Tube Strike Suspended

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• Tube Strike Suspended

06 May 2014 | Updated 01 January 1970

Phil Hufton, Chief Operating Officer of London Underground, said yesterday:

“I am pleased that Londoners will not have to endure further strike action this week. The only way to resolve this dispute is for the RMT leadership to work with us to shape the future of the Tube in a changing world.  It is good that they have committed to doing so alongside the three other unions involved.  As we have always said, we are, of course, open to discuss any proposals our staff or the unions may offer."

The form of words agreed at ACAS on Bank Holiday Monday which led to the suspension of the strike are as follows: 'The station by station review will continue with all the trades unions invited to participate and contribute, additionally the proposed 'Fit for the Future' implementation plan will also be reviewed. This exercise should be completed by 23rd May 2014. The outcome of the exercise will be discussed at a meeting chaired by ACAS. LU would enter into further detailed discussions to ensure that any employees identified as in scope of the Fit for the Future - Stations proposals on 21 November 2013, and who do not choose to leave the business under voluntary severance, would be offered a role that involves no reduction in their current substantive salary. This arrangement would be specific to the Fit for the Future – Stations programme'.

 

Report from Thursday of last week

Full Tube services are in operation this morning following the strike called by the RMT union.

London Underground claims it operated over 50 per cent of Tube services across the 48-hour action - higher than during the last strike in February, though this claim is disputed by the union. LU says that passenger journeys were at 57%.

Talks are now again being held at ACAS to avert strike action planned for next week including Bank Holiday Monday, 5 May at 9:00p.m. for 72 hours if the dispute is not resolved. Over 40 meetings have already taken place, so don't hold your breath...plan for the disruption instead.

 

Yesterday's Report

At midday, Transport for London and the London Underground reported that 50% of Tube services are operating despite the RMT strike, with two-thirds of stations open. This is despite contrary reports from yesterday that indicated the strike was more far ranging than the one that took place in February.

Curiously, there have been a record number of buses running and a greater than 70 per cent increase in Barclays cycle hires. Tfl claims there are enhanced services operating on London Overground, DLR, Tramlink and on river services. However, this news comes as the rhetoric about the strike grows - alongside the propaganda war.

 

So, on with the update:

 

Bakerloo line     

Queen’s Park - Elephant & Castle (every 5 minutes)

These trains will not stop at Edgware Road, Embankment, Kilburn Park, Lambeth North, Maida Vale, Paddington, Piccadilly Circus or Regent’s Park stations. It is possible that some other stations may also need to close at times.

 

Central line

No service is operating through the central area.  Trains are running:

Epping – Leytonstone (every 15 minutes)

Hainault – Marble Arch (every 20 minutes)

West Ruislip – North Acton (every 15 minutes)

Ealing Broadway – White City (every 10 minutes)

These trains will not stop at Redbridge, Bethnal Green, Chancery Lane, St Paul’s or Wanstead stations. It is possible that some other stations may also need to close at times.

 

Circle line

Closed but covered by the District line, Hammersmith & City line and Metropolitan line

 

District line

Trains are running:

Upminster – Wimbledon (every 6 minutes)

aling Broadway - High Street Kensington (every 15 minutes)

These trains will not stop at Sloane Square or Fulham Broadway stations. It is possible that some other stations may also need to close at times.

 

Hammersmith & City line     

Trains are running:

Hammersmith - Aldgate (every 10 minutes)

These trains will not stop at Barbican or Great Portland Street stations. It is possible that some other stations may also need to close at times.

 

Jubilee line

Trains are running:

Wembley Park - Stratford (every 10 minutes)

Stanmore – Wembley Park (every 20 minutes)

These trains will not stop at Bermondsey, Canada Water, St. John’s Wood and Swiss Cottage stations. It is possible that some other stations may also need to close at times.

 

Metropolitan line

Trains are running:

Harrow-on-the-Hill – Aldgate (every 8 minutes)

Uxbridge - Harrow on-the-hill (every 20 minutes)

These trains will not stop at Barbican, Euston Square, Ladbroke Grove  or Great Portland Street stations. It is possible that some other stations may also need to close at times.

 

Northern line    

Trains are running over the whole line with good service via both the Bank and Charing Cross branches in both directions. These trains will not stop at Angel, Borough, Chalk Farm, Embankment, Leicester Square, Mornington Crescent and Warren Street stations. It is possible that some other stations may also need to close at times.

 

Piccadilly line    

No service is  operating through the central area. Trains are running between Acton Town and Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3 around every 10  minutes in both directions. These trains will not stop at Heathrow Terminal 4, Heathrow Terminal 5 or Hounslow West stations.  It is possible that some other stations may also need to close at times.

 

NB: Heathrow Express and ConnectA reduced Heathrow Express service will run on Tuesday 29 April and Wednesday 30 April due to separate strike action by the RMT. Heathrow Express plans to run two trains an hour between Heathrow and Paddington and back.

 

Victoria line

Trains are running between Brixton – Walthamstow Central (every 4 minutes). These trains will not stop at Pimlico, Warren Street or Tottenham Hale stations. It is possible that some other stations may also need to close at times.

 

Waterloo & City line

No service.

 

Reoprting from yesterday

Reports from this morning's rush hour would suggest that many companies and employees have been surprised by the extent of the tube strike. Similar action in February did not gain the same level of support from strikers and volunteers were able to make a big impact. This time around there seems to be far more station closures and partially running lines.

The good news for underground travellers is that the notorious Northern line is actually running a good service throughout while the Victoria line is open from Blackhorse road in the north to Brixton in the south. However, the Circle line is closed (with the District and Hammersmith & City lines providing cover) as is the Waterloo & City line. Most other lines have restricted services - shuttle type services are running but have less coverage than with the last strike.

Additional bus and river services have been laid on (see Previous Reporting for details) - and one bright point is the London Overground service is running almost normally but is very crowded.

 

Latest Update

Bakerloo line

Service operating between Queen's Park and Elephant & Castle, approximately every 6 minutes. No service on the rest of the line.

 

Central line

Service operating between White City and Ealing Broadway, between West Ruislip and North Acton, between Epping and Leytonstone and between Hainault and Marble Arch only. No service on the rest of the line.

 

Circle line

No service. Use the District and Hammersmith & City lines (where available).

 

District line

Train service operating between Ealing Broadway and High Street Kensington and between Wimbledon and Upminster. No service on the rest of the line

 

Hammersmith & City line

Service operating between Hammersmith and Moorgate/Aldgate and between Edgware Road and Barking.

 

Jubilee line

Service operating between Wembley Park and Stratford only, approximately every 15 minutes. No service on the rest of the line.

 

Metropolitan line

Service operating between Uxbridge and Harrow-on-the-Hill and between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Aldgate only. No service on the rest of the line.

 

Northern line

Good service

 

Piccadilly line

Service operating between Hammersmith and Heathrow Airport approximately every 20 minutes. No service on the rest of the line.

 

Victoria line

Service operating between Blackhorse Road and Brixton approximately every 6 minutes with some stations closed.

 

Waterloo & City line

No service.

 

London Overground

Good service

 

PREVIOUS REPORTING

And They're Off again - despite last minute attempts to avert the two day London Underground strike scheduled to commence today at 9:00p.m. and run through until Wednesday at 8:59.pm., no news is forthcoming from either Transport for London or the Rail & Maritime union.

It is now a foregone conclusion that yet again FM's will be battling to help staff get into work, get home from work or to stay away from London offices altogether. This is the first of two strikes planned - with the second beginning on Bank Holiday Monday 5 May at 9:00p.m. for 72 hours if the dispute is not resolved.

Unlike the first strike in February, which saw two consecutive days of disruption with a second  action abandoned, many more companies are reporting they have planned ahead and are more geared to flexible working in the shape of slightly relaxed working hours and encouraging those who can stay at home or travel somewhere other the capital to do so.

TfL has written to hundreds of businesses across London to ask them to be flexible and make it easy for staff to cycle to work, and to allow staff to wear casual clothes on the day.

February's second strike date was abandoned as the sides in the dispute agreed to further talks. These broke down last week, as reported in ThisWeekinFM. The talks - and ultimately - the strikes revolve around ticket office closures and job losses.

London Mayor Boris Johnson, supported by PM David Cameron, claims the RMT are acting selfishly with Johnson pointing to the fact that only 3% of tube journeys start with a purchase from a ticket office - but not providing any statistics on enquiries received and services offered by those office. Meanwhile, the RMT claim not only will jobs be lost but that the travelling public will be let down on service and security.

As the strike continues, ThisWeekinFM will be asking for its readers' opinions. Should ticket offices close as they are not making a contribution? Should they close but with a little bit more care in change management? Should they stay open without change? Or should someone consult the FM industry which is particularly good at reworking space and staff utilisation to see if a solution that ticks all the boxes can be found? Use the comment box below to let us know what you think.

 

Contingency planning

To help our London based readers organise and plan for the strikes, we'll again publish updates provided to us from the TfL press room including details on what lines are running and to what capacity. They won't kick in until the morning but here's some advice to be going on with:

London Underground plans to run as many services as possible - tfl.gov.uk is the best places for individual travellers to check for info while @TfLTravelAlerts, @TfLTrafficNews and @TfLBusAlerts on Twitter may also be useful. (For a broader picture for FMs offering corporate-wide advice, TWinFM's upadate are invaluable.)

Extra bus and river services will be put on and licensed and trained TfL Ambassadors will help to keep Tube stations open and provide travel information and advice. Travellers are advised to top up their Oyster cards as there will be nobody to assist them! 

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Tube services will start later and finish earlier than normal – where running a service is possible, trains will run from around 07:00hrs or as soon as possible after that to around 23:00hrs with no service beyond that.

Customers are advised that final services from central London may depart significantly earlier than this, at around 21:30hrs.

Fans going to Arsenal v Newcastle this evening are advised the tube is unlikely to be serving the area after the match - and this could be the same for Chelsea’s Champions League match against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. 

London buses operate around 700 routes and services are being boosted with over 250 extra buses on key routes.

Heathrow Express will be affected by a different dispute timed to all-but coincide - 03.00 hours on Tuesday 29th of April 2014 until 02.59 hours on Thursday 1st May 2014.

 

Coaches

Several coach operators, including National Express and Green Line, offer services that stop in a number of locations throughout London. Some of the core coach routes are as follows:

Golders Green - Finchley Road - Baker Street - Marble Arch - Victoria Coach Station (National Express)

Brent Cross - Finchley Road - Baker Street - Marble Arch - Victoria (Green Line)

Hillingdon - Shepherd's Bush/Baker Street - Marble Arch - Victoria (Oxford Tube & X90)

Hammersmith - Kensington - Hyde park Corner - Victoria (Green Line)

Stratford - Bow - Aldgate - Victoria Coach Station (National Express)

Bexley - Canary Wharf - Aldgate - Embankment - Victoria Street (Commuter Services)

Coulsdon - Wallington - Streatham - Stockwell - Victoria Coach Station (National Express)

Sutton - Wallington - Streatham - Stockwell - Victoria Coach Station (National Express)

Eltham - Lewisham - Walworth - Elephant & Castle - Victoria Coach Station (National Express) 

Tickets can be purchased in advance from the Victoria Coach Station ticket hall, or on the operators websites:

nationalexpress.com

greenline.co.uk

coach.nationalexpress.com/nxbooking/stop-finder

www.greenline.co.uk/green-line-coach-stops-in-london/

www.oxfordtube.com

 

Cycle

Barclays Cycle Hire will be available to members and casual users, although demand is likely to be high, and cycles harder to access, during peak times

Londoners who own a bike are encouraged to cycle to work, and a Cycle Journey Planner is provided at tfl.gov.uk/cyclejourneyplanner

 

River Services

Enhanced River services will be in place, including on Route RB1 between Greenland (Surrey Quays) / Canary Wharf and London Bridge; and

Additional services for Canary Wharf will leave London Eye at 08:00 and 08:30, calling at Tower only; additional services will leave Canary Wharf at 17:00, 18:30 and 19:00 calling at Tower only

An additional centre London service (Tower/ Bankside / Westminster / London Eye) during the AM peak only

In combination with the normal timetabled service, this will provide a 10 to 15 minute frequency on most central London piers during the morning and evening peaks

On the RB6 route, the morning eastbound timetable will be enhanced with additional boats leaving Putney at 07:15, 07:45, 08:20 and 08:45. These extra services will be non-stop to Embankment, then Blackfriars

On the RB6 route, the evening westbound timetable will be enhanced with additional boats leaving Blackfriars at 17:35, 17:50, 18:15 and 19:15. These extra services will call at Embankment, then non-stop to Putney 

 

Taxis & Private Hire

During peak times a marshalled taxi service will operate at eight major London rail termini – Euston, Waterloo, Liverpool St, London Bridge, King's Cross, Victoria, Charing Cross, and Marylebone. The marshals will manage taxi and passenger queues and provide advice and assistance to taxi passengers and other members of the public

Private hire and minicab services will be running as normal. Details for licensed private hire and minicab operators in London are available at tfl.gov.uk/cabwise

National Rail

 

Oyster

Oyster Pay As You Go is accepted for all National Rail journeys within Greater London. Travelcards are also valid for travel on National Rail within the zones purchased

 

Walking

Walking maps will be provided online, in bus, rail, and Tube stations in Zone 1 and other key outer London stations, with TfL Ambassadors and volunteers helping people plan their routes around the city

People are urged to use here walking for short journeys, where possible

 

Roads and the Congestion Charge

To help keep traffic flowing (and the cash keep flowing), the Congestion Charge will remain in operation throughout the strike

TfL will be delaying or curtailing road works on major London roads wherever possible and has encouraged all London boroughs to take similar measures on their network.

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 06 May 2014

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