Tube strike rage: police called

by Anthony France and Dick Murray, Transport Editor Stranded commuters denounced striking Tube workers as the latest stoppage caused chaos today.

Thousands of stranded commuters stream across Waterloo Bridge today More on this Story VOTE: why are they striking? HAVE YOUR SAY: Strike nightmare - how did you cope? Strike watch: latest update How to get the latest information 7-mile walk for Mayor Ken Walkers strike out across the park Battle for buses at Victoria Today's Top News Tube strike rage: police called Margaret suffers another stroke 4,400 jobs go at struggling M&S 'Buy Railtrack for the public' £14m vaccination is step closer Any support for the action, called by union leaders on "safety" grounds, quickly evaporated amid angry scenes with at one point police called in to calm the situation.

Personal assistant Vicky Smith, 19, from Grays, and her sister Jenny, 18, were attempting to get to Fenchurch Street station when their path was barred by steel barriers last night.

Vicky said: "They earn £30,000 a year and, although they say this strike is about health and safety, I think that's a lie. It's about more money for them, really. They are greedy."

But Mayor Ken Livingstone said this morning that he believed in the "right of people to withdraw their labour". Walking to work like thousands of commuters, he added: "I am not going to get involved in gesture politics from the sidelines."

At 8am when 475 trains would normally be running there were 31. There were no trains at all on the Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria, Bakerloo, Circle, District, East London or Hammersmith & City lines. Thirteen train were running on the Metropolitan line and only four on the Jubilee line. The Central line had 12 trains out of 65 in service.

Commuters walk to work through Green Park today as the strike takes its toll The AA reported roads into London were hit "more severely this time round with lots of heavy traffic". At Victoria huge bus queues spilled on to the road. Commuters deluged a lone bus inspector with queries on how to get to work. Thousands of Tube workers in the RMT union on official strike are backed by others in Aslef taking wildcat action and refusing to cross picket lines. Tens of thousands of commuters arriving in London on mainline rail services found Tube stations closed and huge queues building for buses and taxis.

Many, however, took London Underground's advice and joined the huge procession of people walking to work.

As the morning rush hour progressed traffic conditions worsened considerably with vehicles brought to a standstill in much of central London. The motoring organisations reported a "gridlock situation" around Park Lane and roads leading to it.

Traffic on the Hammersmith flyover into London was moving at little above a crawl.

The story was the same on the elevated section of the A4 before hitting tailbacks from the traffic lights at the junction of Talgarth Road and North End Road.

An attendant at a BP petrol station on the south side of Talgarth Road said: "It's definitely heavier than usual. This is a busy road anyway, but there are more cars going in both directions this morning."

'This is a strike that nobody wants. It is a strike nobody needs. It is a strike London won't understand' - LU spokesman The Docklands Light Railway ran an extended rush-hour service with extra trains on standby if needed throughout the day. It is not affected by the strike action.

On the river, there is a special, free "turn up and go" service which will operate every 10 to 15 minutes during this evening's peak period, running from 4.20pm to 7.55pm, between Tower Pier, Blackfriars Embankment, Westminster and Waterloo.

Although the strike is due to end officially at 8pm, LU warned the severe disruption would last for the rest of the day with services not returning to normal until tomorrow.

An LU spokesman said: "This is a strike that nobody wants. It is a strike nobody needs. It is a strike London won't understand."

The spokesman added: "The blame for the considerable disruption caused today to both passengers and the capital's businesses must be put firmly on the shoulders of the Rail Maritime and Transport union.

"We did everything in our power to try and avoid this strike and persuade them to suspend the action but to no avail."

Mike Brown, London Underground's customer services director, said: "This is an unnecessary strike which follows an unwillingness by the RMT to negotiate with us.

"This is not about safety and we've already reached an agreement with Aslef, the sister union of the RMT."

The RMT has just over 7,000 Tube members including some drivers, station staff and signal workers. They recorded an 11-1 vote in favour of strike action which is the highest majority ever on the Underground.

The severity of today's strike was fuelled by the lack of agreement this week between Bob Kiley, the transport commissioner, and John Prescott over the future of the London Underground.

Mr Kiley has frequently claimed the part-privatisation proposals are "unsafe" - which is categorically denied by both Tube chiefs and the Government.

-- Anonymous, March 29, 2001