TRANSPORT for London has reported an improvement to Underground services, in spite of today's strike by RMT and TSSA staff, but fewer than half of the scheduled trains are running, and some sections of line remain closed.

Today's walkout had been prompted by a dispute over job losses. London Underground is shedding 800 posts and cutting back the opening hours of little-used suburban ticket offices, transferring some staff to frontline roles on station concourses and platforms.

TfL is denying union accusations that the changes are putting safety at risk, and also pointing out that 250 of the posts are currently vacant or expected to become so anyway.

A separate dispute over pay has also led to strikes at three Alstom-run maintenance depots serving the Jubilee and Northern Lines, which began on Sunday night.

The main strike began last night and Underground services got off to a slow start this morning. But since 10.00 most lines have offered services over at least part of their routes, although there are still no Circle trains.

However as the following update shows, Underground services remain patchy, particularly across central London, with sections of the District, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Piccadilly and Victoria Lines still among those without trains.

Bakerloo Line: no service* between Queen’s Park and Harrow & Wealdstone
(*National Rail services between Euston, Queen’s Park, Harrow and Watford are running normally)
Central Line: ‘some services’ running
Circle Line: no service  
District Line: no services to Ealing Broadway or Richmond, between Earl's Court and Edgware Road or between Barking and Upminster
Hammersmith & City Line: ‘partly suspended’
Jubilee Line: no service between Finchley Road and Waterloo
Metropolitan Line: no service between Baker Street, Liverpool Street and Aldgate
Northern Line: ‘good service’, although some stations are currently closed
Piccadilly Line: no service between King's Cross, Acton Town and Heathrow, or between Acton Town and Uxbridge
Victoria Line: no service between Victoria and Brixton
Waterloo & City Line: ‘good service’

Services are running normally on the Docklands Light Railway, London Overground and tram routes in south London.

TfL has brought an extra 100 buses into use on key routes and boosted river services. Other measures include taxi marshals and additional staff at stations to advise passengers about their travel options today.