London Underground passengers today endured a fresh strike by customer service managers which could see stations across the network close at ‘very short notice’.
Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) who are responsible for running the stations are walking out today and tomorrow in a dispute over pay.
The TSSA had threatened that ‘many’ stations could shut today due to staffing issues – and by 7am today, six were listed as closed due to staff unavailability: Bermondsey; Caledonian Road; Goodge Street; Manor House; Pimlico; and Russell Square.
But all Underground lines were operating a good service this morning apart from the Northern line, which has a planned part-closure due to planned engineering works.
A picket line was due at Liverpool Street from 8am today, then another from 12.30pm at Embankment – but it was not clear whether these would shut either station.
TSSA sources told that they expect ‘many stations will potentially be left unstaffed for long periods, and many may well close at very short notice as the customer service managers run the station’. However, Transport for London (TfL) officials have insisted that they do not expect any ‘significant’ issues on the network.
Meanwhile there were 15 different issues across the National Rail network causing delays today including flooding, landslips, signalling faults and derailed trains.
A closed entrance seen at King’s Cross St Pancras Underground Station in November 2022
In London, the TSSA claimed its members are concerned about potential changes to their terms and conditions, job role and location.
The union’s general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: ‘Our customer service manager members are united and determined to take strike action this week in defence of their terms and conditions.
‘This strike could have been avoided if London Underground had negotiated with us in good faith.
‘Instead, we have been left in a position where London Underground is still unable to explain the impact of its ‘Stations Changes’ proposals.
‘We cannot allow the continued threats to our members’ roles, locations, terms and conditions to stand unchallenged, that is why our members are taking strike action this week.
‘We’ll see how quickly London Underground get back round the negotiating table when they see the strength and determination of our members.’
But a TfL spokesman told : ‘We are disappointed that TSSA has announced this strike action following a consultation process.
‘While we don’t expect this action will cause significant disruption, we urge TSSA to continue to work with us to help find a resolution.
Commuters walk on a platform after a train arrived at London Waterloo during Monday’s strike
‘There are no planned job losses as part of these vital changes which will improve the service we provide to customers at our stations.’
On the National Rail network today, flooding affected Transport for Wales services between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog; and between Machynlleth and Aberystwyth.
Signalling faults were causing issues for South Western Railway at Hilsea; Transport for Wales between Welshpool and Shrewsbury; Greater Anglia at Bury St Edmunds; and ScotRail at Bellgrove.
There were delays on Transport for Wales due to a trespass incident between Bridgend and Barry; on c2c services after a train was late leaving a depot; and on Thameslink between St Albans and Sutton due to a train crew shortage.
Other issues in recent weeks were also continuing to have an impact on services – including urgent repairs to the track on which Northern services run between New Mills Central and Chinley; and between Edenbridge and Tonbridge for Southern trains.
Northern also had continued issues due to a train derailment between Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster in March; and landslips between Pontefract Monkhill and Knottingley over the weekend and between Shipley and Ilkley in February. ScotRail also still had disruption due to a fire between Ayr and Kilmarnock last September.
It comes after planned strikes by Underground drivers belonging to another union, Aslef, were called off last Thursday.
Members of Aslef were due to walk out both on Monday this week and then on Saturday, May 4.
But the union said that after a series of meetings at the conciliation service Acas, its negotiating team received a proposal that resolved the key issues in the dispute.
It comes after National Rail commuters endured yet more disruption yesterday after an overtime ban saw trains cancelled across Britain.
Passengers suffered last-minute timetable changes on the final day of the latest overtime ban by train drivers belonging to Aslef at 16 rail operators.
It came after three days of strike action over a four-day period between last Friday and this Monday that saw different parts of the country left with no train service on different days.
Passengers try to board a train at Clapham Junction station in London during Monday’s strike
Another Aslef strike is expected on LNER on Saturday, April 20.
Aslef has also announced additional ‘action short of strike’ on Northern services between Monday, April 15 and Saturday, April 20.
And the RMT Union has announced industrial action at CrossCountry this Saturday, April 13.
While there are no National Rail strikes currently scheduled, Aslef has threatened to hold more action as its pay dispute continues.