Christmas travel chaos: Tube STRIKES this weekend to cause Christmas shoppers MISERY
TRAVEL chaos is set to ensue this weekend as Transport for London (TFL) strikes are planned on the Waterloo & City line and Central line.
TFL prepare travellers for the festive season
RMT union members will walk out on both lines tomorrow evening. They will be cancelled through the night on Friday and during the day Saturday. The same strike took place on November 7, on the same two lines. Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union and Aslef Union bosses said this strike was as a result of “a complete breakdown of industrial relations” as attempts to resolve the issue failed.
RMT Union general secretary Mick Cash said: “Industrial relations on the Central Line have been at breaking point for some time now.”
Talks were set to take place to avoid Central Line strikes in the weekend leading up to Christmas.
RMT leaders have ordered the strike over issues which include the reinstatement of a driver who failed a drugs test.
London Underground director of line operations Nick Dent said the strike was “totally unjustifiable”.
Reported in the London Evening Standard Mr Dent said: “The action before Christmas is over their demand for the reinstatement of a driver who fails a drug test, but safety is always our top priority and we will never waver from that.”
He said: “I urge the union to call off this unwarranted action and spare Londoners needless disruption around Christmas.”
With the Central Line one of London’s busiest, partygoers this weekend will have to adjust travel plans as the night tube will not be in operation.
During the strike certain popular stations will be busier than usual.
These include Oxford Circus, Notting Hill Gate, Liverpool Street, Tottenham Court Road, Bond Street and Stratford
Travellers should expect stations potentially close due to overcrowding on other lines as strikes are taking place.
A strike is also planned on the Bakerloo line on Boxing Day.