A STRIKE by members of the RMT and TSSA unions has closed many London Underground lines today, although limited services are being maintained on some routes. Services began to deteriorate last night, when the walkouts began.

Hundreds of drivers did not book on this morning, and the result has been complete closure of several tube lines, including the Victoria and Piccadilly.

Subsurface lines are seriously affected as well: Circle Line services are suspended, while parts of the District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines also have no trains.

However, Transport for London was reporting a ‘good service’ on the Northern and Bakerloo Lines at 08.00 this morning, and the strike does not affect the Docklands Light Railway, London Overground or trams.

TfL has brought an extra 100 buses into use on key routes and boosted river services. Other measures include taxi marshals and additional staff at stations to advise passengers about their travel options today.

The dispute is mainly over LU plans to shed 800 staff and reduce the opening hours of ticket offices at many suburban stations, which it says are selling only a ‘handful’ of tickets in an average hour. LU also wants some ticket office staff to move to ‘frontline’ roles on concourse gatelines and platforms.

Both the RMT and TSSA unions are bitterly opposing the changes, which they claim are jeopardising safety.

Staff at three Alstom maintenance depots on the Jubilee and Northern Lines have also walked out, in a separate dispute over pay.