of empty seats on the bus and it seemed many people stayed away. | There were lots of empty seats on the bus and it seemed many people stayed away. |
One lady told me she didn't know what the strike was about but she was going to be two hours late for work. She had the resignation of a hardened commuter used to such trials. | One lady told me she didn't know what the strike was about but she was going to be two hours late for work. She had the resignation of a hardened commuter used to such trials. |
Essex relies heavily on the Central Line and life without it is slow and difficult. | Essex relies heavily on the Central Line and life without it is slow and difficult. |
As I write this I'm still on that bus... | As I write this I'm still on that bus... |
Mr Holness said recent talks between the parties over the action had been "positive" but they had "not been able to agree on the reinstatement of a train driver who was dismissed for a serious breach of our safety regulations." | Mr Holness said recent talks between the parties over the action had been "positive" but they had "not been able to agree on the reinstatement of a train driver who was dismissed for a serious breach of our safety regulations." |
A 48-hour strike by rail workers on South Western Railway also began at midnight, affecting services to London Waterloo. | A 48-hour strike by rail workers on South Western Railway also began at midnight, affecting services to London Waterloo. |
Another Tube strike is scheduled for 7 November. | Another Tube strike is scheduled for 7 November. |
Members of the RMT union took industrial action on the Piccadilly Line last week in a separate row. | Members of the RMT union took industrial action on the Piccadilly Line last week in a separate row. |