Londoners face travel disruption as Tube drivers stage second strike of the week

London Underground drivers staged their second strike of the week on Thursday causing fresh disruption for travellers in the capital.

The Circle and Waterloo & City lines are not running at all on Thursday.

There are part suspendions on the Circle Line between Liverpool Street and White City; on the Metropolitan Line between Baker Street and Aldgate, and on the Picadilly Line between Arnos Grove and Uxbridge, as well as Heathrow Terminals 4 & 5.

There are severe delays across the entire district and northern lines.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) also walked out on Tuesday after last-ditch talks failed to resolve a dispute over a four-day week.

The two sides met for five hours on Monday, with the assistance of the conciliation service Acas, but the talks ended without any resolution.

Picket lines were again mounted outside Tube stations on Thursday and buses were busier than usual.

Tube lines were suspended or disrupted because of the strike, which the union said was being solidly supported.

The RMT added that talks were expected to resume next week.

Transport for London said Londoners and visitors to the city were still able to travel despite the strike action on Tuesday adding that more than 60% of drivers came to work across the day.

“We continue to urge the RMT to work with us to resolve their questions on the proposed four-day week and to suspend any future action while that work is completed,” said a spokesperson.

Research by communications firm 02 showed that footfall in London was down by up 12% compared with a normal Thursday morning.

Footfall in the City was down by 9%, King’s Cross by 12%, the West End by 5% and Westminster by 11%.

A Virgin Media O2 spokesperson said: “As Tube strikes continue across London, our mobility data shows footfall remains down across some of the city’s busiest areas.

“The data highlights the continued impact transport disruption can have on central London, with many people once again changing their usual routines and journeys.”