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Passengers face Tube strike chaos Passengers face Tube strike chaos
(about 1 hour 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 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.
Ten hours of negotiations on Tuesday had failed to bring about a peace deal between the RMT and Transport for London (TfL) bosses. class="bodl" href="#map">Map of extra services
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. Ten hours of negotiations on Tuesday 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 London Mayor Boris Johnson, who joined commuters at a river ferry at Westminster, said the RMT had walked away from an excellent deal.
Stinks of sabotageStinks of sabotage
He said: "Some services are in fact running this morning - which I think underlines the fragility of the strike." He said the two sides were "within a whisker" of reaching a deal and it was "absolutely crazy" to go ahead with the strike.
"Given that Londoners are enduring a partial, a very very irritating, unnecessary and misery-making Tube strike I think he should send his negotiators back to the table where he will find a very good deal on the table.
"Its absolutely essential in my view that people of goodwill get round the negotiating table in the next few hours."
"Some services are in fact running this morning - which I think underlines the fragility of the strike," he added.
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.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 commentsHAVE 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.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. "The whole thing stinks of last minute sabotage and the 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.""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. But the mayor said it was "completely untrue" that the deal was pulled at the last minute.
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. He said: "There is no personal animosity between me and Bob Crow or between me and any other trade union official of the RMT."
Meanwhile, 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 is in place for bicycles. TfL has also introduced a taxi-sharing scheme at all major rail stations.
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
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.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 said it hoped to run a reduced service on the Central Line and Hammersmith and City Line later.
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."
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.
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.
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