Tube limps back into service

Tube services struggled back into operation today following the strike which caused widespread chaos across London.

Thousands of commuters were without trains throughout yesterday despite the strike, by the RMT union, technically finishing at 8pm.

Many lines had no services at all, and on those where trains did run there were huge delays, packed conditions and stations closed.

It was the same story of delay and queues everywhere and police had to form a human barrier in Oxford Street to hold back huge crowds trying to cram on to a single No 25 bus to Aldgate.

More than 20 officers, some using loudhailers, fought to hold back the crowd spilling on to the road. One officer said the problem was caused when only one No 25 bus had turned up in an hour and, fearing a riot, the police were forced to move in.

Huge crowds built up at bus stops across the capital and many people gave up and walked home instead. The weather was kind even if the atmosphere was hot and sticky.

Mainline services were also disrupted yesterday. Thousands of passengers using Liverpool Street suffered yet more delays caused by the failure of overhead power cables in the Bethnal Green area.

Tube chiefs said today they were "heartened" by the number of staff who did turn up for work yesterday. They maintain that much of the stoppage was caused by the decision of just 25 signal operators to strike. This led to widespread disruption throughout the network.

One manager said: "We were not able to run any services at all on the District line - normally used by more than 600,000 passengers a day - because we did not have sufficient signal operators. But at one depot we had 30 drivers who turned up but had to sit there with nothing to do."

Of the 1,496 operational staff needed to run the service fewer than half, 686, took strike action or refused to cross picket lines. "This showed that an awful lot of people wanted to work," the manager added.

The union, however, said the strike was "solid" as proved by the fact that LU, at best, was only able to run one in 10 trains - 52 out of the usual 500 during the peak periods. Meanwhile, there were new moves today to try to get LU and union leaders back round the negotiating table before any more strikes take place.

The RMT, largest of the rail unions, ordered the stoppage in protest over what it claimed was the lack of "meaningful consultation" by LU in preparation for the partprivatisation of the network.

Bob Crow, the RMT leader, warned from the picket lines yesterday that unless more consultation over safety now took place then more stoppages would follow. LU, however, has now proposed a new meeting at which the private sector companies scheduled to take over the Tube and the watchdog Health and Safety Executive would also be present.

But there is a huge gap between the two sides over what constitutes a safe system, one that is used by more than a million commuters a day. The union insists that such is the complexity of the subject and the huge amount of paperwork governing the regulations that it needs "a year to sort it out".

LU has offered eight weeks which the RMT says is not nearly enough.