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Tube Strike: Biggest Transport Shutdown In 13 Years Sees London Commuters Struggle Into Work

Biggest Tube Strike In 13 Years Sees London Struggle Into Work
Aubrey Allegretti
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London's biggest tube strike in 13 years descended into chaos on Thursday morning, as commuters struggling to get into work faced severe delays and overcrowding on the few remaining public transport services running.

Ten's of thousands of people trying to get into the capital packed on to overground services, used Santander Cycles and walked to work in a bid to beat packed busses, some routes filling up even in the early hours of the morning.

Many took advantage of the good weather, taking to Twitter to post messages about enjoying a pleasant stroll into the office.

But those forced to use the slow-moving transport network sent pictures of what they experienced on their journey.

Around 20,000 members of the RMT, Unite, TSSA and Aslef striking in a dispute over the new all-night service set to operate across London from September.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), Aslef, Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) and Unite are unhappy over pay being offered for the new service, as well as rosters

Talks were held at the conciliation service Acas last week without any sign of progress and both sides met again on Monday, but a spokesman for Aslef said the strike would go ahead because unions have not been given enough time to study a new pay offer.

Services are expected to resume early on Friday morning, when the more than 20,000 striking tube drivers from four different unions will resume working.

Tube Strike Misery
(01 of25)
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Commuters cross the river Thames using the Millennium footbridge during a tube strike in London on July 9, 2015. London's roads, buses and overland trains struggled to cope in Thursday's morning rush hour as commuters battled into work in the face of London Underground's first strike shutdown since 2002. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:BEN STANSALL via Getty Images)
(02 of25)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 09: Commuters leave Waterloo Station on July 9, 2015 in London, England. London Underground workers are staging a 15 hour strike after management and unions failed to reach agreement over new night time services. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
(03 of25)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 09: Commuters leave Waterloo Station on July 9, 2015 in London, England. London Underground workers are staging a 15 hour strike after management and unions failed to reach agreement over new night time services. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
(04 of25)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 09: Commuters leave Waterloo Station on July 9, 2015 in London, England. London Underground workers are staging a 15 hour strike after management and unions failed to reach agreement over new night time services. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
(05 of25)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 09: Commuters make their way towards Waterloo Bridge on July 9, 2015 in London, England. London Underground workers are staging a 15 hour strike after management and unions failed to reach agreement over new night time services. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
(06 of25)
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Commuters queue for buses as tube drivers are on strike in London, Thursday, July 9, 2015. Drivers and station staff were walking out for 24 hours from 6:30 p.m. (1730GMT) Wednesday in a dispute over pay and schedules when a 24-hour subway service starts on some lines later this year.The Underground handles 4 million journeys a day, and the strike by members of four unions will likely paralyze the capital's transport system, despite extra bus and river services. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
(07 of25)
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People queue for buses outside Liverpool Street Station, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Lauren Hurley/PA Wire)
(08 of25)
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Passengers alight from a river boat in central London as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought the capital's Underground train network to a standstill. (credit:Ninah Massey/PA Wire)
(09 of25)
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Commuters queue for buses as tube drivers are on strike in London, Thursday, July 9, 2015. Drivers and station staff were walking out for 24 hours from 6:30 p.m. (1730GMT) Wednesday in a dispute over pay and schedules when a 24-hour subway service starts on some lines later this year.The Underground handles 4 million journeys a day, and the strike by members of four unions will likely paralyze the capital's transport system, despite extra bus and river services. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
(10 of25)
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People queue for a bus at Stratford station, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
(11 of25)
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Metropolitan Police with crowds of people queuing for buses at Stratford station, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
(12 of25)
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People queue for buses at Stratford station, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
(13 of25)
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People queue for buses in Stratford, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
(14 of25)
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Commuters on a crowded c2c train at Upminster station, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
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People dash for a bus at Stratford station, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
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People wait for a bus at Stratford station, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
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A closed entrance to Stratford underground station, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
(18 of25)
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A commuter on the c2c line at Upminster station, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
(19 of25)
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Commuters waiting for a train on the c2c line at Upminster station, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
(20 of25)
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Commuters waiting for a train on the c2c line at Upminster station, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
(21 of25)
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Commuters on the c2c line at Upminster station, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
(22 of25)
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District Line tube trains parked at the Upminster depot, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
(23 of25)
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Commuters waiting for a train on the c2c line at Upminster station, London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
(24 of25)
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People queue for buses in Victoria station , London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Elliot Wagland)
(25 of25)
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People queue for buses in Victoria station , London, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill. (credit:Elliot Wagland)

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