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Tube strike: Lines open as strike draws to a close Tube strike: Disruption continues as strike ends
(about 2 hours later)
Services are running on 10 lines of the Tube network following day two of the latest strike. Tube services continue to be disrupted as a 48-hour strike by London Underground (LU) workers ends.
In the morning, there was some service on all 11 lines, although about 30 stations were closed. The Waterloo and City Line was later suspended. The strike, which started on Monday, finished at 21:00 BST on Wednesday.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union began a strike on Monday night over plans to close all ticket offices at a cost of 960 jobs. LU managed to operate some level of service on all 11 lines on Wednesday. However, full service will not resume until Thursday.
The industrial action finished at 21:00 BST. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union took the strike action over plans to close all ticket offices at a cost of 960 jobs.
Among those affected were football fans travelling to Stamford Bridge for the Champions League clash between Chelsea and Atlético Madrid. Talks are to be held at the conciliation service Acas on Friday to try and avert another strike next week, which is set to last three days from 21:00 BST next Monday.
Chelsea FC advised fans to find alternative routes to the stadium, such as walking from Clapham Junction or taking buses from Hammersmith, as Fulham Broadway is closed.
West Brompton and Parsons Green will close by 21:30.
London Underground (LU) said services might not return to normal until Thursday.
Talks are to be held at the conciliation service Acas on Friday, it has been announced.
The RMT and LU have met more than 40 times via Acas since the last 48-hour strike in February, but talks broke down on Monday.The RMT and LU have met more than 40 times via Acas since the last 48-hour strike in February, but talks broke down on Monday.
The RMT has said it will stage a 72 hour-walkout from 21:00 next Monday if the dispute is not resolved. In the latest strike, LU said more staff members had arrived for work than during the last strike in February and volunteers were helping passengers.
LU said more staff members had arrived for work than during the last strike in February and volunteers were helping passengers. Mike Brown, managing director of LU, told BBC London News: "We don't think ticket offices are a part of our future but we wait to hear constructive ideas from any of the trade unions. Some of them have come up with constructive ideas.
Mike Brown, managing director of LU, said: "We don't think ticket offices are a part of our future but we wait to hear constructive ideas from any of the trade unions. Some of them have come up with constructive ideas. "I look forward to hearing constructive thoughts from the RMT, but you don't have constructive talks when you hold London to ransom."
"I look forward to hearing constructive thoughts from the RMT but you don't have constructive talks when you hold London to ransom." In response, Mike Cash, RMT's acting general secretary, said the transport authority told them they could have the review but ticket offices would remain closed.
"To us that's not the proper way to have a review because you're predetermining the outcome."
He added that the union wanted the full impact of closing all the ticket offices looked into, which is something he says has not happened.
On Tuesday, the RMT accused LU of "misleading" the public over the level of services and of leaving platforms and stations "dangerously overcrowded".On Tuesday, the RMT accused LU of "misleading" the public over the level of services and of leaving platforms and stations "dangerously overcrowded".
RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said: "It helps no-one for LU to deliberately mislead the public as to what services are available, as it simply piles dangerous levels of pressure on to the ghost trains and skeleton operations, leaving passengers and staff at risk." Mr Cash said: "It helps no-one for LU to deliberately mislead the public as to what services are available, as it simply piles dangerous levels of pressure on to the ghost trains and skeleton operations, leaving passengers and staff at risk."
TfL needs to save £4.2bn by 2020. It hopes to save £50m a year by closing ticket offices.TfL needs to save £4.2bn by 2020. It hopes to save £50m a year by closing ticket offices.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson wants legislation preventing strike action unless at least 50% of union members in a workplace take part in a ballot.Mayor of London Boris Johnson wants legislation preventing strike action unless at least 50% of union members in a workplace take part in a ballot.
Mr Johnson told BBC London 94.9 he had received assurances from Prime Minister David Cameron.Mr Johnson told BBC London 94.9 he had received assurances from Prime Minister David Cameron.
He said: "I've had it from his lips in public, that on day one of a new Cameron administration he will be able to deliver a deal that gives exactly the protection that Londoners want.He said: "I've had it from his lips in public, that on day one of a new Cameron administration he will be able to deliver a deal that gives exactly the protection that Londoners want.
"This is a strike by one of the unions concerned and a small minority have triggered that.""This is a strike by one of the unions concerned and a small minority have triggered that."
Asked if he thought another strike would be staged next week, Mr Johnson said: "I can't say what is in the minds of the RMT and their leadership.Asked if he thought another strike would be staged next week, Mr Johnson said: "I can't say what is in the minds of the RMT and their leadership.
"I think most people looking at the generosity of terms would say that's quite enough already.""I think most people looking at the generosity of terms would say that's quite enough already."
Mr Cash called Mr Johnson's remarks a "wholesale assault on trade unions".Mr Cash called Mr Johnson's remarks a "wholesale assault on trade unions".
He accused him of using Londoners "as pawns in his personal crusade for the leadership of the Tory party".He accused him of using Londoners "as pawns in his personal crusade for the leadership of the Tory party".
He said reducing the numbers of Tube workers would make stations a "criminals' paradise", adding: "The political posturing by the mayor and his officials at London Underground and TfL must stop and talks based on RMT's proposed solution to the dispute must be reconvened."He said reducing the numbers of Tube workers would make stations a "criminals' paradise", adding: "The political posturing by the mayor and his officials at London Underground and TfL must stop and talks based on RMT's proposed solution to the dispute must be reconvened."
'Yesterday was worse''Yesterday was worse'
LU said 52% of services were running on Wednesday, up 2% on those running on Tuesday.LU said 52% of services were running on Wednesday, up 2% on those running on Tuesday.
Extra bus services have been in operation since the start of the strike, with some vintage models being brought back into use. Extra bus services were in operation since the start of the strike, with some vintage models being brought back into use.
Billy Reeves, BBC London 94.9's travel reporter, said the roads had been no busier because of the strike. "Yesterday was worse," he said. Billy Reeves, BBC London 94.9's travel reporter, said the roads other than in the West End and along the Euston Road had been no busier because of the strike. "Yesterday was worse," he added.
But he added that Hammersmith, Fulham, Chiswick and Shepherd's Bush had been "bad" and the West End was "very slow".
Customers are advised to check their journeys before travelling, but LU has advised the following services are in operation - although with trains running less frequently and some stations closed:
The DLR and London Overground lines are not affected by the strike action.The DLR and London Overground lines are not affected by the strike action.
Among those affected were football fans travelling to Stamford Bridge for the Champions League clash between Chelsea and Atlético Madrid.
Chelsea FC advised fans to find alternative routes to the stadium, such as walking from Clapham Junction or taking buses from Hammersmith, as Fulham Broadway was closed before the match while West Brompton and Parsons Green closed at 21:30.