People travelling on the tube in central London have been hit by major disruption due to a Tube drivers strike.
Members of the Aslef union voted for a 24 hour strike beginning at 00.01 BST this morning, causing service suspensions to much of the Central Line and suspending service entirely on the Waterloo & City Line.
According to Transport for London (TfL), there are no Central Line trains running in central London, and a limited service running between Ealing Broadway and White City and between Epping and Leytonstone. Services that are running, are at a reduced frequency and will finish by 22:00.
Replacement bus services are running on some key routes, but the strike has caused major disruption to those planning on using the London Underground today. TfL staff and volunteers are available at most stations to help direct people to alternative routes and services.
All other Tube, DLR and London Overground routes are not affected by the strike, but TfL warn that they will be busier than normal as people find alternative routes.
Commenting on the strike ASLEF’s District Organiser Finn Brennan said:
“This dispute has been brought about by management intransigence on a range of issues, but at its heart is management’s refusal to treat drivers with the respect and dignity they deserve at work.
“Our members will not tolerate a situation where vulnerable people leave sickness review meetings in tears and drivers with years and years of good and long service are threatened with disciplinary action for a delay of 33 seconds in leaving a terminus.
“LUL is also cutting annual refresher training for drivers on the Central line by 20%. This flies in the face of recommendations made by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch in its report into the ‘uncontrolled evacuation’ of a train at Holland Park last August which recommended staff on the line needed additional training.”
A further strike is planned for next month if the dispute is not resolved.
Up-to-date travel information can be found by following @TfLTravelAlerts and @centralline on Twitter as well as on the TfL website.
