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| Tube strike begins across London Underground network | Tube strike begins across London Underground network |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tube staff have gone on strike across the entire London Underground network in a row over pay and conditions. | Tube staff have gone on strike across the entire London Underground network in a row over pay and conditions. |
| The strike, which officially began at 18:30 BST, affects all Tube lines and will finish at 21:30 on Thursday. | The strike, which officially began at 18:30 BST, affects all Tube lines and will finish at 21:30 on Thursday. |
| It was called after London Underground (LU) and unions failed to agree a deal over pay and new night-time services. | It was called after London Underground (LU) and unions failed to agree a deal over pay and new night-time services. |
| The rush hour started in the afternoon as commuters left work early to try to beat the strike. LU has warned there could be no services on Thursday. | |
| Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) and Unite started their 24-hour strike at 18:30. Aslef drivers were due to start their 24-hour action from 21:30. | |
| The typical salary for a Tube driver is £50,000a year, the RMT said. | |
| Extra buses | Extra buses |
| In a separate dispute, First Great Western staff also walked out for 48 hours at 18:30, causing disruption to services between London, the west of England and Wales. | In a separate dispute, First Great Western staff also walked out for 48 hours at 18:30, causing disruption to services between London, the west of England and Wales. |
| A TfL spokesman said: "On the buses everything is doing pretty well, people followed our advice and made their journeys earlier, there was some heavy loading but nothing extreme." | A TfL spokesman said: "On the buses everything is doing pretty well, people followed our advice and made their journeys earlier, there was some heavy loading but nothing extreme." |
| He said there were 100 extra buses on the network and 200 would be laid on for Thursday. | He said there were 100 extra buses on the network and 200 would be laid on for Thursday. |
| Traffic delays around Euston Road through the evening peak time and a unrelated protest at Parliament Square were causing problems, he said. | Traffic delays around Euston Road through the evening peak time and a unrelated protest at Parliament Square were causing problems, he said. |
| Taxi drivers have been busier than normal during the strike. | Taxi drivers have been busier than normal during the strike. |
| 'Surge pricing' | 'Surge pricing' |
| Bob Oddy, deputy general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, said: "The public can rest assured they will not be ripped off by the licensed taxi trade who will only charge the normal fare which has been set with TfL." | Bob Oddy, deputy general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, said: "The public can rest assured they will not be ripped off by the licensed taxi trade who will only charge the normal fare which has been set with TfL." |
| His comments come after the BBC found that car service app Uber had raised its prices through the day as demand for alternative transport increased. | His comments come after the BBC found that car service app Uber had raised its prices through the day as demand for alternative transport increased. |
| A journey from Oxford Circus to Clapham Junction that cost between £10-£14 at 10:00 was priced at £25-£32 by 17:00 and a journey from Oxford Circus to Paddington that cost between £6-£9 at 10:00 cost £15-£19 by 17:00. | A journey from Oxford Circus to Clapham Junction that cost between £10-£14 at 10:00 was priced at £25-£32 by 17:00 and a journey from Oxford Circus to Paddington that cost between £6-£9 at 10:00 cost £15-£19 by 17:00. |
| The practice, called "surge pricing", is normal among some hotels and airlines and is explained on Uber's website, BBC transport correspondent Tom Edwards said. | The practice, called "surge pricing", is normal among some hotels and airlines and is explained on Uber's website, BBC transport correspondent Tom Edwards said. |
| At the scene | At the scene |
| Beth Rose, BBC News | Beth Rose, BBC News |
| People had to beat the crowds by leaving work early and getting the last Tubes out of the city. | People had to beat the crowds by leaving work early and getting the last Tubes out of the city. |
| But with noses pressed against backs and bodies crushed against the walls of shops, the realisation quickly dawned on them that everyone had had the same idea. | But with noses pressed against backs and bodies crushed against the walls of shops, the realisation quickly dawned on them that everyone had had the same idea. |
| The pressure started early. From 4pm, people were sweeping down the street, almost jogging to reach the Tube entrance. | The pressure started early. From 4pm, people were sweeping down the street, almost jogging to reach the Tube entrance. |
| But the crowds grew too quickly and plans had to be changed. Commuters consulted their phones, hoping to find an alternative route. | But the crowds grew too quickly and plans had to be changed. Commuters consulted their phones, hoping to find an alternative route. |
| Failing that, when buses were dismissed as too full, the favourite option seemed to be a resigned shrug of the shoulders and a plan to walk - trainers or not. | Failing that, when buses were dismissed as too full, the favourite option seemed to be a resigned shrug of the shoulders and a plan to walk - trainers or not. |
| Wimbledon spectators planning to use the Tube were warned to leave "as soon as possible" during Andy Murray's match. | Wimbledon spectators planning to use the Tube were warned to leave "as soon as possible" during Andy Murray's match. |
| Ahead of the walkout, mayor of London Boris Johnson tweeted: "Tube strike politically motivated - union bosses need to explain why they refuse to put new offer to members - disgraceful - call it off!" | Ahead of the walkout, mayor of London Boris Johnson tweeted: "Tube strike politically motivated - union bosses need to explain why they refuse to put new offer to members - disgraceful - call it off!" |
| But the four unions involved maintain the new plans would be disruptive to their members' lives. | But the four unions involved maintain the new plans would be disruptive to their members' lives. |
| This is what you need to know about the Tube strikes | This is what you need to know about the Tube strikes |
| Commuter Billi-Jo Highdale said: "I've got to get to the DLR somehow as I need to go from Greenwich to Mile End, or find a lift from someone. I had plans with a friend for tomorrow but I've had to cancel them. | Commuter Billi-Jo Highdale said: "I've got to get to the DLR somehow as I need to go from Greenwich to Mile End, or find a lift from someone. I had plans with a friend for tomorrow but I've had to cancel them. |
| "My parents are black-cab drivers so they will do well. It's as good as a three-day weekend for them, although it sucks for everyone else." | "My parents are black-cab drivers so they will do well. It's as good as a three-day weekend for them, although it sucks for everyone else." |
| Camilla Fleury, a fashion retailer, said: "I got out of work fine and I'll probably walk to a DLR line and then use that to get home. It's going to be a very long walk, but I hope I can do it within an hour." | Camilla Fleury, a fashion retailer, said: "I got out of work fine and I'll probably walk to a DLR line and then use that to get home. It's going to be a very long walk, but I hope I can do it within an hour." |
| Another commuter said: "I have no idea what to do tomorrow. My bosses are being understanding, but we have to show up in the office at some point." | Another commuter said: "I have no idea what to do tomorrow. My bosses are being understanding, but we have to show up in the office at some point." |
| The disputed weekend night services are set to begin on 12 September on sections of the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines. | The disputed weekend night services are set to begin on 12 September on sections of the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines. |
| There are concerns some employees will have to work more overnight shifts and could have to work on their own in some stations. | There are concerns some employees will have to work more overnight shifts and could have to work on their own in some stations. |
| Analysis by Richard Westcott, BBC transport correspondent | Analysis by Richard Westcott, BBC transport correspondent |
| This Tube strike is as much about personalities as it is about the deal they are trying to hammer out. | This Tube strike is as much about personalities as it is about the deal they are trying to hammer out. |
| The team negotiating for LU is new at this. The Chief Operating Officer, Steve Griffiths, joined from Virgin Atlantic earlier this year, and my understanding is that no-one on the management side of the table has experience dealing with rail deals. | The team negotiating for LU is new at this. The Chief Operating Officer, Steve Griffiths, joined from Virgin Atlantic earlier this year, and my understanding is that no-one on the management side of the table has experience dealing with rail deals. |
| Not that long ago, bosses on both sides would have got together, informally, maybe over a beer, to see if they could smooth the path for an agreement. | Not that long ago, bosses on both sides would have got together, informally, maybe over a beer, to see if they could smooth the path for an agreement. |
| That hasn't happened this time. | That hasn't happened this time. |
| So, we've got a group of frustrated unions. A frustrated LU. And four million Tube passengers in the middle. | So, we've got a group of frustrated unions. A frustrated LU. And four million Tube passengers in the middle. |
| Both sides think the other is being unreasonable. | Both sides think the other is being unreasonable. |
| Unfortunately, there don't seem to be any of those old, informal lines of communication open right now, which in the past might have just sorted this out. | Unfortunately, there don't seem to be any of those old, informal lines of communication open right now, which in the past might have just sorted this out. |
| On Monday, unions rejected LU's latest pay deal, which LU said was an increased but "final" pay offer made "in an attempt to conclude five months of talks". | On Monday, unions rejected LU's latest pay deal, which LU said was an increased but "final" pay offer made "in an attempt to conclude five months of talks". |
| It included a 2% rise this year and £2,000 for drivers on the weekend night Tube service. | It included a 2% rise this year and £2,000 for drivers on the weekend night Tube service. |
| Mr Johnson told the BBC: "What we've done is made an extremely good offer, that I think most Londoners would think was more than handsome." | Mr Johnson told the BBC: "What we've done is made an extremely good offer, that I think most Londoners would think was more than handsome." |
| Getting about | Getting about |
| TfL advice | TfL advice |
| Unions would "not succeed" in their aims, he said, and he urged them to accept the pay offer, which he described as "final". | Unions would "not succeed" in their aims, he said, and he urged them to accept the pay offer, which he described as "final". |
| He said it was "absolutely wrong to hold London to ransom" and apologised for the disruption, which he warned would be "very considerable". | He said it was "absolutely wrong to hold London to ransom" and apologised for the disruption, which he warned would be "very considerable". |
| Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the strike was "unnecessary" and of benefit to no-one. | |
| "We stand shoulder to shoulder with workers, families and commuters who want to go about their lives without disruption. I urge the strikers to accept the good offer that employers have made and get back to work," he said. | |
| Aslef organiser Finn Brennan said the responsibility of the strikes "rests squarely with London Underground management" who "squandered the window of opportunity" to resolve it. | |
| The TSSA union also rejected the offer and general secretary Manuel Cortes said: "This dispute is not just about pay, but about how to run a safe and secure night Tube which serves the passengers as well as rewarding the staff." | The TSSA union also rejected the offer and general secretary Manuel Cortes said: "This dispute is not just about pay, but about how to run a safe and secure night Tube which serves the passengers as well as rewarding the staff." |
| About 20,000 Tube workers are expected to walk out during the course of the strike. | About 20,000 Tube workers are expected to walk out during the course of the strike. |
| Talks are set to resume on Friday. | Talks are set to resume on Friday. |
| The ins and outs of the dispute | The ins and outs of the dispute |