Walkout shuts key London subway stations

LONDON – Morning rush-hour commuters found some of London’s biggest subway stations closed yesterday as a 24-hour strike by Underground staff continued.

Thirty-nine of the system’s 275 stations were closed, a spokesman for London Underground said, including Piccadilly Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Paddington, Euston, Hyde Park Corner and Charing Cross. Trains continued running, however, with “good service” reported on most of the network’s dozen lines which carry three million travellers a day.”We are running full services on all lines and most stations are open,” the spokesman said.The walkout by station staff, part of a dispute between London Underground and the RMT railworkers union over working hours, ends at 6.30 pm (1830 GMT).It follows a similar stoppage that began on New Year’s Eve.London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who oversees public transport policy, said the only effect of the strike was to inconvenience the public and lose pay for those taking part.He said a deal had been agreed a year ago to give station staff a 35-hour week, and that there was a clear agreement that the reduction in hours would be covered by redeploying staff.- Nampa-AFPTrains continued running, however, with “good service” reported on most of the network’s dozen lines which carry three million travellers a day.”We are running full services on all lines and most stations are open,” the spokesman said.The walkout by station staff, part of a dispute between London Underground and the RMT railworkers union over working hours, ends at 6.30 pm (1830 GMT).It follows a similar stoppage that began on New Year’s Eve.London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who oversees public transport policy, said the only effect of the strike was to inconvenience the public and lose pay for those taking part.He said a deal had been agreed a year ago to give station staff a 35-hour week, and that there was a clear agreement that the reduction in hours would be covered by redeploying staff.- Nampa-AFP