by Commuters who depend on the London Underground as well as national rail services are having major problems getting to work on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th March. But are there trains? These are the most important questions and answers.
What happens to the tube on Wednesday?
Members of the train drivers’ union Aslef and the RMT, who work for the London Underground, went on strike on March 15, the day before the first of the next wave of national rail strikes.
Unions are at odds with Transport for London (TfL) over changes to work arrangements and pensions.
Aslef says the action will “bring down the network in the capital”.
TfL says: “Little or no service is expected on the Tube network.”
If some subways are running, is there any indication as to where they might be?
Unhelpful to the vast majority of Londoners and visitors, they tend to be at the extreme ends of lines in the outer suburbs.
The central area will probably be closed. Note that the Thameslink north-south service through central London from Blackfriars to St Pancras International is unaffected – it operates as an underground service with trains every few minutes.
In addition, the Elizabeth Line – the east-west line from Reading and Heathrow Airport through central London to Essex and south-east London – should operate almost normally, although it will be very busy.
TfL warns that Elizabeth Line services between Paddington and East to Abbey Wood and Stratford will start late (after 7.30am) and finish earlier (by 10.30pm).
The London Overground does not run early or late to and from London Liverpool Street; instead, London Fields will be the terminus.
Will the subway network be affected on Thursday 16 March?
Yes. TfL says: “Tube services will recover from the strike. Subway services will start later than normal and will be suspended throughout the morning.”
Subway trains running are likely to become more crowded than due to the latest round of national railroad strikes involving the RMT, which begins Thursday and continues through March 18-30 and April 1 be ordinary.
Because of the national rail strike, TfL says: “Some trains may not be able to stop at all stations or go to their normal destination.”
Elizabeth Line services between Paddington and Abbey Wood/Stratford will start later than normal.
The same pattern is likely to be repeated on Saturday, March 18th.
What is the tube dispute about?
The strike is not about pay, but about pensions and working conditions.
Finn Brennan, underground organizer of Aslef, said: “This is not a strike for pay or more time off. It’s about making sure that change and “modernization” come about consensually.
“The central government has used the impact of the pandemic to insist that TfL target staff pensions and working conditions.
“They have no problem bailing out the banks or handing our billions of pounds to their buddies in dodgy contracts, but they refuse to properly fund vital services like public transport in this country.”
He said that with a turnout of 78 percent, the subway riders voted 99 percent in favor of the action.
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, said: “Our members will never accept job losses, attacks on their pensions or changes in working conditions to pay for a funding cut, which is a government policy decision.
“Metro workers perform an essential service for the capital, ensuring the city can keep moving and working long hours in demanding roles.
“In return, they deserve decent pensions, job security and good working conditions, and RMT will do everything we can to ensure that they get that.”
Nick Dent, Director of Customer Operations at TfL, said: “We have not proposed any changes to anyone’s pensions. We’ve been working with our unions to find out how we can make the London Underground a fairer and more sustainable place.
“We want to make the London Underground a better place to work so we urge Aslef and the RMT to end this damaging strike and continue to work with us.”
