A WAR of words has broken out between the RMT union and London Underground, as today's strike by RMT and TSSA members continues.

Only 4 out of ten trains are running, and problems are now occurring on London Overground because of severe overcrowding caused by diverted Underground passengers, while buses are being delayed by heightened traffic levels on the roads.

The strike has been called in protest at plans to cut 800 Underground jobs and reduce the opening hours of many under-used suburban ticket offices, although London Underground has promised that no ticket office will close entirely and that no station will become unstaffed.

LU has denied union claims that the job losses would be a safety risk.

The reported position at midday on TfL rail services of all kinds was:

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’**
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’
**note: not all Underground stations are open, even on sections where trains are running

London Overground: ‘severe delays’ reported because of overcrowding, although a normal service is being operated
Docklands Light Railway: normal service
Tramlink: normal service

The RMT has accused LU of further safety breaches today, after it emerged that although most lines are at least partly open many stations are not, with the result that trains are running non-stop over some sections.

One of these is the Bakerloo Line, where trains are running between Elephant & Castle and Queen's Park but not stopping at intermediate stations between Marylebone and Queen's Park.

The RMT accused London Underground of ignoring the rule that says where three or more consecutive stations are closed services should be suspended, because passenger evacuation in an emergency, particularly from a breakdown in mid-tunnel, would then be difficult to arrange in safety.

However LU replied that although the stations are closed to passengers, there are still enough staff on duty to handle an emergency evacuation.

The RMT maintained that it is compiling a dossier of alleged safety breaches, and also claimed that support for the strike was ‘rock solid’.

The walkout is due to end at 21.00 this evening, but London Underground said disruption could be expected to continue until the end of traffic tonight.

Meanwhile, the strike is also affecting other forms of transport.

Although London Overground is outside the dispute, along with the Docklands Light Railway and trams, overcrowding is now causing serious delays on parts of the Overground network, as Underground passengers seek alternative routes.

A spokesman for TfL buses said 100 extra buses are running as promised, but that delays are being reported on many routes into central London, because the roads are busier than usual as a result of the Underground strike.