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Tube strike travel chaos looming Passengers face Tube strike chaos
(30 minutes later)
A 48-hour Tube strike has begun after talks broke down between London Underground (LU) bosses and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union. Millions of people are facing travel chaos as a 48-hour strike by London's Tube staff is causing massive disruption to services.
Millions of passengers face travel disruption during the strike, which began at 1859 BST. The strike began at 1859 on Tuesday after talks broke down between London Underground (LU) bosses and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union.
Normal services are not expected to resume until Friday. As of 0546 BST, Tube bosses said all lines were affected and some had no service. Currently there is a service on the Northern Line while five other lines are partly-suspended.
The RMT wants a 5% pay rise and a promise of no compulsory redundancies. Docklands Light Railway and London Overground are operating as normal.
Transport for London (TfL) said about 100 extra buses have been made available and a free river shuttle service is also on offer.
Escorts are also leading cyclists across the capital and extra parking will be in place for bicycles. TfL has also introduced a taxi-sharing scheme at all major rail stations.
Pay-as-you-go Oyster cards will also be accepted on national rail operators on rail routes "that mirror Tube journeys" in Greater London, a TfL spokesman said.
Tube line updates Northern Line - good serviceDistrict Line - Wimbledon to High Street KensingtonJubilee Line - Stanmore to Neasden; Waterloo to StratfordMetropolitan Line - Harrow-on-the-Hill to Baker StreetPiccadilly Line - Arnos Grove to CockfostersVictoria Line - Seven sisters to VictoriaBakerloo Line - suspendedCentral Line - suspendedCircle Line - suspendedHammersmith and City Line - suspendedWaterloo and City - suspended
People have been urged by TfL to check before they travel and to consider alternative ways of getting to work such as walking and cycling.
TfL workers will also distribute walking maps at central London rail and Tube stations.
However, despite the walkout, TfL said a good service was running on the Northern line while there was a reduced service on the District line between between Wimbledon to High St Kensington.
The Jubilee line was also running a reduced service between Stanmore and Neasden, and Waterloo to Stratford and on the Metropolitan line trains were running a reduced service between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Baker Street.
The Piccadilly line was operating a reduced service between Arnos Grove and Cockfosters and on the Victoria Line trains were running from Seven Sisters to Victoria.
The Bakerloo, Central, Circle, Hammersmith and City, and Waterloo and City are completely suspended.
Rob Young, a visitor to the city who was at Hammersmith bus station, said: "Well I have to get to Liverpool Street and being a tourist I have to catch a few buses and so, not quite sure how I'm doing it yet but we'll see."
Up to three million people travel on London's underground network every day
Last minute talks between LU and RMT leader Bob Crow at Acas failed to avert the strike.Last minute talks between LU and RMT leader Bob Crow at Acas failed to avert the strike.
'Solidly supported'
Mr Crow said: "There was a deal to be done, then for some reason either the solicitors or City Hall took the rug out from beneath us.
"As far as we are concerned we made every effort.
"[But] the strike goes ahead and we expect it to be solidly supported."
About 3m people use the Tube network everyday and it is estimated the strike will cost the London economy about £100m, business group London First said.
Transport for London (TfL) urged people to check before they travel, to stagger their journeys and to consider alternative ways of getting to work such as walking and cycling.
We regret the disruption the strike will cause to passengers as the impact on Tube services is likely to be significant Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy Send us your comments
Docklands Light Railway and London Overground services will operate as normal during the strike.
A free river shuttle service will be in place in addition to 100 extra buses.
There will be escorts to lead cyclists across the capital and extra parking will be in place for bicycles. TfL will also bring in a taxi-sharing scheme at all major rail stations.
National rail operators will accept Oyster cards on rail routes "that mirror Tube journeys" in Greater London on Wednesday and Thursday, a TfL spokesman said.
Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy said: "We regret the disruption the strike will cause to passengers as the impact on Tube services is likely to be significant.
"However, the mayor and TfL have prepared plans to keep London moving and thousands of TfL staff will be on hand across the city to help our passengers."
Up to three million people travel on London's Tube network every day
Mr Hendy added: "The RMT leadership says we were close to a deal. If that is the case, then they should call off the strike, return to talks at Acas tomorrow and resolve this issue without any more disruption to Londoners."
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said the strike was damaging for business, would cause widespread inconvenience and hurt London's reputation.
Deputy director general John Cridland said: "It is regrettable that a small minority of people are prepared to inflict this kind of disruption on others at such a difficult time."
LU had offered staff a four-year deal worth 1.5% this year and then the rate of inflation plus 0.5% in subsequent years - or a two-year deal of 1% now and inflation plus 0.5% in year two.LU had offered staff a four-year deal worth 1.5% this year and then the rate of inflation plus 0.5% in subsequent years - or a two-year deal of 1% now and inflation plus 0.5% in year two.
However, the RMT wants a 5% pay rise and a promise of no compulsory redundancies. About 3,000 RMT members voted in favour of the strike.However, the RMT wants a 5% pay rise and a promise of no compulsory redundancies. About 3,000 RMT members voted in favour of the strike.
Following the breakdown of talks, Mr Crow said LU bosses "took the rug out from beneath us" even though the union made "every effort" to resolve the dispute.
Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy denied they were "close to a deal" with the union.
"However, the mayor and TfL have prepared plans to keep London moving."
Football fans
England's World Cup qualifier against Andorra at Wembley Stadium will go ahead on Wednesday evening despite concerns for the safety of fans travelling to the game.England's World Cup qualifier against Andorra at Wembley Stadium will go ahead on Wednesday evening despite concerns for the safety of fans travelling to the game.
As Wembley Park Tube station will be closed, the 70,000 supporters will be forced to either use overground services or to go by car, even though there is a lack of parking in the area. Wembley Park Tube station will be closed and Chiltern Railways has announced that its services will not stop at Wembley Stadium Station after 1200 BST on Wednesday for safety reasons.
London Overground services will also not stop at Wembley Central or North Wembley stations after 1800 BST due to the strike action.
These closures will leave many of the 70,000 supporters forced to travel by car, even though there is a lack of parking in the area.
Last week, the FA stopped ticket sales for the game.Last week, the FA stopped ticket sales for the game.
Advertisement About three million people use the Tube network everyday and it is estimated the strike will cost the London economy about £100m, business group London First said.
RMT leader Bob Crow: 'I put my signature on a deal'