Following the collapse of talks between the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and London Underground (LU) on Monday morning, London’s underground network faced a complete shutdown for two days starting on Tuesday evening.

A raft of alternative transport measures have been announced by London’s mayor Boris Johnson to help the 3 million commuters who normally use the tube to get to work.

The city is providing 100 extra buses and a free riverboat service, which will run from London Bridge to Tower Bridge, with a peak-hour free shuttle between the London Eye and Tower Bridge. There will also be additional services on existing riverboat routes to boost capacity from 1,500 to 8,000 an hour.

Extra parking for bicycles will be provided in the city centre, while offices and businesses are also expected to allow cycle parking space in foyers and reception areas. Transport for London (TfL) will bring in fixed-fare taxi sharing from the six main rail stations during the morning rush hour, and experts from the London Cycling Campaign will assist cyclists on routes from railway stations across the city. Oyster cards, normally valid only on tubes and buses, will be accepted on all transport services.

Maps of walking routes will also be distributed at hundreds of central rail and tube stations.

The congestion charge will remain in place to dissuade commuters from swamping the city with cars. Commuters who have no alternative other than driving to work may opt for buying season parking tickets from parking companies such as 24 7, which will also provide peace of mind in the event of any further strikes.

London overground services and Docklands Light Railway will be operating as normal.

The strike was called over pay issues and possible job redundancies. Around 3,000 RMT members – a minority of the total membership – voted in favour of a strike. The union was calling for a 5% pay rise and an assurance of no forced redundancies, in response to which LU offered a 4-year deal of a 1.5% pay rise this year and then the inflation rate plus 0.5%, or a 2-year deal of 1% now and inflation plus 0.5% next year.

An angry Boris Johnson called the strike a “ludicrous and unnecessary disruption to our city” which “will not move the prospect of a deal an inch closer”.

According to the business group London First, the strike will cost the London economy around £100 million, aside from the incalculable effects of bad publicity – not for the first time will visitors and investors take away the message that London’s transport systems are unreliable.

 

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