Londoners face major delays this week because of strike action by thousands of workers on the Tube.
All London Underground lines are suspended on Tuesday and Thursday, with a knock-on effect on Wednesday and Friday.
Walkouts by Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members will take place on all Tube lines on Tuesday and Thursday.
Tube strikes planned across all lines.
Highly likely there will be no service on Tuesday 1 and Thursday 3 March.
Services next morning also affected.
For essential journeys, check your travel.
Transport for London (TfL) said anyone who relied on the Tube to travel should work from home if they can or take alternative forms of transport.
There are no Tubes running on Tuesday, with similar cancellations expected on Thursday.
Mayor asks unions to ‘work with City Hall’
A spokesperson for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “The upcoming strike action will cause disruption to Londoners and businesses that are trying to recover from two devastating years.
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“It will also damage TfL’s revenues at a time when TfL is already under huge financial strain due to the pandemic.
“TfL are working to mitigate the impact of the strikes but disruption is inevitable. The mayor urges Londoners who need to travel on 1 March and 3 to check before they make their journey, consider whether they are able to work from home and use alternative modes of transport where possible.
“Sadiq doesn’t want to see strike action and is imploring the unions to come to the table and work with City Hall and TfL.”
Raid on pensions is ‘unfair’
RMT members are taking action in a dispute over jobs, pensions and working conditions.
The union’s general secretary, Mick Lynch, said the mayor knows “this raid on our members’ pensions and conditions is unfair” and would lead to industrial action.
As underground staff strike today @RMTunion demands @MayorofLondon Sadiq Khan make good on his promises not to cut Tube jobs and pensions#TubeStrike #JusticeForKeyworkers #StopTheTubeCutshttps://t.co/7TBrRVkr46 pic.twitter.com/3gyY0ZtXPE
“Yet only last week we find out that the mayor has agreed to submit proposals to the government that will result in attacks on those pensions.
“Which side is he on? The side of our members who risked their lives as key workers in COVID and are now, as he predicted, striking to defend [their] livelihoods and future?
“Or the side of a Tory government which wants to attack jobs, pensions, conditions and services?
“The mayor can solve this dispute by agreeing to talks that meet the concerns of his own workforce.
“Our members are central to the future of passenger safety and confidence on the Tube, and they’ll be at the heart of London’s recovery.
“For the good of his workers and London’s recovery, Sadiq needs to stand firm against the government, stop the pensions raid and end the job massacre.”
Action is ‘unnecessary’
However, TfL’s chief operating officer, Andy Lord, said the network hasn’t “proposed any changes to pensions”.
“Nobody has or will lose their jobs because of the proposals we have set out, so this action is completely unnecessary,” he said.
“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.”
On the picket line outside Brixton. The underground is completely shut. @RMTLondon @RMTunion
Your only weapon
Is those you work with
Your strength is their strength
Can't beat the rank and file
… Go get organized! pic.twitter.com/4gpQoiDynF
The disruptions will also lead to the closure of five stations on the Great Northern’s Northern City Line, from Drayton Park to Moorgate, which are operated as part of the London Underground network.
Great Northern Trains will be diverted from Finsbury Park to Kings Cross, with no service to Drayton Park, Highbury & Islington, Essex Road, Old Street and Moorgate.
Southern, Great Northern and Thameslink trains around London are expected to be busier than usual and passengers are warned journeys may take longer than usual.