London set for travel chaos as First Great Western, Tube workers go on strike

Londoners are set to experience major transport disruptions from Wednesday onwards as Underground workers are set to go to strike after talks over pay broke down.

Mike Brown MVO, Managing Director of London Underground, said in a statement on Wednesday morning that the strikes would cause big travel chaos "to the people and economy of London". "It is also totally unnecessary," he added.

Unions members are staging industrial action ahead of the launch of the 24-hour Night Tube in September. London Underground had offered workers a 2% rise and a £2,000 bonus for drivers working on the all-night service, though this was rejected.

“No-one is being asked to work more hours than they do now. In return, we have offered a very fair and competitive package of an average 2% increase this year, a pay increase of RPI or 1%, whichever is greater, in 2016 and 2017, a £500 launch bonus to all staff on the Night Tube lines and stations and a £2,000 transition bonus for train operators. We received no response to this from the union leaderships." London Underground’s Chief Operating Officer Steve Griffiths said.

Transport for London warned in a statement: “If the strike goes ahead, there will be no Tube service from late afternoon on Wednesday 8 July and no Tube service at all on Thursday 9 July.

Read more: Read more: Tube strikes set to go ahead this Wednesday, TfL confirms

First Great Western staff will also go to strike due to plans to cut guards and buffet cars on the company’s new Hitachi Inter City Express trains, though last-minute talks with the RMT union were being held on Wednesday in an avert to avert the action.

Nevertheless, the company warned that services would be significantly affected if the strike goes ahead.

“Levels of service will vary by area due to the availability of trained staff to safely operate services, but we hope there will only be minor alterations,” First Great Western said in a statement.

It also warned that capacity would be limited and that trains would be very busy, recommending customers who had already purchased tickets to travel on Wednesday or Saturday.

Passengers travelling to and from south west England and south Wales, including Cardiff, Swansea, Bristol, Cheltenham. Exeter, Bath, Plymouth, Swindon, Gloucester, and Cirencester, were warned that they could expect issues when travelling.

"Our customers are advised to check the TfL website for the latest information as we seek to resolve the dispute and to keep London moving should the unions go ahead with their action," Griffiths said.

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