A fresh wave of travel disruption hits London commuters today as tube strikes take place for the second time this week.
The RMT union has gone ahead with their second planned strike today after talks with TfL over a four-day working week failed to reach agreement.
Still running is the Overground and Elizabeth line and DLR as well as London buses, but services are expected to be busy with crowds building at stations and stops throughout the day.
The strike began at 00.01 today and will due to finish at 23.59 this evening.
This comes after a 24-hour strike took place on Tuesday which brought most tube lines either partially or fully suspended throughout the day.
On Tuesday, the capital’s footfall dropped significantly – 16 per cent down in the City of London and 11 per cent less in Westminster compared to average figures.
Anonymised mobile data from Virgin Media O2 revealed many Londoners decided not to brave public transport and stay at home.
The strike action is over proposals to introduce a voluntary four-day working week.
The strikes are expected to impact most tube lines lines today across the capital
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However, the RMT union, more formally known as the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, rejected the offer.
Under the proposals, tube drivers would have their working hours reduced to 35 hours a week – now at 36 hours, but their contractual hours remain because of the introduction of paid meal breaks.
Essentially, tube drivers would work longer days, but fewer days.
The RMT union said the working day would be too long, putting drivers at risk of tiredness and ultimately, risking safety.
On Tuesday commuters found themselves in long queues for buses due to the tube lines being out of action
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They instead want a 32-hour week over four days, which means drivers would work three hours less each week but keep the same salary as before.
It is currently being voluntarily trailled on the Bakerloo line to see if the plans can be rolled out more broadly.
An RMT spokesman said on Monday: “Despite our best efforts in Acas talks, TfL have failed to provide assurances on our members deeply held concerns around fatigue, reduced flexibility, shift lengths and the impact these proposals could have in a safety-critical role like Tube driving.”
“We remain available for meaningful talks, but strike action tomorrow will now go ahead.”
A TfL spokesman described RMT’s decision to strike as “deeply disappointing”.
They said: “It is bitterly disappointing that despite five hours of meetings with the RMT at Acas and repeated assurances that the four-day working week proposals will remain voluntary, RMT has chosen to continue with its disruptive strike action.
“We will do all we can to provide as much service as possible during this action.”
Aslef, the union representing a slightly higher proportion of Tube drivers, said it was “surprised” by the RMT’s decision to take strike action, having itself agreed to the voluntary compressed four-day week arrangement.
An Aslef spokesman said the deal gave participating drivers an extra 35 days off a year in exchange for what it described as “some fairly minor changes to working conditions.”
They accused the RMT of planning “the first strike in the history of the trade union movement designed to stop people having a shorter working week and more time off”.
The RMT responded simply that it had “a different perspective from Aslef.”
You can find live updates for the Tube network on TfL’s website.