Fire strike closes Tube stations

London Underground will again close 20 deep-lying stations where passengers have to use lifts to get onto platforms, following a safety assessment.

Shadwell Station will also be closed during peak hours and customers using Gloucester Road will only be able to access the District and Circle lines for the duration of the 48-hour strike.

Commuters are already finding their journeys disrupted by the closure of the Central and Waterloo and City lines following the derailment of a train at Chancery Lane on Saturday.

Stations closed during the strike

The Central Line is the Tube's longest line, with 49 stations - including Bond Street and Oxford Circus.

Between them the two lines carry 600,000 passengers a day and it is thought they will not open again for the rest of the week.

Special buses have been put on to help cover the routes served by the two lines.

Mike Strzelecki, safety director for London Underground, said: "We regret any inconvenience these closures cause but the safety of our customers and staff is and always will be our priority."

The first strike is scheduled to start at 0900 GMT on Tuesday and will be followed by a further 48-hour walk-out on Saturday.