Tube staff in London have walked out in the first of two 48-hour strikes in a dispute over ticket office closures, which will bring widespread travel disruption to the capital until Friday morning.
People are being urged to check before travelling as a result of the industrial action by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association.
While London Underground said it will run as many services as possible, it warned there would be disruption, with a limited service on lines and some stations closed.
They will also start later and finish earlier than normal, operating from around 7am to 11pm.
Services were due to be affected from 9.30pm, and travellers were advised to complete their journey as early as possible on Tuesday evening.
While rail and bus services will be operating as normal, these are predicted to be busy, and so cycling and walking were suggested as possible alternatives.
London Underground workers are due to strike after the mayor announced plans to close all ticket offices with the loss of 750 jobs – a move Mayor Boris Johnson says will save £50m.
The second 48-hour stoppage will be held on February 11.
Special notices were displayed at Tube stations giving details of the likely impact of the industrial action.
On the Bakerloo Line trains will not be stopping at stations including Embankment, Piccadilly Circus and Regent’s Park.
There will also be no Central Line or Piccadilly Line trains through the central area.
Victoria Line trains will only run between Seven Sisters and Victoria and Northern Line trains will not stopping at several stations including Leicester Square, Oval and Clapham North and South.
And while officials have said which services they intend to run, they warned “the situation may change throughout the day”.
It has been estimated the walkouts cost the London economy £50m a day.
John Allan, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Just as the economy is starting to pick up, small firms are naturally deeply concerned about the impact strike action will have on their ability to do business.”
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Source Article from http://uk.news.yahoo.com/underground-staff-start-48-hour-stoppage-211942440.html
London Underground Staff Start 48-hour Strike
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