Commuters are returning to work this morning after the 24-hour London Tubes strike decimated services on Monday (January 9).
The strike ended at 6pm on Monday but services were not expected to return to normal until this morning .
Transport for London is reporting a good service on all its Tube lines.
The walk-out saw members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union and Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) down tools over a dispute involving staff cuts and ticket office closures. London Underground says it could have been avoided.
But its not all good news for commuters, with a Southern Rail strike starting today.
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Key Events
More from Steve Griffiths
Taking into account existing vacancies and natural turnover this means that over 600 staff will be recruited for stations this year.
There will also be increased opportunities for promotion.
All of this will ensure that our customers feel safe, fully supported and able to access the right assistance in our stations at all times.”
Steve Griffiths statement
We had always intended to review staffing levels and have had constructive discussions with the unions.
We agree that we need more staff in our stations and have already started to recruit 200 extra staff and this is likely to increase further as we work through the other areas that need to be addressed.”
TfL thanks customers' patience
Steve Griffiths, chief operating officer for London Underground, said:
I thank customers for the patience they showed during the unnecessary strike, and encourage the unions to continue talking with us to resolve the dispute.”
Addressing concerns
TfL said many of the concerns raised by the RMT and TSSA - centred around staff cuts and ticket office closures - are being addressed. It too is calling for talks to break the stand-off
TfL: Stations were open during strike action
Transport for London said nearly 70% of stations opened during the industrial action, with some services operating on all lines.
'We're waiting to hear from London Underground'
The RMT spokesperson said the union was willing to sit around a table to discuss the dispute, but there was a problem:
There are no further strikes planned. It is under review.
But there are no talks, we’re still waiting for them [London Underground] to get back to us. We are willing and waiting and raring to go.”
More from the RMT
The spokesperson continued:
But our preference is to reach a solution as soon as possible that protects jobs and safety on London Underground.”
However...
But the union refused to rule out the possibility of further industrial action. A RMT spokesperson said:
Obviously there is the possibility because we have a mandate for action.”
RMT: We don't want to strike again
The RMT, one of the two unions involved in the strike yesterday, has told getwestlondon that it wants to avoid another walk-out.
Anger at Uber
There was a lot of frustration and anger apparent yesterday, and a fair bit of it was directed at taxi app Uber.
It was accused of profiting from the strikes , but a spokesperson denied this was the case.
'Dangerous overcrowding'
And remember Clapham Junction was evacuated because of overcrowding too
Sadiq Khan on the Southern Rail strike
And here’s what London Mayor Sadiq Khan has to say about the new walk-out...
Actually, it still is a nightmare for some poor souls
That’s because no sooner has one walk-out ended, then another begins.
ASLEF drivers are holding a three day Southern Rail walk-out today (Tuesday, January 10), Wednesday and Friday.
Was it all a nightmare?
Yep, it may feel like some sort of nightmare, but it wasn’t.
London struggled to and from work on Monday (January 9), but things are looking much better this morning.
