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ELL Live Blog: second day of tube strike, London commuters face morning delays and closed stations

ELL Live Blog: second day of tube strike, London commuters face morning delays and closed stations

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Commuters on the Tube. Pic: Tom Page

Commuters on the Tube. Pic: Tom Page

Good morning and welcome to our special Tube strike live blogging. We will be bringing you all the latest news and travel updates to help you get around east London.

You can tweet and follow us on @eastlondonlines using #ELLtubestrike

 

19:13

The strike is due to end at 21:00 GMT and service is set to return to normal on Friday morning. This strike has got personal between Bob Crow and Boris Johnson, largely because they haven’t spoken and then they have in odd ways on TV and radio.

Unless something changes, this is just the first of a number of planned strikes, the second of which will come next week.

 

19:02

Liverpool Street worse than this morning due to delays

Source: BBC News

 

18:44

 

18:37

Instagram: @bjornkrischker – Tube strike at it’s best at liverpoolstreet station! OMG #tubestrike

18:26
https://twitter.com/E1familylawyer/status/431493606185390080
.
18:25

So far in this dispute Boris Johnson looks like he’s fairly content. He will be welcoming an opportunity to be seen to be dealing with an industrial crisis well.

His calculation is it’s more important for him to look tough and face down this union. No compromise, no deal.

There’s a slight vulnerability, however, because he has never sat down with the RMT and talked.

Source: BBC News

 

18:21

Instagram: @chantalkisten – Trying to hail a taxi in the rain during a tube strike is no easy task. #london #tubestrike

 

 

18:19

 

18:17

As The Epoch Times states that mayor Boris Johnson wants to continue talks, while the unions say the mayor refuses to meet… Unless something changes, this is just the first of a number of planned strikes, the second of which will come next week.

Source: Complex.com

 

18:12

 

18:01

Vintage Routemasters have been running along a bus route in Camden Town as transport chiefs try to cope with London’s Tube strike.

Source: BBC News

 

17:57

 

17:53

 

17:49

 

17:47

 

17:44

 

17:42

One of our reporters says it took 50 mins from Tottenham Court Road to Liverpool Street Station

 

17:36

Instagram: @joshgrimes – Liverpool St Station #tubestrike #ELLtubestrike

 

17:31

 

17:26

Although the strike finishes at 21:00, Transport for London says it does not expect Tube services to get back to normal until tomorrow morning.

The unions and London Underground have agreed to go to conciliators Acas for talks tomorrow to try to settle the dispute and avoid a further 48-hour walk out next Tuesday.

Source: BBC News

 

17:16

Workers on their way back home. Let’s have a look at the public transport conditions

 

12:01pm

Well, that’s it from us this morning. We hope you’ve enjoyed and been informed by our live blog. Stay tuned for more updates later on when we’ll accompany you through the evening rush.

11:52am

Instagram: gridley85

 

 

11:44am

Unusual tube map courtesy of Dave Brown at The Independent:

 

11:36am

Mike Brown from London Underground has this message for Bob Crow:

“Come and meet me any time, my phone is on 24 hours a day. I’ll meet him any place anywhere.”

Source: BBC

 

11:32am

Bob Crow has a blog on Huff Post on why the strike is happening, he says:

“Ticket office staff and their platform colleagues are the eyes and ears of the service.”

 

11:22am

The tube strike has seen more people using Boris bikes:

 

11:17am

Boris Johnson on the tube earlier:

 

11:08am

Reaction from Sir Richard Ottaway, MP for Croydon South. He described the strike as “economic vandalism” and added it’s “very damaging and could be avoided”.

“The strike has cost us dear, and it harms our image on the world stage,” he said.

Source: BBC

 

11:03am

The RMT says that TfL needs to save £50m from its station operating budget over the next nine years and suggests this is the driving force behind the changes. TfL denies this vehemently, saying:

“These changes are not about funding cuts, they are about adapting our service to what customers want from the Underground. The trend of ticket sales away from ticket offices has surged over recent years and today less than 3% of all tube journeys involve a visit to a ticket office.”

Source: Londonist.com

 

10:57am
TfL are reporting moderate crowds yet delays of 40 minutes for buses from key locations such as King’s Cross, Euston, Waterloo, London Bridge, Victoria, Brixton and Stratford. Elsewhere, the 55 route via Oxford Street is currently running with journey times of up to two hours.

The Metropolitan line bus replacement service between Uxbridge and Harrow-on-the-Hill has now been stopped. However, the underground line continues to run into central London between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Aldgate.

Source: theguardian.com

 

10:55am

Listen to Bob Crow talk to Vanessa Feltz (BBC News) about why his RMT union members are on strike.

 

10:50am

Instagram @a_little_wine : Massive bus line at Oxford Street #tubestrike #ELLtubestrike

 

10:46am

 

10:44am

 

10:40am

Speaking to BBC, ticket office worker Philip, from Croydon, said he was on strike because the closure needed to be a “gradual process”.

“There’s still teething problems with the Oyster card and people get frustrated and they abuse us,” he said.

Source: BBC News

 

10:29am

Old routemasters running during the strike. #tubestrike #routemaster #londonbus Read more at http://web.stagram.com/p/649802043977503431_8786667#B8hi1TgAC231HjIw.99

 

 

10:23am

TfL thinks it will need an extra 200 staff to run the 24 hour weekend tube, so we’re talking a net loss of 750 roles. But it’s not as simple as shifting 200 people from their current jobs into Customer Service Assistant (CSA) roles though, as it’s unlikely that someone working during the day will fancy a midnight-8am Piccadilly Circus shift

Source: the Londonist

 

10:11am

 

10:02am

There are severe delays between Stratford & Richmond & between Willesden Junction & Clapham Junction to prevent overcrowding.

Source: BBC News

 

9:59am

 

9:50am

The key points from the Mayor of London and RMT union leader’s BBC radio interviews in the last hour:

Boris Johnson:

Why don’t they (the unions) get to the negotiating team now – of course there’s wriggle room that’s what negotiation about.

Bob Crow in response:

He wants services on Friday and Saturday night – are you telling me you’re going to run trains with people boozed off their minds and you’re going to take 1,000 staff out of the system and that’s safe?

Source: theguardian.com

 

9:36am

And then snuck in a quick selfie:

9:33am

Speaking to BBC London 94.9, Boris Johnson says: “Why don’t they (the unions) get to the negotiating team now – of course there’s wriggle room that’s what negotiation about.”

Source: BBC

 

9:23am

Talks to avert further tube strikes next week to be held tomorrow.

RMT leader Bob Crow says: “Our negotiators are geared up and ready to enter the exploratory talks on Friday.”

LU managing director Mike Brown says: “My message to the leadership of the RMT and TSSA is ‘why wait to sit down with us until Friday?’. They should do the right thing, meet us at Acas today, and suspend this completely unnecessary strike.”

Source: The Telegraph

 

9:14am

More Londoners biking to work…..

9:10am

Stratford, stratford, stratford.

9:06am

Update from TfL on the Bakerloo line

8:57am

Londoners are really taking to this walking thing:

8:49am

Central line is now running every 5 minutes or so.

8:24am

From Mike Brown, managing director of London Underground:

“Yesterday we ran about 35% of services. Today we’ve had a better start on the Bakerloo line and Central line is now running to Marble Arch.”

He said the Northern line now has all stations open and the Jubilee line is today stopping at Canary Wharf and Stratford.

Source: BBC

 

 

8:20am

You know what they say about London buses, you wait and wait then they all come at once:

 

 

8:18am

Bus queues…….where’s the nearest coffee shop?!

8:14am

For those needing a little extra help, check out the live departure boards to plan your journey:

 

TfL Departure Board

 

8:10am

Good news! who says you always have to scramble for seats on the tube:

8:03am

TfL says buses might be delayed for up to an hour this morning, check for disruptions to your bus route here:

 

Tfl

 

7:58am

Yes, there’s a strike going on but the walk to work can be beautiful:

7:53am

Bus route 55 which goes from Lea Bridge road to Oxford Circus (through Hackney) is very busy, please allow extra time for your journey.

7:47am

More pictures from Stratford this morning:

7:44am

Reports of heavy traffic at Old Street roundabout due to an accident at the junction of Old St. and St John St.

7:40am

The Northern line via Bank is running every 15 minutes or so at the moment.

7:33am

 

7:31am

 

7:29am

Avoid Mini cabs on tube strike days, they increase their fares. Use Black cabs, which are regulated and can’t change them.

 

7:23am

 

7:20am

TSSA union boss Manuel Cortes has told BBC London 94.9 he was pleased for the support for the strike.

He said: “Taking strike action is always a sign of failure but we went the extra mile to solve this dispute.”

 

7:16am

Avoid Liverpool Street Station

 

7:13am

Stratford station overcrowded. Services running between Stanmore and Finchley Road, and between Waterloo and Stratford

 

7:11am

https://twitter.com/j0annepsi/status/431323177051238400

 

7:08am

 

7:06am

 

7:01am

 

6:58am

 

6:55am

 

6:49am

The Jubilee line will run between Stanmore and Finchley Road and Waterloo and Stratford. It will not stop at Bermondsey, Canada Water and Southwark.

The Metropolitan Line runs between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Aldgate but will not stop at Barbican or Great Portland Street. Check TfL for what’s running.

 

6:40am

 

6:37am

 

6:29am

#tubestrike

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6:22am

The RMT and TSSA unions have said they will take part in talks on Friday aimed at resolving the dispute. But London Underground (LU) urged them to meet earlier and suspend the action.

Transport for London (TfL) said it would try to run as many Tube services as possible but warned there would be disruption from 07:00 GMT, when most Tubes will start. It follows a day of delays on Wednesday, affecting millions of commuters across the city and forcing many to rely on buses instead of the Underground.

The service is set to return to normal on Friday morning.

Source: BBC.co.uk

 

6:18am

Commuters are facing two days of transport misery as a strike by tube workers means only around a third of trains are running and many stations closed.

 

6:14am

 

6:08am

TfL says it is hoping to operate a basic service on these lines from 07:00:

  • Bakerloo – a service between Queen’s Park and Elephant & Castle but not stopping at Edgware Road, Embankment, Kilburn Park, Lambeth North, Maida Vale, Piccadilly Circus or Regent’s Park stations
  • Central – no trains stopping in the centre of the city. Trains will run between Epping & Leytonstone and between West Ruislip and White City

 

6:00am

Second day of #tubestrike in London

 

————————————————————————————————————–

16:55

 

16:55

Workers on their way home: an useful guide on how to complete your journey without killing your fellow commuters

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/02/05/london-tube-strike-stress-tips_n_4730020.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

 

16:41

 

16:36

 

16:06

 

15:50

 

15:42

 

15:33

 

15:21

Journalist Symeon Brown filmed a mass of would-be travellers packing Stratford station, which had to be evacuated due to overcrowding

http://bcove.me/nb3zqryu

 

15:03

The TSSA union has claimed London Underground’s volunteers failed to show up, leaving police officers to control crowds and direct passengers outside Brixton station and in Stratford.

Nigel Holness, LU’s operations director, said the union’s claims were “completely false”, adding: “As Londoners will have seen for themselves, we’ve had hundreds of volunteers out today to help customers get around.”

Source: BBC News

 

14:43

Industrial action on the London Underground may be causing misery for millions of commuters and tourists, but many businesses have seen it as an opportunity to promote products and services.

http://www.businesszone.co.uk/blogs/dan-martin/dan-martin-editor039s-blog/businesses-taking-advantage-london-tube-strike

 

14:27

 

14:23

 

13:59

 

13:55

 

13:36

 

13:03

The Telegraph: Boris Johnson apologises for pointless tube strike delays

 

13:01

 

12:45

There is a good service on the DLR. Northern line and London Overground, according to TfL.

Although there are a number of station closures across the whole of London Underground.

Source: BBC News

 

12:42

Here’s a snapshot of the 206 trains on the London Tube right now. #tubestrike

pic.twitter.com/lMbnA2ejK2

 

12:35

 

12:34

 

12:30

Bob Crow defends strikes action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PImMQsUbxLY

 

12:25

 

12:22

TSSA recaps why people are striking and what the strike actually involves

http://www.tssa.org.uk/en/campaigns/london-underground-dispute/index.cfm

 

12:14

 

12:05

Line-by-line guide of the affected services

http://www.itv.com/news/london/2014-02-03/tube-strike-line-by-line-guide-of-the-affected-services/

 

11:58am:

 

11:52am:

Downing Street has once again called for the strike to be called off,  David Cameron’s spokesman said:

“The prime minister’s view is that Bob Crow should have called off the strike and should do so before further misery is heaped on hundreds of thousands, probably millions, of hard-working families.

The strike has been called by Mr Crow’s union and others and the responsibility for calling it off is entirely theirs.”

Source: The Guardian

 

11:37am:

Boris Johnson at London Bridge meeting with tube staff and getting first hand experience of what commuters are facing:

 

11:29am:

The strikes have had a knock-on effect on the roads too:

 

11:20am:

 

10:33am:

 

10:30am:

Here’s the Londonist, analysing the reasons for the strike:

“One of the most contentious issues is the loss of 953 front-line jobs driven by closing all ticket offices. TfL thinks it will need an extra 200 staff to run the 24 hour weekend tube, so we’re talking a net loss of 750 roles. But it’s not as simple as shifting 200 people from their current jobs into Customer Service Assistant (CSA) roles though, as it’s unlikely that someone working during the day will fancy a midnight-8am Piccadilly Circus shift, and many of the jobs being cut are supervisory – moving roles would mean a hefty pay cut.”

Source: www.londonist.com

 

10:29am:

 

10:24am:

 

10:14am:

People left stranded outside Stratford Tube station this morning

 

10:10am:

Clapham Junction Station – Passengers compete for space

 

10:02am:

Patrick McLoughlin, the transport secretary, has just been speaking to the Guardian about the strike. He said:

The strike should not be happening. The trouble it’s causing to London and London commuters helps nobody.

Asked about Boris Johnson’s idea of requiring unions to get a majority of their members to back a strike before it could go ahead, he said:

Boris puts an idea like that forward, you’ve got to look at it. You’ve got to look at what Boris is saying. The chaos that this brings to people – it should not be happening in today’s society. Certainly what Boris says needs some careful consideration.

Source: theguardian.com

 

09:59am:

Over a third of tube services running, with around 70% of stations open. Trains running on 8 of 11 lines.

Source: TfL

 

09:53am:

 

9:45am:

 

9:33am:

 

9:31am:

9:31am:

 

9:30am:

 

9:27am:

 

9:01am:

Bow Road Station

Bow Road Station

 

 

8:43am:

 

8:42am:

https://twitter.com/catulla/status/430983633152012288

 

8:40am:

 

8:38am:

 

8:31am:

 

8:28am:

 

8:24am:

 

8:21am:

https://twitter.com/Yafeesh/status/430978325755207680/photo/1

 

8:15am:

 

7:57am:

Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, is explaining why the tube strike is taking place today in the capital on BBC Radio 4.

He says he respects trade unionists but says only a “tiny” minority of the RMT – 30% – voted for the strike. He claims there has been “intimidation” in the union to encourage people to vote for the strike.

He calls for changes to strike laws for “vital” public transport infrastructure to make sure a strike is only allowed if a majority votes for it. He says the case of his own election, when he failed to get the votes of a majority of Londoners, is totally different. (theguardian.com)

7:56am:

8:00am:

https://twitter.com/LadyHz/status/430973898184990720

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