Apologies for anyone planning a trip to London next month, but there are two planned 48-hour strikes on London Underground, which will doubtless cause chaos! Strikes will start at midday on 5th and 26th March, lasting for two days each time.

Hi Lindsey, we will be leaving London March 26 in the morning. I read that the strike starts at noon. <BR>I hope I can get a Taxi to Victoria.<BR>Judy

Judy, I'd recommend booking a taxi as soon as you arrive in London for your trip to the station. The previous strikes have usually led to huge queues for buses and taxis - especially at peak times - and booking one is likely to be the only way to guarantee you get one.

Keith, I will do that! Thanks so much for the tip! I will book one as soon as we get there!<BR>Judy

Oh, THANK you Lindsey for this alert. I'm arriving that morning in Heathrow and trying to get to Cambridge. Does anyone have suggestions about how to do this without using the tube or taking out a mortgage?

LL, I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings but I think it's going to be difficult! What I would suggest is get the Heathrow Express to Paddington, then you need to get from there to Kings Cross to get a train to Cambridge. You could try walking - though I wouldn't recommend it, it's a couple of miles - or try to get a taxi though these could be in short supply. You might want to check out buses too - the website is http://www.transportforlondon.gov.uk/buses/index.shtml<BR>though they will be crowded.

LL - I think you will just have to allow a lot more time for your journey than you would otherwise.<BR><BR>Get the Heathrow Express to Paddington, and then queue for a taxi. Although it may take a while, it will be dreadful on the buses with luggage - you may well not even get on. <BR><BR>If you are lucky, you may just beat the tube strike, but in the past, the tubes have been badly affected in the last few hours before the official start of the strike as things wind down.<BR><BR>Everyone should be prepared for it to still be chaotic some time after the tubes start up again, too.<BR><BR>It is still possible that the strikes will be called off. The last lot were, so fingers crossed. Otherwise the b******s have ruined my birthday (the 26th) as I will spend all evening trying to get home from work.

Oh lordy. <BR><BR>I arrive very, very early in the morning from Boston (6:30 am). Would you estimate that I could pass customs, etc., and get to Cambridge before midday (how firm is the noon start time for such strikes?)? From what you say, it doesn't sound like the train from Kings Road to Cambridge would be involved in the strike.<BR><BR>Also: Any chance the strikes will not occur? Is it common to rattle sabres and then relent or are they giving fair warning because they are firmly committed to this? <BR><BR>(Oh, and BTW what is the issue on which they are striking?)

I think if you are arriving at 6.30 AM and the strike doesn't start till noon, you should be able to get to whichever mainline station you are taking your train to Cambridge from without any problem.<BR><BR>I think this strike is restricted to the Tube itself, so your train to Cambridge won't be affected.<BR><BR>Though services will start being affected before noon, as tube trains will presumably have to be taken back to depot before driver finish their shifts early at 12 I think you should be OK...<BR><BR>I don't know about most Londoners but this one has totally lost the sympathy she once had for striking London Underground drivers.<BR><BR>Basically they are pissed off at plans for the Tube to enter into public private partnership, probably because their employment package will be looked at in more financially astute ways after that.<BR><BR>They already get a higher salary than SOOO many professionals in London, and work reasonable hours, with free travel not only for themselves but also for their partners and children (a huge annual saving for any family).<BR><BR>In years where many of us have got only a 2% pay rise (0% the year previous) they are demanding rises of 5% absolute minimum.<BR><BR>Last time I listened to one of their union reps list reasons for a strike one reason was that a small and less busy rest area for staff at one station provided only a kettle rather than one of those contraptions that provides boiling water instantly, and they had to wait a few minutes for the kettle to boil, which wasn't fair. And whats more there was a unisex toilet cubicle. The office was small enough only to require one single toilet so this makes perfect sense but apparently it was not fair.<BR><BR>I am suuuuuuure many Londoners don't feel the same way, but I know many do.<BR><BR>Anyway, upshot is I think you should be OK and will keep fingers crossed for you.<BR><BR>Have you already checked details of which train you need to take to Cambridge?

I imagine all public transportation will be a mess, including the Heathrow Express. While traffic on the streets will probably also be more then usual I'd still opt for a driver pick up service at Heathrow. Since you arrive at 6:30 a.m. you should be through customs quickly. A driver service meets you as you exit and takes you to your destination (one flat charge, no meter as in a taxi). We always use www.london-transfers.com (Ray Skinner). His company is reliable and he is a very nice person, I've recommended him several times to others and we will use him again in April. I would NOT recommend the Heathrow Express and then a taxi if there is a strike. Normally it is a long like for taxi's at Paddington Sta. so it is bound to be l0 times worst if there is a strike. Also, you will be schlepping luggage, not a lot of fun. The train from Kings Cross to Cambridge should not be affected. No matter what the conditions I'd not take the Heathrow Express and then try and get a taxi .. it will be insanity. Go for a driver service, even if traffic is slow it will be better. You have a lot of leeway time-wise actually and there are trains all the time to Cambridge.

LL, check the train times on www.railtrack.co.uk - all trains from London to Cambridge go from Kings Cross.<BR><BR>I wouldn't risk the driver service from LHR. On strike days, the M4 becomes particularly busy - especially if the South West Trains drivers decide to go on strike then too, which isn't impossible - and usually doesn't go anywhere quickly. You might have plenty time, but whether or not you can stand the frustration and the fact it could take a couple of hours (yes - that long!) is entirely up to you.<BR><BR>I suppose what you could do would be to see if you could arrange for the driver to pick you up at Paddington and take you to Kings Cross. I don't know if they do this, though, but I don't suppose it would hurt to ask.<BR><BR>Kavey, I'm with you on this. The b******s aren't "sabre-rattling" and won't back down, so it will make my journey in to work even more frustrating than it normally is.<BR>

LL, I think the best way to get to Cambridge from Heathrow, whether or not there is a tube strike, would be to take the Jetlink coach service, see www.gobycoach.com for schedule and fares. I was in London last April during a one day tube strike. It took about 5 hours after the strike started for the tube system to be totally shut down, and as many hours after it ended for the system to be fully operational again.

LL - if you are going straight to Cambridge there is no reason to go into central London at all - Even on non-strike days. There is very good coach service from LHR to all the regions of the UK - Airport shuttles, really. So jus take the bus.

Thank you, Lindsey, for the warning. I will be arriving in London via the Chunnel on March 5 and hoped to take the train to Birmingham on March 7 (for Crufts). Am I correct that the trains will not be affected and my only problems will be within London?

trish - You can never tell - train drivers can, and sometimes do, strike in support of the tube drivers. Plus all transport is significantly affected because of the crowds on the tube, buses, taxis, just the extra people in the streets. It can be utter chaos.<BR><BR>You will be able to get to B'ham - but when you are in London ask the concierege to help you - they will know which modes of transport are working best at that moment.

LL - I third taking the coach to Cambridge. I am sure the bus company will lay on extra services because of the tube strike. The bus goes straight into the city centre, dropping you off at Drummer Street Bus Station.

Ron, thank you so much -- you are a life saver. The cost is entirely reasonable (20 L, $28.60 US OW, 26 L and $37.50 US Roundtrip/return), and it will be such a relief not to have to worry about this.<BR><BR>Again, thank you so much -- people like you are why I'm glad to know about this Forum, despite the silliness that crops up from time to time.

Help a newbie. I have read allthe above posts and new your advice. I am actually flying out on March 26. I have<BR>a one o'clock flight. My plan was to take the Gatwick Express from Victoria. Is this still going to work What sure my alternate plan be. Also do these strike dates move around after they have been announce. I will be in London from March 18 to March 26 and had planned on using the tube/buses.<BR>

Sheryl - you are lucky you are leaving before the stike hits. But transport throughout London will be impacted since folks will be using different modes to get in ahead of the strike. So cabs, buses etc will be really busy. <BR><BR>You would normally leave Victoria by 10 or 10:30 for a 1PM flight. But just to be safe, plan on being at Victoria 60 to 90 minutes before that.

I almost hate to top this post, but reports today (May 22) are that strike(s) are once again under consideration by RMT--the union representing many London Underground workers.<BR><BR>The issue may be safety, or maybe its really job security, but for travelers the issue is potential transport hassles in London. Stay tuned!<BR><BR>David White<BR>http://www.KidsToLondon.com