Sadiq Khan under fire as London hit with travel chaos: Tube shut, trains delayed and Uber fares surge

Sadiq Khan under fire as London hit with travel chaos: Tube shut, trains delayed and Uber fares surge
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Aden-Jay Wood

By Aden-Jay Wood


Published: 01/03/2022

- 09:59

Bus stations across the city were heaving with people this morning as a result of strikes by around 10,000 Tube workers

Commuters have slammed London Mayor Sadiq Khan as the first of two days of Tube strikes causes havoc across the capital.

About 10,000 Tube workers from the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union were expected to walk out at 00:01 GMT on Tuesday March for 24 hours and again from 00:01GMT on Thursday March 3.


The dispute is over plans by TfL to cut up to 600 jobs, with employees also airing their concerns over working conditions and pensions.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union on a picket line outside Oxford Street underground station in London during a strike by members of the RMT. Picture date: Tuesday March 1, 2022.
RMT union members outside Oxford Circus Tube station
Aaron Chown

As a result, there is expected to be no Tube services on either day across the entire London network.

Instead, commuters have been scrambling to get to work in time with Mr Khan being criticised for not preventing the strike.

One person, Morgan, took to Twitter to vent his anger towards Mr Khan, saying: "Sort out the bloody strikes it’s going beyond embarrassing especially for tourists. 3 bloody buses my Londoner friend has to get a work in the time it would get him 15 minutes by Tube."

Adrian was another affected by the strikes and hit out at Uber after he was quoted what he said was more than double the usual fare for his journey.

He said: “You are a bunch of scammers, I can't believe you're making such a huge profit and business out of a tube strike, shame on you. Being charged over 30 pounds EXTRA for a trip because of a Tube strike.”

Hundreds wait for buses on Liverpool Street
Hundreds wait for buses on Liverpool Street
SOPHIA SLEIGH

Others complained of overground train delays, like Annie, who hit out at Great Northern Rail after her train into London Kings Cross ran 20 minutes late.

Members of the public also faced problems taking essential journeys on Tuesday morning, which included NHS workers and a father taking her disabled daughter to a hospital appointment.

Andy Lord, TfL's chief operating officer, said: 'I would ask anyone who needs to use the Tube on March 1st and 3rd 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 2nd and 4th too.

Work events and other important events were cancelled
Work events and other important events were cancelled
Twitter

"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."

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