Tube strike causes huge queues for buses in city
DISRUPTION IN THE CAPITAL AS UNDERGROUND WORKERS TAKE INDUSTRIAL ACTION
THE London Underground Tube strikes are placing increased demand on the bus network as people try to find alternative means of travel.
Huge queues of people waiting for buses were seen on Tuesday across the capital in response to the first of two 24-hour Tube strikes.
Transport for London (TfL) warned passengers that there would be severe disruptions to people’s travel arrangements and advised those that can to work from home.
On Tuesday on the TfL website every line, apart from the Northern and Central (which is partly suspended), were showing as suspended service.
For those that needed to travel to work, their only options on public transport were London buses, DLR, Overground and railway networks.
As this newspaper went to press, TfL warned that the planned Underground action was also likely to severely impact services on Wednesday March 2 and Friday March 4, particularly in the morning, up until 9am.
One witness said that police officers were refusing people onto buses due to pushing.
Large queues were seen particularly around Liverpool Street station as commuters waited in miserable weather conditions for buses.
There were also reports of long waits at London Bridge, Victoria Station and Stratford as demand for buses surged to high levels.
Speaking on LBC on Tuesday, the chief operating officer of Transport for London Andy Lord encouraged people to work from home on Tuesday and Thursday this week.
Asked about what measures have been put in place for key workers who are not able to work from home, he added: “We’ve laid on extra buses and we also have all our other TfL services which are operating normally.”
TfL says the dispute comes despite no proposals being tabled on pensions or terms and conditions, and nobody “has or will lose their jobs because of the proposals TfL has set out”.
Londoners turned to social media to vent their anger at the strikes although some were supporting the TfL workers for making a stand.
One angry customer wrote: “TfL should sack every one of these drivers and put the money towards autonomous trains.”
Another person added: “Is it time for a Tube strike when people are trying to get to work?”.
A third wrote: “Tube Strike!!! What a joke! They do what they want and nothing is done against them, greedy company, vampires!”
In support of the strike, one person Tweeted: “Solidarity with all TFL staff on the #tubestrike today. Labour rights are human rights”
Earlier in the week, Mr Lord said: “I would ask anyone who needs to use the Tube on March 1 and 3 to check before they make their journey, consider whether they are able to work from home and use alternative modes of transport where possible.
“It’s highly unlikely there will be an Underground service running during the strike action and services are likely to be affected on the mornings of March 2 and 4 too. I apologise to customers for this and understand they will be frustrated by this strike action, but urge them not to take it out on those who are trying to help.
“We haven’t proposed any changes to pensions or terms and conditions, and nobody has or will lose their jobs because of the proposals we have set out, so this action is completely unnecessary. We know our customers deserve better than this and that is why we’re urging the RMT to talk to us so we can find a resolution to this dispute and call off this action, which is threatening London’s recovery from the pandemic.”