Q&A and how to get home

RMT members are angry about job cuts ordered by Boris Johnson, which they claim could reach 3,000 on both the Tube and at TfL.

RMT leader Bob Crow wants a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies. He accuses management of "threatening to tear up an agreement aimed at safeguarding jobs".

But TfL says it can offer no absolute guarantees of job safety, instead saying "every effort" will be made to keep people employed. However, this is not enough for the RMT.

They also want a deal on pay which would amount to a five per cent rise over two years and shorter working hours for staff.

TfL is offering workers a "fair and affordable deal" on pay. It has offered a four-year deal with a 1.5 per cent increase in year one and RPI plus 0.5 per cent in future years or, a two-year deal with an increase of one per cent this year and RPI plus 0.5 per cent in year two.

The union also claims management are intimidating their members — an allegation rejected by Tube chiefs.

Why can't this strike be called off like they normally are?

The strike was almost cancelled last night — but then the RMT threw in a demand for two sacked drivers to be reinstated. TfL says that managers will not be bounced into over-ruling lengthy disciplinary proceedings.

What is Boris Johnson doing to stop it?

Mr Johnson has ordered Peter Hendy, his transport commissioner, to do everything to halt the strike, but not to cave in to excessive demands. He has refused to get involved in face-to-face talks, unlike his predecessor.

Will a strike be politically damaging to the Mayor?

A one-off walkout certainly won't, as commuters appear to be pinning the blame firmly on militants. But repeated strikes might lead to a perception that the Mayor is not in charge of the transport system.

Are more strikes on the way?

If further talks fail to reach a deal, more strikes are inevitable.

How to get home

Tube
Services likely to reduce significantly from 7pm.

Buses
Services are being boosted on key routes during the strike.

National Rail
Will be accepting Oyster pay-as-you-go cards on all services within London tomorrow and Thursday.
DLR and London Overground Operating as normal.

Taxis
From 8am to 10.30am, taxi drivers will operate a marshalled, fixed-fare, shared-taxi service for trips to all six major London termini.

River
Existing services will be boosted from a capacity of 1,500 to 8,000 an hour and include a free shuttle from London Bridge to Tower Bridge.
Up-to-date information is available at www.tfl.gov.uk