Travel disruption as Tube drivers stage second strike of the week
London Underground drivers staged their second strike of the week on Thursday causing fresh disruption for travellers in the capital.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) also walked out on Tuesday after last-ditch talks failed to resolve a dispute over a four-day week.
The two sides met for five hours on Monday, with the assistance of the conciliation service Acas, but the talks ended without any resolution.
Picket lines were again mounted outside Tube stations on Thursday and buses were busier than usual.
Tube lines were suspended or disrupted because of the strike, which the union said was being solidly supported.
The RMT added that talks were expected to resume next week.
Transport for London said Londoners and visitors to the city were still able to travel despite the strike action on Tuesday adding that more than 60% of drivers came to work across the day.
“We continue to urge the RMT to work with us to resolve their questions on the proposed four-day week and to suspend any future action while that work is completed,” said a spokesperson.
Research by communications firm 02 showed that footfall in London was down by up 12% compared with a normal Thursday morning.
Footfall in the City was down by 9%, King’s Cross by 12%, the West End by 5% and Westminster by 11%.
A Virgin Media O2 spokesperson said: “As Tube strikes continue across London, our mobility data shows footfall remains down across some of the city’s busiest areas.
“The data highlights the continued impact transport disruption can have on central London, with many people once again changing their usual routines and journeys.”
A TfL spokesperson said: “We are sorry that our customers are yet again faced with disruption and delay following the ongoing strike action by the RMT. We have committed, a number of times and in a number of ways, including in writing before this most recent industrial action, to these proposals being voluntary. Any suggestion otherwise is misleading the public in order to justify strike action over proposals that would give Tube drivers more time off and create a more modern, efficient Tube service.
“Despite the strike, we are still running services across most lines, and a good service has operated on the Jubilee line for much of the day. More drivers have come to work today than on Tuesday, and we will continue to do all we can to provide as much service as possible.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub