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| Tube strike causes travel chaos | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Millions of commuters in London are enduring rush-hour misery as Tube workers continue a 72-hour walkout over pensions and jobs. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| London Underground managers said services may not return to normal before Friday morning. | |
| Only the Jubilee and Northern lines are operating a full service. | Only the Jubilee and Northern lines are operating a full service. |
| Long queues | |
| They are maintained by another firm along with the Piccadilly line, which is partly suspended due to the strike. | They are maintained by another firm along with the Piccadilly line, which is partly suspended due to the strike. |
| The 10 lines affected by the strike, which began at 1800 BST on Monday, are the Bakerloo, Central, Victoria, Circle, District, East London, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Waterloo & City and Piccadilly. | |
| At Victoria station metal gates blocked the entrance to the Tube, and posters informed passengers that the Victoria, District and Circle lines were closed. | |
| Long queues built up at the stands and some people were forced to let two full buses go past before they could get a seat. | |
| Severe disruption | |
| Adrian Wells, 57, an accountant from Sutton, Surrey, said: "I've had to get three trains and two buses this morning to get to work - it's ludicrous, I'm already tired. | |
| "I'm not surprised at this strike - they're such a militant union, it's what you'd expect." | |
| He added: "I suppose I might understand if they were doing this because something had been imposed on them but this is about taking pre-emptive action, which ultimately is mucking up people's lives across London." | |
| Tube managers say they have met all the union's demands | Tube managers say they have met all the union's demands |
| Unions have been seeking guarantees there will be no job losses, forced transfers or cuts in pensions as a result of Metronet's collapse in July, when it went into administration. | Unions have been seeking guarantees there will be no job losses, forced transfers or cuts in pensions as a result of Metronet's collapse in July, when it went into administration. |
| A spokesman for Transport for London (TfL) said: "The disruption across the network last night was severe and totally unacceptable. | A spokesman for Transport for London (TfL) said: "The disruption across the network last night was severe and totally unacceptable. |
| "We share Londoners' view that this disruption is intolerable, as it serves no purpose." | "We share Londoners' view that this disruption is intolerable, as it serves no purpose." |
| He added: "The RMT have been given cast iron guarantees that no staff will lose jobs, pensions or be transferred as a result of Metronet's collapse. | He added: "The RMT have 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 have ignored them, harming Londoners and their union." | "The other unions have accepted these guarantees. The RMT have ignored them, harming Londoners and their union." |
| The strike went ahead despite appeals by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, who branded it one of the most "purposeless" ever called. | The strike went ahead despite appeals by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, who branded it one of the most "purposeless" ever called. |
| TfL letter to Bob Crow | TfL letter to Bob Crow |
| Two other unions, Unite and the TSSA, decided not to walk out after being given assurances. | Two other unions, Unite and the TSSA, decided not to walk out after being given assurances. |
| But the TSSA said its 360 members would take part in a second 72-hour stoppage planned for next Monday if a matter concerning pensions was not resolved. | But the TSSA said its 360 members would take part in a second 72-hour stoppage planned for next Monday if a matter concerning pensions was not resolved. |
| RMT general secretary Bob Crow said he had received only "qualified assurances" covering the period of administration. | RMT general secretary Bob Crow said he had received only "qualified assurances" covering the period of administration. |
| A TfL spokesman said all three Tube unions had received all the assurances they were seeking. TfL released a letter it sent to Mr Crow which outlines those promises. | A TfL spokesman said all three Tube unions had received all the assurances they were seeking. TfL released a letter it sent to Mr Crow which outlines those promises. |
| Striking RMT members will lobby the Department for Transport on Tuesday as part of the union's campaign for Tube maintenance work to be brought back in house. | Striking RMT members will lobby the Department for Transport on Tuesday as part of the union's campaign for Tube maintenance work to be brought back in house. |
| Has the strike affected your journey to work? Have you made alternative travel plans? Send us your comments with the form below. Or send us your text messages to 61124 | Has the strike affected your journey to work? Have you made alternative travel plans? Send us your comments with the form below. Or send us your text messages to 61124 |