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Passengers face Tube strike chaos Passengers face Tube strike chaos
(30 minutes later)
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 people are facing travel chaos as a 48-hour strike by London's Tube staff is causing massive disruption to services.
The strike began at 1859 on Tuesday after talks broke down between London Underground (LU) bosses and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union. The strike began at 1859 on Tuesday after talks broke down between London Underground bosses and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union.
Currently there is a service on the Northern Line while five other lines are partly-suspended.Currently there is a service on the Northern Line while five other lines are partly-suspended.
Docklands Light Railway and London Overground are operating as normal.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. Ten hours of negotiations on Tuesday had failed to bring about a peace deal between the RMT and Transport for London (TfL) bosses.
The dispute is over pay, jobs and disciplinary issues - but Mayor of London Boris Johnson says the RMT has walked away from an excellent deal.
Stinks of sabotage
He said: "Some services are in fact running this morning - which I think underlines the fragility of the strike."
However, RMT leader Bob Crow, who joined a picket line outside Seven Sisters Tube station in North London, said the basis of a deal had been worked out during talks at the conciliation service Acas.
HAVE YOUR SAY History has shown, time after time, that strikes and militancy get workers nowhere Dan Damon, Esher Send us your comments
He said: "Acas officials went off to get the document typed up and by the time they came back the underground management had reneged on it.
"The whole thing stinks of last minute sabotage and RMT believes that must have come from the very top, and the finger is pointing at Boris Johnson and Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy.
"Johnson needs to stop the political grandstanding and meet direct with RMT to settle the pay, jobs and bullying issues at the heart of this strike."
Meanwhile, 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.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 - suspendedTube 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. However, despite the walkout, TfL said a good service was running on the Northern line while there was a reduced service in some other areas.
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."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."
'Every effort'
Last minute talks between LU and RMT leader Bob Crow at Acas failed to avert the strike.
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.
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.
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.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.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.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.
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.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.