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Tube strike brings second day of disruption to London commuters Tube strike brings second day of disruption to London commuters
(about 2 hours later)
Commuters in London have faced a second morning rush hour of disruption due to tube strikes.Commuters in London have faced a second morning rush hour of disruption due to tube strikes.
London Underground said it would be running more services on Wednesday, but the RMT union accused the company of misleading the public and risking safety by talking up skeleton operations on tube lines.London Underground said it would be running more services on Wednesday, but the RMT union accused the company of misleading the public and risking safety by talking up skeleton operations on tube lines.
Stations started opening from 7am on Wednesday as many early morning commuters queued for crowded buses, although journeys eased for people travelling later. Stations started opening from 7am on Wednesday but many early-morning commuters queued instead for crowded buses; journeys eased for people travelling later.
London Underground was due to open all 11 tube lines on Wednesday morning, albeit offering only a vastly reduced service covering certain stretches and missing stations en route. On the major arteries, a fuller service was expected on the Northern and Victoria lines, but the Piccadilly and Central line would remain closed in the middle of London. London Underground was due to open all 11 tube lines on Wednesday morning, albeit offering only a vastly reduced service covering certain stretches and missing stations en route. On the major arteries, a fuller service was expected on the Northern and Victoria lines, but the Piccadilly and Central lines were to remain closed in the middle of London.
Transport for London has put on an extra 268 buses to help commuters, including around 40 vintage Routemasters. Transport for London has put on an extra 268 buses to help commuters, including about 40 vintage Routemasters.
The RMT said its action was again "rock solid" – a claim that London mayor Boris Johnson had earlier described as "farcical". The RMT said its action was again "rock solid" – a claim that the London mayor, Boris Johnson, had earlier described as "farcical".
RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said: "It helps no one for LU and TFL 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. The RMT's acting general secretary, Mick Cash, said: "It helps no one for LU and TfL 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.
"Instead of producing bogus timetables, tube chiefs should be round the table responding positively to RMT's proposals for resolving a dispute which is about nothing more than cash led cuts to jobs, services and safety." "Instead of producing bogus timetables, tube chiefs should be round the table responding positively to RMT's proposals for resolving a dispute which is about nothing more than cash-led cuts to jobs, services and safety."
London Underground ran half its normal services on Tuesday , more than during the last strike action in February, and said it was aiming to match or beat that on Wednesday. London Underground ran half its normal services on Tuesday, more than during the last strike action in February, and said it was aiming to match or beat that on Wednesday.
It said two-thirds of stations were open, and almost 90% of regular Oyster users had travelled on the Transport for London network during the strike.It said two-thirds of stations were open, and almost 90% of regular Oyster users had travelled on the Transport for London network during the strike.
Mike Brown, managing director of London Underground, said: "I'm sorry that Londoners are enduring more disruption today as a result of the RMT's pointless strike action. The only sensible course is for the RMT leadership to call off the strikes and get back to working with us to shape the future of the tube, as the other three unions are doing."Mike Brown, managing director of London Underground, said: "I'm sorry that Londoners are enduring more disruption today as a result of the RMT's pointless strike action. The only sensible course is for the RMT leadership to call off the strikes and get back to working with us to shape the future of the tube, as the other three unions are doing."
"Under our plans to modernise the tube, we're committed to a safe railway with an increased number of visible staff – by 30% at our busiest stations – personally serving our passengers."Under our plans to modernise the tube, we're committed to a safe railway with an increased number of visible staff – by 30% at our busiest stations – personally serving our passengers.
"There will be no compulsory redundancies, there is a job for all staff wanting to remain with us, and no one will lose pay. We have made significant changes to our original proposals after listening to our people and the unions in over 40 meetings.""There will be no compulsory redundancies, there is a job for all staff wanting to remain with us, and no one will lose pay. We have made significant changes to our original proposals after listening to our people and the unions in over 40 meetings."
However, the RMT's London organiser John Leach said tube bosses were offering a "review where they already had decided the outcome before they've even started it". However, the RMT's London organiser, John Leach, said tube bosses were offering a "review where they already had decided the outcome before they've even started it".
Leach denied that the strike was motivated by internal RMT politics, with an election looming to replace the late general secretary Bob Crow, pointing instead to 953 jobs being lost and budget cuts. "The strike is about the quality of service on the tube, for the public and the staff working in it," he said.Leach denied that the strike was motivated by internal RMT politics, with an election looming to replace the late general secretary Bob Crow, pointing instead to 953 jobs being lost and budget cuts. "The strike is about the quality of service on the tube, for the public and the staff working in it," he said.
The 48-hour strike started at 9pm on Monday evening. The dispute over the closure of ticket offices across the capital saw strikes in February this year, which were suspended for eight weeks of talks. The TSSA union, which also went on strike with the RMT in February, is still in talks, along with Unite and Aslef. The 48-hour strike started at 9pm on Monday. The dispute over the closure of ticket offices across the capital prompted the strikes in February, which were suspended for eight weeks of talks. The TSSA union, which also went on strike with the RMT in February, is still in talks, along with Unite and Aslef.
A fresh 72-hour strike is planned to start next Monday evening at 9.30pm. No formal talks have been scheduled but there are hopes it may still be averted. A fresh 72-hour strike is planned to start next Monday at 9.30pm. No formal talks have been scheduled but there are hopes it may still be averted.
A separate RMT strike is also reducing Heathrow Express services until Wednesday evening.A separate RMT strike is also reducing Heathrow Express services until Wednesday evening.