Talks to avert London tube strike fail, transport chaos expected

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Talks aimed at averting a walkout by staff on the London Underground broke up on Saturday without a resolution.

Although the 24-hour stoppage is set to start on Sunday, disruption is expected in the Monday morning rush hour as the industrial action will run through to the following day. Tens of thousands of commuters could be affected.

Most tube stations in central London and many interchange underground stations will close during the stoppage.

Hopes had been raised when both sides held conciliation talks to seek a breakthrough in a dispute over plans to cut station jobs and close station ticket offices.

A night tube sign is displayed outside Oxford Circus station in central London on August 19, 2016 ahead of the launch of the 24-hour night tube service. /CFP Photo

But in a message to members of the transport union, RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) regional organizer John Leach said the talks had failed and the strike by his union would go ahead.

With around 4,000 staff involved in the stoppage, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he had instructed bosses at Transport for London (TfL) to work throughout the weekend to resolve the dispute.

"There is no reason for the unions to strike," Khan said on Saturday.

TfL was advising passengers on Saturday night that if the strike goes ahead, tube services will be severely reduced and some stations will close from Sunday evening until the end of service on Monday. The majority of stations in Zone 1, concentrated in and around central London, will be closed.

A group of girls leaves King's Cross St. Pancras station in central London early in the morning of August 20, 2016, following the launch of the 24-hour night tube service. /CFP Photo‍

Although National Rail services will not be affected by this strike, there will be no underground services from key interchange stations in London such as Victoria, King's Cross St Pancras, Waterloo, Paddington, Euston, Bank and London Bridge, said TfL.

For passengers travelling to or from Heathrow airport, TfL plans to run Piccadilly line services between Hammersmith and Heathrow terminals 1, 2 and 3. Coach services will run to Heathrow Central Bus Station and Heathrow Terminals 4 and 5.

TfL has also produced a "walking map" for people deciding to make journeys on foot. And extra cycle hire stands will be brought in.

Nearly five million people a day travel on the London Underground.

(Story adapted from Xinhua)

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