London Tube strike latest LIVE: TfL services crippled by walkout with Friday rush hour also set to be misery (and RMT warns of more pain to come)

Commuters trying to get home in Thursday’s rush hour faced misery as a 24-hour Tube strike crippled London’s transport network.

Travel chaos hit people attempting to travel in the morning as industrial action began and disruption has continued through the day.

Passengers have been urged to check their route before travelling with all 11 Underground lines either suspended or part suspended.

The Elizabeth Line was running a good service but commuters were being turned away from buses as people sought alternative forms of transport.

Transport for London (TfL) said London Overground and DLR services may be subject to last minute changes on Thursday, while London Trams is running a reduced timetable.

The disruption is expected to continue into Friday morning.

London Underground Tube Strike | 10th November 2022

The stoppage is the latest in a series of strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), which is involved in a long-running dispute over jobs.

Speaking on Thurday morning, the union’s assistant general secretary John Leach said future strikes should be expected.

Asked if there will be further action, he said: “I hope not, I very much hope not, but if there's no progress made around the table on these issues in discussions with the management and they continue to attack our pensions, jobs and contracts, the answer is yes.”

Meanwhile London bus drivers have announced a series of strikes that are set to cause chaos in the run up to Christmas.

Thank you for following the Evening Standard’s coverage of Thursday’s tube strikes

21:25 , Barney Davis

The liveblog will share the latest news on the travel disruption expected on Friday morning

‘Today has been a nightmare’

20:07 , Matt Watts

People continue to tell of their nightmare journeys today as the Tube strike made travel in the capital a misery.

Strike action costing TfL millions in fares - GLA Conservative leader

19:05 , Barney Davis

Leader of GLA Conservatives Susan Hall tweeted: “TFL tube strikes today losing millions in fares. Let’s remember us taxpayers bailed out #TFL to the tune of billions.

“The wages and pensions of TFL workers would be envied by very, very many taxpayers.”

One follower replied: “Nah, just give them a decent pay rise, problem solved.”

It came as commuters are still pushing their way onto Tottenham Court Road’s Elizabeth Line platform and buses to get home.

Dept of Transport calls Aslef strikes ‘self-defeating’

18:38 , Barney Davis

Members of Aslef today announced will walk out on November 26 after the union said it was still waiting for a pay offer from the employers, despite a series of talks.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “It’s disappointing Aslef has yet again chosen self-defeating strike action when our railway is in urgent need of reform.

“This past week saw positive developments between unions and employers and planned strikes cancelled, so this is a frustrating backwards step.

“More disruption is not only damaging to the public and Aslef’s own members’ livelihoods but threatens the future of the railway itself. It has never been more important for all sides to work together and address the fundamental issues in front of us.”

Elizabeth Line commuter pile-on at Tottenham Court Road

17:57 , Barney Davis

Londoners have struggled to get on to the newly opened Elizabeth Line as TfL attempts to control the size of crowd coming through.

Hundreds of commuters tried to squeeze through the only entrance open to the packed station on Dean Street.

A few TfL workers are directing human traffic in and out of the station.

Eye-wateringly long taxi queues being reported at Kings Cross station

17:34 , Barney Davis

Taxis are struggling to keep up with the demand of Londoners desperately trying to get home from central London.

Scores of Londoners were filmed this afternoon patiently queuing at the transport hub.

Kings Cross comedian trying to entertain long lines ‘mistaken’ for TfL staff

17:26 , Barney Davis

A comedian armed with a megaphone outside Kings Cross was hilariously mistaken for a TfL customer advisor as he tried to entertain long lines at the busy station.

A confused tourist goes up to him to ask whether Thameslink services are still running as long queues snake behind them.He points her in the right direction before joking: “By the way this is all your parent’s fault.”

Footways offering digital map so people can take interesting walks home from central London

17:18 , Barney Davis

Footways who map “quiet and enjoyable” walking routes across Central London have suggested that frustrated commuters take a relaxing walk on a “pleasant enough” November evening as an alternative to packed buses.

‘Fight for your future’ Labour MP backs strike action

17:13 , Barney Davis

Dawn Butler MP for Brent Central has tweeted her support for the RMT strikes.

She said: “Solidarity with tube workers, on strike today to defend jobs, work-life balance, and pensions.

“I support the @RMTunion members as they fight for their futures and the future of London Underground #TubeStrike #EnoughIsEnough.”

Tube strikes: Passenger numbers at 10 per cent of normal levels

17:07 , Barney Davis

TfL has said that by 2pm on Thursday passenger numbers had been only at 10 per cent of normal demand on the Underground and down 86 per cent on the previous week.

But there was a 16 per cent increase in demand for buses - taking it to 93 per cent of normal levels.

Tube strike: Commuters told to expect Friday morning misery

TfL: Services affected by today’s strikes expected to go back to normal mid-morning Friday

16:58 , Barney Davis

Tube services are only expected to go back to normal by mid-morning Friday, TfL have said.

In response to a customer asking how Tube strikes will affect tomorrow’s services a customer advisor replied:

Londoners brace for rush hour chaos with only three tube lines with any service

15:57 , Matt Watts

TfL is reporting that only the District, Northern and Central lines are running any kind of service as rush hour approaches.

The District Line has a reduced service from Dagenham East to West Ham.

The Northern Line is running a reduced service from High Barnet to East Finchley, Finchley Central to Mill Hill East, Edgware to Golders Green.

They add there’s no Central Line between Liverpool Street & White City but a reduced service either side.

All other lines are suspended. The Overground is also part suspended.

London mayor told to ‘grow a backbone’

14:27 , Miriam Burrell

London Assembly member Tony Devenish has told London Mayor Sadiq Khan to “grow a backbone” as Tube strikes went ahead after rail strikes were called off.

Labour MP joins picket lines

14:24 , Miriam Burrell

Labour MP and former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell joins the picket line at Hounslow West, Acton and Northfields.

Train drivers strike over pay issues

13:32 , Miriam Burrell

Members of Aslef will walk out on November 26 after the union said it was still waiting for a pay offer from the employers, despite a series of talks.

The 12 companies facing the fresh strike are Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Great Western Railway; Greater Anglia; London North Eastern Railway; London Overground; Northern Trains; Southeastern; Transpennine Express, and West Midlands Trains.

General secretary Mick Whelan said: “They want drivers to take a real terms pay cut. With inflation now well into double figures, train drivers who kept Britain moving through the pandemic are now being expected to work just as hard this year as last year but for less. Most of these drivers have not had an increase in salary since 2019.

“We want the companies – which are making huge profits – to make a proper pay offer so that our members can keep up with the cost of living.”

Train strike announced for later this month

13:03 , Bill Mcloughlin

Train drivers at 12 operators are to strike on November 26 in the long running dispute over pay, Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) has announced.

Department for Transport has ‘changed the tone’ in dispute talks, says minister

12:50 , Bill Mcloughlin

Rail minister Huw Merriman said the Department for Transport's new ministers have "changed the tone" in the bitter dispute involving railway workers over jobs, pay and conditions.

Asked if he planned to meet the trade union leaders, the former Transport Select Committee chairman told the Railway Industry Association's annual conference in central London: "I've always taken the view - and I've worked with trade unions through the select committee role - that the only way you get through industrial action is to talk, is to have positive relations, not to make a political issue of it.

"The negotiations, of course, are being handled by Network Rail on the one hand and Steve Montgomery for the train operators on the other. They've got their negotiation teams, as have the unions.

"I think what we have said is that we stand by willing to aid in any particular way.

"So whilst there are no current plans for me to go in the room because that hasn't been requested, myself and the Secretary of State (Mark Harper), I think we've changed the tone in terms of how we feel about trade unions.

"We understand they have their members to represent but we do badly need to see this actually come to an end. It's cost the railway about half a billion (pounds) this year."

Another Labour MP joins picket line

12:27 , Bill Mcloughlin

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP for Streatham, has joined a picket line at Elehphant and Castle.

Bus drivers to strike in run-up to Christmas

11:55 , Miriam Burrell

Almost 1,000 bus drivers in London are to stage a series of strikes over pay.

Members of Unite employed by Abellio in south and west London will take 10 days of action in the run-up to Christmas.

The union said the company had not made an offer on pay even though an increase is due in January.

The workers will strike on November 22, 25, and 26 and on December 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17.

Read more here.

Heavy traffic on A4 in west London

11:32 , Miriam Burrell

Ru Roberts, UK Country Manager at Waze, said:“London commuters will face substantial delays across the capital today, due to the tube strikes and knock-on effects of protests along the M25.

“Our Waze map shows bumper-to-bumper traffic on the A102 in the Blackwall Tunnel area, with speeds as low as 5 mph. Heavy traffic can also be seen on the A4 in West London, with reported speeds of 5 mph.

“We expect disruption to continue for the next 24 hours, so where possible, avoid travelling during peak hours, plan your journey ahead of time and consider a route which may be longer in miles but fewer in cars.”

Watch: RMT spokesperson John Leach

10:54 , Miriam Burrell

Up to 600 station jobs are being phased out and that’s “not tolerable”, assistant general secretary John Leach said.

Long bus queues at major stations

10:31 , Miriam Burrell

Morning commuters faced long queues before having to cram onto buses at major stations across London, including Waterloo, London Bridge and Victoria.

Jeremy Corbyn joins picket lines

10:23 , Miriam Burrell

Labour MP for Islington North Jeremy Corbyn supported RMT union workers on picket lines in Tottenham

Morning chaos as commuters queue for buses, bikes

10:04 , Miriam Burrell

Commuters piled onto buses and queued for cabs and hire bikes to get to work.

Evening Standard reporter John Dunne was at London Bridge station:

Michael Georgiou, 32, a shop worker, said: “I’m just fed up wit my it. I can’t work from home and what with the disruption I’m thinking if changing jobs. If the mayor is offering them an olive branch they should take it. We can’t go on like this. This should not be happening in a first world economy.”

Maisie Hedges, 21, a student, said: “I travel into college and it’s not cheap. I know people are struggling with the cost of living and the transport workers deserve decent money but they shouldn’t be holding the rest of us to ransom.”

Pictured: Tottenham Court Road station

09:55 , Miriam Burrell

‘Needless’ strike leaves commuters frantic

09:29 , Miriam Burrell

Commuters branded today’s underground strike as a “needless” blow to the capital’s economy after London Mayor Sadiq khan pledged to protect the pensions of TfL staff.At London Bridge Station passengers were frantically seeking alternatives for their onward journeys.

Martin Lewin, 51, who works in property management, told the Standard: “Earlier in the week it was the trains. I come into London Bridge from south London and loads of trans were cancelled.

“Now today I’ve got to London Bridge and will have to get a bus, or a cab which is expensive, to hey to my office. If the Mayor says they will protect their pensions they need to get back to work.

“The strike is needless and it’s hurting the wrong people. The economy can’t afford these hours or people not producing. It’s a other blow to the economy.”

Tube: Status update

08:49 , Miriam Burrell

Central Line: Service is operating between Hainault - Woodford, Hainault - Liverpool Street, Epping - Leytonstone, White City - Ealing Broadway and between North Acton - West Ruislip at a reduced frequency. No service on the rest of the line.

District Line: Service operating between Dagenham East and West Ham at a reduced frequency. No service on the rest of the line.

London Overgrond: No service between Liverpool Street and Cheshunt, Chingford, Enfield Town all day. Trains will not stop at Canada Water. Good service on all other routes.

Northern Line: A reduced service is operating between High Barnet and East Finchley, between Finchley Central and Mill Hill East, and between Edgware and Golders Green. No service on the rest of the line.

There is good service on the Elizabeth Line and DLR.

All other lines are suspended.

Future strikes expected

08:42 , Miriam Burrell

Future strikes should be expected, assistant general secretary of the RMT union John Leach has said.

“Our message to the commuters is we regret the inconvenience caused by Tube strikes, of course we do.

“But I also say to them, if your pension or your job was on the line, or your contract was being ripped in front of you… you would expect your union to stick together to defend your pension, your job and your contract, and that’s all we’re doing.”

Asked if there will be further action, he said: “I hope not, I very much hope not, but if there’s no progress made around the table on these issues in discussions with the management and they continue to attack our pensions, jobs and contracts, the answer is yes.”

Pictured: Bus and road chaos during Tube strike

08:41 , Miriam Burrell

Union calls on TfL to ‘stand by’ staff

08:25 , Miriam Burrell

John Leach, assistant general secretary of the RMT National Union has called on rail bosses to “stand by” their staff.

He told PA outside King’s Cross St Pancras: “My message to TfL now is stand by your staff, listen to your staff, thousands of them are on strike today for the sixth time this year.

“They’re losing lots of money, don’t they realise in management there’s a serious problem here? What they need to do is stand with their staff.

“The Mayor of London needs to stand up for staff and do a proper finance deal which gives TfL money it needs to keep the capital city moving, and not trade off the staff pension, jobs and their conditions of employment for some bad deal, which is what they have done.”

What does RMT say about the strike?

08:02 , Miriam Burrell

RMT said last minute talks were held with TfL on Tuesday to suspend today’s strike action.

The union asked management to suspend 600 station job cuts until the end of the year, and to reform workers’ pension scheme.

But RMT said: “Given the failure of London Underground to provide assurances on any of the headings of dispute and the continued attacks on members pensions, condition of employment and on staffing levels, RMT will take strike action on Thursday.”

Traffic builds on Euston Rd

07:55 , Miriam Burrell

Traffic is building on Euston Road as Londoners seek alternative routes during the Tube strike.

Chaos at King’s Cross

07:51 , Miriam Burrell

Around a dozen members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and Unite have gathered at King’s Cross St Pancras for a picket.

The group arrived at 7am, placing a banner reading “RMT” close to the station.

Nearby commuters were seen being turned away from packed buses as the Tube station was closed off.

Pictured: Bus queues at Waterloo station

07:27 , Miriam Burrell

Picket lines form

07:20 , Miriam Burrell

Why is there a Tube strike?

07:18 , Miriam Burrell

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) and Unite unions are striking today.

Picket lines will be mounted outside Tube stations across the capital, while buses are expected to be much busier than normal.

The RMT said it has offered to suspend the strike during talks, but accused TfL of rejecting its proposals to change pensions or conditions.

More than 1,000 Unite members will be on strike.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “TfL is needlessly attacking our members’ pay and pensions, which Unite simply can’t accept. The workers have the full support of their union in fighting these attacks. TfL must stop behaving like a race-to-the-bottom employer and put forward an offer that is acceptable to our members.”

Read more here.

Pictured: Waterloo Station

07:03 , Miriam Burrell

Tube: Status update

07:00 , Miriam Burrell

Central: A reduced service is operating between White City and Ealing Broadway / West Ruislip. No service on the rest of the line.

DRL: No service between Shadwell and Bank.

Northern: A reduced service is operating between High Barnet and East Finchley, between Finchley Central and Mill Hill East, and betwen Edgeware and Golders Green. No service on the rest of the line.

London Overground: No service between Liverpool Street and Cheshunt, Chingford, Enfiled Town. Trains will not stop at Canada Water.

Elizabeth Line: Good service.

All other lines are suspended.

Pictured: Richmond Station

06:52 , Miriam Burrell

What services are affected?

06:47 , Miriam Burrell

Good morning.

Strikes will affect all Underground services today and some parts of the Overground, DLR and Elizabeth Line will be disrupted.

Tube

• There will be limited or no services running. People are advised to avoid travelling on the Tube

London Overground

• Services may be subject to last minute changes, including non stopping at some stations shared with London Underground

• TfL expects no London Overground services on any routes between Liverpool Street and Enfield Town, Cheshunt or Chingford

DLR

• Services may be subject to last minute changes, including non-stopping at some stations shared with London Underground

Elizabeth line

• Elizabeth line services will not call at stations between Bond Street and Whitechapel before 7am and after 10.30pm. Services may be extremely busy.