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Tube strike: Second day of gridlock on roads
Rashid Razaq and Peter Dominiczak11.06.09
- Has Bob Crow bitten off more than he can chew?
- The day Boris Johnson went strikebusting
- Union picket lines are deserted as support for action starts to slip
- 58,000 England fans are Wembley winners
- Live travel updates: Plan your journey here
- Bob Crow quit Tube talks saying: I've got a strike to run
- Tube unions at war over strike
- Beating the Tube strike with a swerve and a wobble
- Gallery: Tube strike hits London commuters
London was suffering another day of gridlock today as tens of thousands of cars clogged the streets to beat the Tube strike.
Passengers told of nightmare journeys, some taking nearly three hours just to drive eight miles across central London.
The evening rush hour effectively lasted four hours as people turned to their cars to get to work only to find the roads full of extra buses, taxis and minicabs.
One of the worst affected routes was from east to west as commuters turned to crammed buses or walked because of the suspension of the Central line.
It took Adrian Tiener, 29, a paralegal, almost three hours to get from Liverpool Street to Shepherd's Bush.
He said: "I've had to take three different buses to get home. The worst part was standing there watching four go past without stopping because they were full. I'm absolutely exhausted because I've had to stand nearly all the way. I might as well walk next time. It makes me incredibly angry."
David Olatunde, 31, a political researcher, needed to get from Bank to Kensington for a dinner engagement so left work 90 minutes early, but said he would still struggle to arrive on time.
He said: "Ordinary working people's lives are made a misery. It's not the corporate fat-cats or politicians who are being hurt by the strike. They've got chauffeur driven cars."
Although the Northern line and Jubilee lines were kept running, commuters in other areas were forced on to buses.
The City, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus and the Strand were among the most congested areas.
Nick Swaine, 23, a trainee solicitor trying to get from St Paul's to Lewisham, decided to walk to Charing Cross to catch an overground train.
He said: "It's manageable for me. I can walk it to catch a train. Most people have just got on with it either on foot or by bike. It's so hard to get a job right now that I'm surprised anyone thinks they are in a position to strike."
Six out of 10 firms were disrupted by the strike, according to the London Chamber of Commerce survey.
The figures show that the industrial action has been more costly than the last major strikes, in 2007, which affected 54 per cent of firms and cost the capital an estimated £48million a day in lost productivity.
The current strikes could cost London more than £100million if they last the full 48 hours.
Tube bosses said they were running more trains than yesterday with service on eight out of the 11 lines.
Trains ran the full length of the Jubilee and Northern lines - the Northern is the busiest on the network and used by more than 650,000 passengers a day.
Other lines, including the Victoria, District and Central lines, were operating shuttle services between some stations.
At 8am, height of the peak period, a spokesman said: "We are running more trains today than at this time yesterday." There were 140 trains in operation, 20 more than at 8am yesterday.
Richard Parry, interim LU managing director, said: "We're running services on more than half of our lines this morning and I hope that we will be able to add to that throughout the day."
Services today
Northern: Minor delays
Jubilee: Minor delays
Victoria: Victoria to Seven Sisters
District: Wimbledon to Mansion House and Ealing Broadway to High Street Kensington
Metropolitan: Baker Street to Amersham
Piccadilly: Arnos Grove to Cockfosters; and Northfields to Hammersmith stopping only at Turnham Green
Bakerloo: Shuttle service between Elephant & Castle and Queen's Park
Central: Liverpool Street to Epping and Hainault
Hammersmith and City: Baker Street to Hammersmith
Circle: Suspended
Waterloo and City: Suspended
Services as normal with extra buses but delays due to heavy traffic
DLR as normal. But London Overground subject to delays.
Shuttle boats running each hour with extra free service between London Bridge and Tower Bridge.
Reader views (45)
What would be the odds on a strike by the bus and tube workers during the olympics?
- Mr S.Port, London
I can honestly say I am a fair minded person. I had tickets tonight to the theatre so after a 3 hour journey to work and an hour journey to meet my elderly mum I thought thank goodness the strike was to be over at 7 pm. Actually the strike was anything but over and I was met by numerous discourtious staff telling me I was "stupid to travel this late" and they had been at work since early that day on my journey home when I struggled with my elderly mum to get to baker street. I had no pay rise this year and earn less than 70% of their work force. I also had colleagues made redundant but I would never ever be part of such a disruption of service. Disgrace!
- Claire K, Rickmansworth
I can honestly say I am a fair minded person. I had tickets tonight to the theatre so after a 3 hour journey to work and an hour journey to meet my elderly mum I thought thank goodness the strike was to be over at 7 pm. Actually the strike was anything but over and I was met by numerous discourtious staff telling me I was "stupid to travel this late" and they had been at work since early that day on my journey home when I struggled with my elderly mum to get to baker street. I had no pay rise this year and earn less than 70% of their work force. I also had colleagues made redundant but I would never ever be part of such a disruption of service. Disgrace!
- Claire K, Rickmansworth
WHY DONT YOU LOT MOVE OUT OF THAT HELL HOLE OF A PLACE, THE MURDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD FOR AGE UNDER 25, YOUR UNDERGROUND IS A TOTAL DISASTER, SARDINES IN CANS HAVE MORE ROOM AND A LOT LESS SMELLY, MOVE OUT TO THE SURBURBS OR OTHER PARTS OF THE UK, AND START A FRESH NEW LIFE, FRESH AIR, GREEN GRASS, AND YOU WILL BE A LOT SAFER AND ENJOY LIFE MORE AS MUCH AS I LIKED THE ODD VISIT TO LONDON I COULD NOT POSSBLY LIVE THERE FULL TIME IT HAS BECOME HELL ON EARTH,
- James Fennessey, london
I personally do not think that this latest tube strike will have made any impact or prove any points.Once the underground network is up and running it will all get forgotten about,maybe only stories and memories of poor stressed commuters may linger on for a few weeks.
- Phil Player, Tooting london
Maybe, if ANY suspension of service resulted in dismissal of (and bonus reclaim-ment from ) ALL TfL personnel involved including management, both parties might grow keener to reach agreements in their squabbles.
- Commuter, London, UK
Well i have heard the reasons behind the strike and yes it is a bit silly to expect 5% in these times but also found out that an agreement was met in the last part of the talks then the LU management went back on there word and decided to proceed with the strike, which then puts as much on them as the workers.
As a average worker what annoys me is the fact that trying to secure peoples jobs at this time is so frowned upon (another part of the strike) but blowing money and causing widespread recession is accepted.
I dont fully agree with the strike but after reading the rmt website and lu website this could have been avoided and just again shows fat cats ignoring the workers.
- Keith, london
M Soley, Highgate
Bank to kensington! Not kennington!
Such a simple mistake caused a driver to lose his job when he opened the doors on the wrong side in the victoria line. Should you be punished that severe for such mistakes? Thats why I agree on what the unions do what they have to do
- Tony, london
You write that "David Olatunde, 31, a political researcher, needed to get from Bank to Kensington for a dinner engagement so left work 90 minutes early, but said he would still struggle to arrive on time."
Why did he have a problem as the Northern Line ran during the Strike. Ive used the line myself and seen empty trains. Why not check before you leave and complain?
- M Soley, Highgate
There is a big plus to all this. With so many people walking cyclists are having to desist from their usual anti social behaviour of terorising pedestrians.
- Bj, London
' I might as well walk next time. It makes me incredibly angry."
If you walked every day you'll be a lot fitter, and much less angry! You'd get home sooner, and have some spare cash.
Days like this expose the absurdity of continuing to run an economy by bundling huge numbers of people into a small space and back again each day. A lot of the supposed 'lost' economic activity is just spent on trying to keep an inefficient system on the road.At least in older time commuters walked.
- Mdj E10, london uk
Outsource to India! Train up some indian drivers... they will come over and happily work around the clock... for half the wage... for the rest of their lives!
- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK
OK, credit were credit is due.
The Tube staff that have turned up and worked are the ones that will break the RMT. They are the ones that have the power now, not Boris or some transport commissioner.
We need to play are part. If you are going to use a car then be prepared to sit in traffic it isn't a surprise so get on with it. If you get an overground in and would usually use the tube, WALK!!!! My walk from St Pancras to Marble Arch this morning was very pleasant, in fact it may become a permanent feature a couple of days a week!
The long and the short of it is, don't be bullied by a union if you don't want to be, stand up do you bit and the RMT will go away tail between there legs, like all defeated bullies do!
- Looney, UK, London
Re:Are London commuters the most pathetic drama queens in the world?
If it is going to take 3 hours to travel 8 miles then perhaps consider using your legs.
Couldn't agree with you more!
- Richard, London
Up until recently, I was an Operational Manager for LUL so I am following events with interest. I'm hoping that Boris and LUL does stand firm. LUL staff are fairly well paid with some excellent perks and in today's climate, the RMT have no valid reason for taking strike action. It's costing our economy millions of pounds at a time when the economy can't afford it. This strike will only result in great inconvienience for millions of Londoners and tourists. However, enormous credit should be given to LUL workers who have turned up for work, as believe me, working during times of Industrial action can be very stressful so it would be greatly appreciated if you would refrain from expressing your understandable frustrations towards staff who are working and trying their level best to deliver excellent customer service! These staff should be applauded!
- K.C., Wollongong, Australia
Erm, Lee, we're all blaming the muppet Boris because he arrogantly proclaimed, prior to his run for Mayor that if he became mayor, tube strikes would be a thing of the past. So whilst, I'm not blaming him personally, it does show his level of naievity regarding work-shy tube workers.
- Tracy, London, London
Are London commuters the most pathetic drama queens in the world?
If it is going to take 3 hours to travel 8 miles then perhaps consider using your legs.
Travelled on the Underground yesterday - trains were frequent and empty.
Genuine thanks to the drivers and staff who turned up for work yesterday, and remember, if a bailed-out banker starts shouting at you because his train is cancelled - just remind him who pays his wages!
- Jim, London, UK
St, London "you have kept London moving". Where do you work?" Yesterday afternoon it was total gridlock on all the roads with all traffic at a complete standstill. I'm so looking forward to retiring in a few years so I don't have to put up with any more strikes inconveniencing me nor any protesters bringing the whole of Westminster to a halt!
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
Hear hear & well done to the staff that have turned up over the last 2 days. The staff that complain that they are losing 2 days pay - tough! It's your choice.
Crow & his minions are beginning to see that Londoners will no longer tolerate his bullying & communist ideals. I only wish the RMT members would see him for what he is & not be intimidated by him.
Keep standing up to him Boris & good work!
- Blot, Woodford Green
If you vote for a comedian as Mayor of Lodon, you can't expect any better. Sack Boris and bring in a professionl.
- Richard, London England
Why are we all blaming Boris? Why should he give into these muppets?
I, for one, totally agree with what he has done... He has sent a message to the bully bob crow that he will take a stand...
Come on people, let's rally around Boris and show bob crow and his cronies that we will not take this any more.
- Lee, London
Stefan,thankyou for reminding us of Lady Thatcher,was it not this lady who preached "every man for himself,if you want it go and get it,and told us that there is no such thing as society?
- Henry Lodge, London
We had a series of transport strikes in the 80s and 90s, which led to The Essential Services Act, where public service employees can go on strike but most provide minimum service during rush hours. Of course, there are delays, no-show buses and the hours are not convenient for everyone but it is better than nothing. A city like London should consider something similar.
- Canadian, Montreal
Well did not take long from Tim O'Toole's departure for strikes to happen. He could see how incompetent Boris really is and got out in time. I bet he much prefers his new work for First Transport! - (not sure which side of the Atlantic?)
The fact remains that Boris who chose to chair TFL has after a year still not met representatives of the unions not only is this bad management it is also bad politics as it allows Bob Crowe to state how the Mayor shows no interest in London's Transport and its workforce.
The real question needs to be "Did Boris put a spanner in the works" when a deal was nearly done? As Bob Crowe said happened.
If Boris did then he will have cost London millions of pounds and more importently this stategy will make matters even worse in the long term .
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
3 hours from Muswell Hill to Canary Wharf this morning. Even so, Boris, don't give in to these RMT bully boys! Its about time someone stood up to them,
- Ian, London, UK
So, i just don't understand, there are reports here that the strike has failed and Bob Crow has been humiliated, then another report tells us commuters are struggling to work and traffic is horendous, another tells us that the rmt and lul had an agreement only for lul to pull it away and let the strike go ahead, what is tfl and boris doing? anything? is there a strike? isnt there? is there an agreement? isnt there? Boris you r the mayor, stop grabbing photo oppurtunities travelling on river boats and saying what good guys the people who worked are , and LEAD.SORT THIS MESS OUT, BE LONDONS CHAMPION MEET BOB CROW GET A NO STRIKE DEAL NOW FOR THE FUTURE WHILE NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING, IF THEY ARE, AND WE CAN ALL GET TO WORK
- Brian, Wiltshire
Strike action should always be a last resort not a first
- A Aslef Driver, Enfield
Hey boss,If you are going to fire some tube staff in near future REMEMBER! who is at work today. KEEP THEM!!
- Prague Wheel, London
Simon, drivers don't collect fares, and it's them who are on strike. It's been in all the papers!!
"why do not the RMT do as other countries they just go to work but not collect fares - it would make their point with LU and they would not alienate the public- there was no sympathy at the school gate yesterday and today
- Simon, london"
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington
For a second day we are told that Hammersmith&City line is running between Hammersmith and Baker Street - and it might be - but the stations in between are shut!!! Tfl - correct your information!!!!
- By, London
I can only thank Bob Crow, I've got the bus to work the last two mornings and I plan to continue taking the bus in. It's lovely, and it'll be better when there's less traffic on the roads and people have gone back underground.
I also hope that Boris doesn't give in.
- Goggs, London
I agree that more people should consider walking, if they're able to do so, but I made a 12km round trip on foot yesterday through central London, and it's not made any easier by even more of the lawless cyclescum thundering along the pavements. The RMT aren't the only ones who care nothing for anyone but themselves.
- Freya, London
I am absolutely amazed at the audacity of TfL to make these demands. No wonder people are getting nostalgic about Margaret Thatcher who crushed the power of the unions in the 70's. Tube drivers (and RMT) should be replaced by automated trains similar to DLR!
- Stefan, Notting Hill
Once in central London why can't more people walk? I know it's not ideal and for some people I can fully understand for health reasons needing buses and tubes to get to and from work, but for the majority, it's not that bad. Having had to walk from Baker st to bank and Finsbury park in past tube strikes it might take some time, but can be done. Plus, just like yesterday, was rather enjoyable racing and beating the buses. Stop moaning, be glad someone's finally got a backbone and standing up to the RMT and be glad it's not raining.
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK
Why don’t some of the fat lazy slobs sitting in cars for hours on end get out and walk or cycle to work. Many of the cars are massive and take up a huge amount of space and yesterday most of them had one person occupying them. Thet were going nowhere and the drivers having that gormless look on their faces. The pollution levels must have been horrendous for anyone walking or cycling. Mind you it was good fun watching the idiots trying all sorts of tricks and stupid maneuvers just to get a few meters ahead.
- Stephend, London, England
*Please* Let them continue to strike, offer them 0% this year! I "struggled" to work, it was harder but not impossible, I discovered how close things are in London when you walk. People are loosing their jobs, taking pay freezes, pay cuts, yet *every* year we have to put up with the threat of strikes. Londoners would adapt, underground staff would realise they are not "essential". They'll be breaking picket lines themselves to get back to work sooner or later
- Sukh, London
Don't give in Boris, a vast proportion of LU staff seem to understand the tough times we are living through and have not gone on strike!!
I may be one of the lucky ones, and i do feel for the people who have had difficulty getting into work, but my journey on the northern line has been relatively unaffected by this small band of bandits led by Mr Crow, so thanks must go out to those staff who have seen sense!!
- Ap, London
why fo not the RMT do as other countries they just go to work but not collect fares - it would make their point with LU and they would not alienate the public- there was no sympathy at the school gate yesterday and today
- Simon, london
ST London.
I am sorry, but what city do you live in?
Boris has kept London moving?!? I guess you were not trying to get home from work yesterday afternoon then: the whole of Shaftesbury Avenue and then up to Holborn and Angel was choc-a-block with non-moving traffic till well past 7pm last night and so was the Euston area, Kings Road, Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush.
People were actually punching each others to get on the few busses which were making it to a bus stop.
Frustrated drivers were performing really dangerous U-turns thretening the lives of cyclists and scooterists.
- Marco, Notting Hill
Absolutely no sympathy for TfL workers, management and the RTM union. This is a yearly routine for them, holding London at ransom until demands are met! What about those who have been laid off in the past twelve months and find it impossible to get back to work as the economy shrinks? It's time they realised how lucky they are to work for a monopolist: the only tube we have...
- Riccardo Benzo, London
Couldn't help but notice how the all in this together, spirit of the blitz cameraderie of day one had subsided into elbows out and every man for himself at the No 11 bus stop this morning. Driver was a lot grumpier than yesterday too. Could get ugly tonight!
- Paul, London
What is the point of more talks to solve this? A tough management need only wait till they hear back from the RMT. There is nothing more to discuss.
If the Unions wish to call for more (in)action next week-then they must take responsibility for even more workers crossing the picket lines and thus a rapid return to work.
The RMT do NOT have public sympathy and actually, it seems the public seem pretty fed up with TFL management too.
- William Grierson, Kimpton-UK
While I do not support Mr Crow and his usual tactics I have to say having watched Mr Hendy on BBC last night I can understand why there is a strike. Mr Hendy needs to come over as less arrogant and attend the meetings himself as the transport commissioner.
- Tom Gillies, London
This strike has been a complete disaster for the RMT – the tube’s have hardly been effected so inevitably one must ask, what do all the RMT members actually do for the Underground which warrants all the demands they’ve made about job security and pay-rises?
Boris, you have played a blinder here, you have kept London moving and I for one have found it fascinating to discover what Ken COULD have done to make our lives easier during the myriad strikes under his leadership, but clearly chose not to – clearly his loyalties were with the Unions and not Londoners in general.
- St, London
i just hope Boris does not give in. someone needs some balls to stand up to the RMT
- Dave, Purley, UK
