Evening chaos for London commuters

Only 45 tubes out of LU's 500 were running on Thursday

A 24-hour strike just ended by London Underground workers continues to affect commuters struggling to make it home.

All but three tube lines have been closed following a walkout in a row over jobs and safety by members of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT).

The stoppage, which began at 2000BST on Wednesday, saw nine of the 12 lines closed on Thursday afternoon, with only shuttle services on the Central, District, and Metropolitan lines.

Tube situation 1500BST

District 12%

Central 13%

Metropolitan 43%

No services on nine lines

A limited service on the Jubilee line had stopped by 1400GMT Thursday.

London Underground (LU) had hoped to operate up to 50% of Tube services, but only 45 out of a fleet of more than 500 trains were operating.

It is thought to have been hampered by a refusal from members of train drivers' union Aslef to cross picket lines.

LU officials said Underground services would not return to normal until Friday morning.

Stations closed

Of the three lines running, only the Metropolitan line operated through central London.

It had restricted services between Amersham and Liverpool Street, Watford and Rickmansworth, and Chesham to Chalfont & Latimer, calling at all stations but Euston Square, Barbican and Uxbridge.

Central line trains shuttled between White City and West Ruislip, Epping and Leytonstone, and Hainault and Woodford. Redbridge station was closed and there were no services on the Ealing Broadway branch.

The District line operated only between Upminster and Whitechapel with stations at Becontree, Elm Park, Hornchurch, Stepney Green, Upton Park all closed.

Heavy traffic

LU urged customers to stagger journeys and be prepared to walk or cycle.

There were long queues for buses and heavy congestion on roads on Thursday morning, despite warnings to drivers that parking restrictions would not be relaxed in central London.

A spokesman for the Automobile Association said: "The tube strike seems to have hit the roads more severely this time round with lots of heavy traffic."

Disruption is likely to continue on Friday morning

London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who is backing Transport Commissioner Bob Kiley's decision to take legal action over the government's public private partnership (PPP) plan to break up the London Underground, walked to work on Thursday morning.

It took him two hours to travel the seven miles from his home in Cricklewood to his office in Westminster.

The Corporation of London said the strike would cost at least £100m in lost days' work, production and commerce.

The RMT fears safety will be compromised and jobs affected by PPP.

But London Minister Keith Hill said the unions were creating "scare stories" about safety.