Tube strikes for the holidays?
 

London's Underground is experiencing labor problems—that's not news.

But what is news is today's word on what the lastest strikes could be:

• December 24—Piccadilly line only
• December 31—Piccadilly and District lines (impacting planned all-night service through early New Year's Day)
• January 5—Piccadilly and District lines (continuing action possible thereafter)

David White
[email protected]

It won't happen, they just like threatening it because it makes them feel big and powerful. I wouldn't worry too much...

Is this the same as "We have peace in our time"?????

If you arriving or leaving Heathrow on the 24th you should take it seriously as you would have to make alternative plans like the Heathrow Express or an expensive taxi. Keep watching the skies as someone once said!

Adam: I wouldn't recommend using the Piccadilly line with luggage anyway; it takes forever (which you don't need after a long flight) and there are too many stairs...

I do recommend using the Piccadilly Line, if it's running, because it's the cheapest way and very easy. Of course you should only do this if you have reasonable luggage and fitness, but it's not painful if you meet those two requirements.

I too recommend Piccadilly line when it is running. I don't suddenly become feeble of mind and frail of body by sitting on an airplane for 7 hours.

There are other cheap options if the Piccadilly line is not operating. The 285 bus to Feltham train station is one. And I imagine TFL could increase the frequency of bus service to stations like Uxbridge, on the Metropolitan line.

Tallulah:

Will you be there to schlep my luggage if the strike does happen after all???????

Intrepid: I speak only as a person who lives in London and who is bombarded with strike threats throughout the year - they very rarely happen.

Clearly as someone who doesn't live here, however, you are FAR better qualified than I. :-)

Tallulah is pretty much right - the unions show lots of bluster but often cancel these strikes. But they still MIGHT stage one or more of these. And you usually wouldn't know for sure until just a few days before arriving. So if anyone is landing at LHR one of those dates - it would be prudent to book a car service NOW. Otherwise, the taxi queues will be huge and the HEX really, really crowded.

As one who uses the Piccadilly line to take me to my B&B I have to say this is the easiest part of the trip. In fact, it is enjoyable because I'm back in London. Both Tallulah and Janis are correct about the strike threats. In 10 years of regular travel there, I have read about them in the London papers all the time. I have yet to be affected by a strike.

We take the tube to/from Heathrow all the time. Yes, there are some stairs, but we just step aside to wait for the rush of passengers to clear and haul our luggage up the flight of stairs. One minute of physical exertion is worth the cost savings for us. :)

Regarding the tube strike, if planning to use the Piccadilly line those days, check the www.thetube.com website before leaving home to make sure there won't be service disruptions. If there are, have an alternate plan in mind.

Or keep looking at this site!

Latest media report:

-----------------------
Friday December 17, 02:58 PM

Tube Christmas strike threat grows

LONDON (Reuters) - The threat of wider industrial action on the London Underground over Christmas and the New Year is growing after talks between signal workers and management broke down.

The two sides had tried to resolve a four-year dispute over pay, jobs and hours before the 330 RMT union members voted whether to strike.

The result of the vote will be announced next week and industrial action could be set for New Year's Eve.

I'd still put money on it not happening! Greedy s*ds that they are...

How much Tallullah?!

Tallulah, I hope you're right...we have matinee tickets to the Nutcracker on the 24th. However, even the proposed strike is better than service out here in the Maidenhead sticks...NO bus service on the 24th, 25th, 26th, and only limited service on the 27th-30th, then again no service on the 31st, 1st, and 2nd, with regular service not resuming until Jan. 4.

?

If I were Tallulah, I'd change my offer before someone took me up on it.

The threats over New Year's Eve and later are too far off to call. But for Christmas Eve:
Present state is that it looks as if there will be a strike on Dec 24 on the Piccadilly line only.

NOT A COMPLETE STRIKE. It looks like no services eastbound from Kings Cross, and a reduced service between KIngs Cross and Heathrow.

Whether it goes ahead or not, BTilke's ability to get from Paddington to the Coliseum on the Bakerloo Line will be unaffected (and for crying out loud, it's only a half hour, glorious, walk anyway)

Even if she's planning to trek out to the Richmond Theatre, the District Line will NOT be affected by the Christmas Eve strike, though some sloppier reports muddle the now very likely Piccadilly Line strike with a separate threat on the District to strike later.

Incidentally, irritating though strikes are, anyone who's been on the Piccadilly Line on a Christmas Eve knows TFL could put all the day's passengers into a couple of taxis.

Excuse me, FlannerUK, I happen to be taking my 77 yo mother, who is recovering from a stroke (and the recent death of my father). For her, the walk might not be so glorious. We will probably take a cab, but a tube strike generally means longer cab lines, so we need to be prepared.
For crying out loud, don't be so presumptuous!