Boris gets ready for Tube strike

BORIS Johnson yesterday revealed plans to keep London rolling, even if tonight’s proposed 48-hour tube strike goes ahead.

The industrial action on London Underground (LU), which comes after a pay dispute between union RMT and LU, is due to begin at 7pm this evening. Both parties were last night locked in talks.

If the strike goes ahead, Transport for London (TfL) staff will distribute travel advice and walking maps at all central stations on the strike’s two main days.

Over 8,000 buses will operate on 700 routes and Oyster pay-as-you-go will be accepted on all mainline rail services within Greater London.

From 8am to 10.30am, taxis will be operating a marshalled, fixed-fare shared service for central London at Waterloo, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Marylebone, Paddington and Euston.

In keeping with Johnson’s enthusiasm for cycling, additional cycle parking will be provided, with thousands of maps to be distributed. The London Cycle Campaign will lead five escorted rides from tube stations into central London.

The bike routes will go from Finsbury, Mile End Green Bridge, Ravenscourt park, Brixton road and Cottage, at 7.45am.

The RMT wants a five per cent hike in pay, and a promise of no compulsory redundancies.