London on strike in latest LIVE: Capital faces chaos as tube riders, teachers and would-be doctors disembark

How will strikes affect London’s transport network today?

Pipe

• Little or no service expected throughout the subway network
• If you have to travel by other means of transport, you should plan more time for the journey

London uplands

• Services are expected to run as usual
• It is expected to be busier than usual as queuing systems are in place
• Some services may not stop at all stations due to the metro closure

Elizabeth line

• No service between Paddington and Abbey Wood/Stratford before 7.30am or after 10.30pm
• Subway station closures may mean that some services cannot stop at all usual stations
• Services are expected to be busier than usual, with possible queuing systems

DLR and trams

• Services are expected to run as usual
• No stepless access at Bank DLR. Must be accessed through the Monument entrance if the station can be opened

buses

• Expected to run as usual
• Services will be much stronger than usual, especially from the main train stations

Pictured: junior doctors on the picket line

Junior doctors have returned to the picket line for the third day in a row in a bitter dispute with the government over pay.

The 72-hour strike will last until 8am Thursday, with consultants stepping in to cover emergency supplies.

The British Medical Association is targeting a 35 per cent wage increase to correct what it says has been years of wage erosion from inflation.

Train strikes tomorrow to cause chaos on London’s commuter network

Commuters face further travel chaos tomorrow as RMT train strikes bring much of the rail network to a standstill.

But how will they affect connections to London?

– Gatwick Express: There are two trains an hour between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport on Thursday

– Südwestbahn: On Thursday there is a significantly reduced service and only between London Waterloo and each of Basingstoke, Southampton, Windsor and Woking and between Guildford and Woking and Salisbury and Basingstoke

– southeast: Trains will not operate on most of the network in Kent and East Sussex.

– South: Services operate between London Bridge and Brighton, Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges, between London Victoria and Brighton and along the south coast

More subway strikes “likely” if dispute is not settled, a union official warns

A union official has warned that more subway strikes are “probable” without a resolution to the current dispute over pensions and staff turnover.

Aslef district organizer Finn Brennan told the BBC the industrial action was “not about pay”.

He said: “We have always said we are ready to negotiate change, but our members are understandably and rightly unwilling to pay the price for the hole that has been created in TfL’s budget because the Government has has not properly funded public transport in London.”

Ticket booking app shows £6m daily revenue slump due to strike

Online train ticketing business Trainline lost up to £6million a day on strike days, new figures show.

The group said ongoing industrial action at UK railways is costing them an average of £5million to £6million in gross revenue impact per day of strike.

However, Trainline said an increase in international travel demand in particular boosted overall revenue, with overseas ticket sales up 95 percent three-year ago.

The figures come as the RMT prepares to take industrial action on Britain’s railways tomorrow and Saturday.

London hospitals report ‘busiest Monday of the year’

A London hospital reported its busiest Monday so far this year during the junior doctors’ strike, as the strike entered its third day.

At St George’s, Epsom and St Helier hospitals in south-west London, more than 1,000 people came to their emergency rooms over the course of Monday – despite requests that A&E should only go to A&E during the strike in the event of a medical emergency.

That’s one person every 90 seconds.

Epsom and St Helier hospitals on Monday surpassed 500 visits to their emergency departments for the second time in 2023, while St George’s 475 visits was the second-biggest Monday this year.

dr Richard Jennings, Group Chief Medical Officer, St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, said: “Our hospitals are at an unprecedented busy level and Monday was a challenging day for everyone.

“We have worked very hard to prepare for these strikes, but it is inevitable that services in our hospitals will be affected.

“We’re always here for those who need care – and if it’s an emergency, life threatening, or you have an appointment, you still need to call in. But my appeal to everyone else: use our services wisely and help us ensure we can help those most in need.”

“I sincerely apologize to parents for the intrusion” – Head of Teachers’ Union

A union leader has apologized to parents for the disruption caused by Wednesday’s strike.

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), told Times Radio that today’s teachers’ strikes are “actually fighting for” children and their welfare.

“But I sincerely apologize to the parents for the disruption to education today and the disruption to their home and work life,” he added.

“We think parents understand what we are saying – that this generation of children who have been hit so hard by Covid have been ignored by this government.”

The head of the teachers’ union blames the education minister for today’s action

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is responsible for the teachers’ strikes taking place today, the joint secretary-general of the National Education Union (NEU) said.

Kevin Courtney told Times Radio: “It’s Gillian Keegan who’s out of sync – she just won’t sit down and talk to us and make offers to settle the dispute.”

He added: “Gillian Keegan is afraid we will call strikes because she knows we have parental support.

“We are using the strike to put pressure on the government to make a reasonable offer that will benefit our children’s education.

“Our members are actually striking today for the highest motives – they are trying to improve children’s education because they see the disruptions that happen in our schools every day.”

Junior doctors left for a third day

NHS junior doctors are going out today for a third straight day as they remain embroiled in a dispute over pay.

Members of the BMA began their three-day strike action on Monday and are being joined by junior HCSA doctors today.

Counselors and other senior doctors are being brought in to cover their absences but the NHS still expects “major disruption”.

Read more here.

Met police forensic officers hit by strikes today

Met police officers, including crime scene investigators and other forensic specialists, are scheduled to leave home today as members of the Prospect union go on strike.

Scotland Yard acknowledged that this could “concern members of the public” about how police will manage to visit crime scenes, conduct investigations and handle calls.

The force said it had “taken several measures to mitigate the downsizing.”

It said that in “non-urgent” cases, people could be asked to “keep some items and surfaces” until experts can attend tomorrow.

“We recognize that a wait may be a matter of concern, but we are committed to reducing and managing the impact of the strike action to ensure we continue to do everything in our power to assist victims, investigations and the gathering of vital evidence in our quest to keep criminals brought to justice,” a spokesman said.

“We will prioritize our response and support to investigate the most serious crime scenes and conduct urgent and critical laboratory and digital forensic investigations, making best use of the personnel on duty to cover as many crime scenes and inquiries as quickly as possible.”