Tube Strike: Travel Advice For Passengers

Thousands of travellers are facing a nightmare commute after last-ditch talks to prevent a 24-hour walkout on the London Underground broke down without agreement.

Ahead of the industrial action, officially scheduled to start at 6.30pm, Transport for London (TfL) issued advice to the millions of passengers who use the Tube each day.

As a result of the walkout by around 20,000 union members, TfL says there will be no Tube service from late afternoon on Wednesday and none at all on Thursday.

There could also be disruption into Friday morning.

People are being advised to complete their Tube journeys by 6pm on Wednesday, and travel earlier if possible.

It says Underground services are expected to be "exceptionally busy" between 4pm and 6pm and will begin to stop running after this time.

The strike has been called in a dispute over the new all-night Tube services , due to start at weekends from mid-September.

Extra bus and river services will be laid on during the strike, while roadworks will also be suspended where possible.

But TfL warned all public transport and roads will be much busier than usual, with passengers advised to allow more time for their journeys.

"Travel ambassadors and volunteers will be handing out maps at transport hubs in central London and helping Londoners find alternative ways to get around," said TfL.

Meanwhile, train services operated by First Great Western between London and Wales and the West Country are due to be hit by a separate 48-hour strike by the RMT, which starts at 6.30pm on Thursday.

Managing director of London Underground Mike Brown expressed disappointment the unions had not responded to a "fair and reasonable" offer.

He said: "All we have heard is a series of speeches from trade union leaders, condemning us for communicating with our staff.

"The offer is still there and we are available to talk about it. I am amazed we have had no response."

But RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Despite strenuous efforts by union negotiators to press London Underground to address the issues of fairness, safety, work/life balance and equality at the heart of this dispute, they have come up with nothing in the talks this afternoon.

"The action is on and RMT will be mobilising picket lines and effective action with our sister unions and there are no further talks planned at this stage."

Finn Brennan, ASLEF's organiser on the Tube, said responsibility for the strike and resulting disruption lay with the management of London Underground.

He said: "They have played foolish games of brinkmanship, taking their offer off the table then denying they had done so."

Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union, said: "They were only interested in one thing, blaming the unions for the stoppage which they could have avoided by taking a serious negotiating position on Monday morning."