Summary

  • A second walkout by RMT drivers on the Tube began at midday, bringing further transport disruption to London

  • The Circle line is completely suspended, while some routes are part suspended and others are reporting severe and minor delays

  • TfL advises people to complete their journeys by 20:00 as services will finish early, while they won't start again until around 07:30 on Friday. Find the latest Tube status here, external

  • There has been a surge in people taking to bikes to get around the capital, while others appear to have just stayed at home

  • The 24-hour long strike will end at 11:59 on Friday

  • The action is part of a series of six strikes over a dispute about proposals for a four-day working week - here's what you need to know

  1. More people turning to bikes during walkoutpublished at 14:09 BST

    Tom Edwards
    Transport Correspondent, BBC London

    People cycling along a cycle lane in London

    One of the most striking developments in these strikes is the increase in cyclists in part due to the good spring weather.

    The cycle paths are absolutely rammed first thing in rush hour.

    That's led to cycle campaigners to say the bike lanes need expanding, while City Hall insiders say it shows how bike lanes actually build resilience.

    Yesterday cycle hire increased by a whopping 60% in London.

    There's also a bit of a difference emerging between the e-bikes and conventional bikes and how they interact - e-bikes are much faster and heavier and that can lead to some conflict.

    And some rider behaviour around red light jumping is not good but it does show cycling can be a serious transport option for some.

  2. How is the Tube strike affecting you? What questions do you have?published at 13:59 BST

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  3. City worker's journey took over two hours during last strikepublished at 13:43 BST

    Elliot Burrin
    In Westminster

    Camille and her two friends Jessica and Arnold stand in Parliament Square outside Westminster Abbey
    Image caption,

    Camille and her two friends Jessica and Arnold

    I’ve just taken a surprisingly empty bus to Westminster, where I’ve been speaking to people visiting London.

    Camille, who works in the city, told me that it took her two hours to get home on Tuesday because of the strike. It usually takes her 30 minutes.

    “The buses get too full, so it doesn’t stop at the stop, and then you’ve got to wait for the next one,” she says.

    Her two friends had been planning to visit her in London for a year now, but their trip has been interrupted by the action.

    "Something that could have taken 20 minutes is now taking a lot longer,” she says, but the group tell me they support the workers on strike.

  4. UK's busiest station much quieter as workers appear to work from homepublished at 13:20 BST

    Nisha Patel
    BBC Radio London, at Liverpool Street Station

    A poster at a Tube station shows a sign explaining that the RMT Tube drivers are striking. It shows that the strikes will cause disruption on Thursday from early afternoon into the late morning on FridayImage source, EPA/Shutterstock

    Liverpool Street, the UK's busiest station, appeared quiet this morning despite rush hour being in full flow.

    It appears that people have been choosing to work from home today, suggesting that the impact of the strikes is most likely going to be felt by businesses.

    One Londoner who was planning to travel on the Elizabeth Line tells me they "expect it to be absolutely packed," adding that the city "should not be held to ransom".

    But another commuter says they did not even realise there was a Tube strike happening, explaining they are "one of the lucky few".

    Another man who is visiting the city says the strike is "going to be a bit problematic" and could make him late for a booking to visit the Horizon 22 viewing platform in the City of London.

  5. What was disruption like during the first strike?published at 12:58 BST

    Commuters squeeze into busy train carriages inside at Tube stationImage source, Getty Images

    During the 24-hour strike which began on Tuesday, only the Circle line was fully suspended for the entire time, while the Waterloo & City was shut on Wednesday morning.

    While Transport for London (TfL) had warned the Piccadilly would not operate entirely, it ended up only being part suspended, while other lines also had part suspensions or ran with a less frequent service.

    On Tuesday, TfL reported that 51% of normal passenger services were in operation, although lines stopped running earlier than usual on Tuesday evening and only opened again from about 07:30 BST on Wednesday.

    Fewer people were found to be using the Tubes than normal. TfL said people tapping in using Oyster had been down 13% compared to normal as of 14:00 on Tuesday, and 21% lower than expected as of 08:45 on Wednesday morning.

    Cycling meanwhile proved popular with TfL's own hire bike scheme seeing demand increase by 14% compared to a normal day on Tuesday afternoon and up 63% during Wednesday's morning peak. Other hire e-bike firms also reported surges in users.

    And services like the Elizabeth line, London Overground and DLR all ran as normal but many reported them to be busier than usual.

  6. Group not letting Tube strike ruin party planspublished at 12:33 BST

    Elliot Burrin
    At King's Cross station

    Four women wearing pink sunglasses and feather boas standing outside of King's Cross station

    I’ve been talking to Katy from Doncaster who is visiting London as part of a friend’s 40th birthday party.

    She says the plans have been in the calendar for over a year — but they found out last month it would be interrupted by strikes.

    But they’re not letting this ruin their plans - the group has decided to get a taxi to the O2, and Katy tells me they’re getting an Uber Boat back instead of the Tube.

    “We’ll be celebrating soon!” Katy says.

  7. More Tube services currently running than did on Tuesdaypublished at 12:15 BST

    Chart showing Tube statuses

    As the second Tube strike of the week gets under way it appears more services are running, at least at the moment, than during the previous walkout.

    So far strike action has meant that the Circle is suspended along the entire line, while the Metropolitan is part suspended between Baker Street and Aldgate.

    The Central, District and Jubilee lines all have severe delays, while the Hammersmith & City and Victoria are reporting minor delays.

  8. Second Tube strike begins on London Undergroundpublished at 12:01 BST
    Breaking

    Chart showing how London Underground strikes affect travel on Thursday 23 April and Friday 24 April, with disruption varying by time of day. Thursday run normally in the morning, with disruption from late morning and major disruption in the afternoon and evening. Friday has severe disruption in the morning, easing to some disruption by early afternoon and normal service by evening.

    A second 24-hour strike has begun on the London Underground.

    No service is expected on the Circle line during the strike, which began at midday on Thursday.

    TfL has previously warned that the Piccadilly line would also be suspended, the Metropolitan line would not run between Baker Street and Aldgate and the Central line would be suspended between White City and Liverpool Street.

    TfL says most other lines will be affected, with trains delayed and finishing earlier than usual, although during the first strike more Tubes ran than was expected.

    Other services, such as the Elizabeth line, London Overground and trams continue to run but are expected to be busier than usual.

  9. Isn't there a bus strike this time round as well?published at 11:51 BST

    Passengers queue in a line at a bus stop with a red bus just in shot going in the opposite direction. There is a block of flats in the background. Some of the travellers have suitcases with them.Image source, Reuters

    Unlike during the first Tube strike this week, this second one will coincide with a separate walkout by bus drivers in east London, which is planned for Friday.

    More than 300 bus drivers on seven routes are set to walk out at an Bow bus garage at 05:00 BST as part of a series of 24-hour strikes taking place on three Fridays - 17 April, 24 April and 15 May.

    Explaining the reasons for the strike, Unite said drivers did not have "adequate breaks", had extra weekend working and had insufficient time between shifts to recuperate, with "near misses" reported.

    A Stagecoach spokesperson said "schedules, driver duties and rotas are compiled strictly within the law" with safety in mind and remained "comfortably within agreed" limits, despite recent changes to routes.

    The routes affected by the action will be 8, N8, 25, N25, 425, 205 and N205.

  10. Will all Tube drivers be going on strike?published at 11:37 BST

    Again, as happened on Tuesday only drivers who are members of the RMT are taking part in the action, which is about half of the workforce.

    Members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef) are not striking, meaning some services will still run, although disruption is still expected to be widespread.

    Aslef has accepted TfL’s proposal for a voluntary compressed four-day week and questioned the RMT’s decision to strike.

  11. So why are drivers striking again?published at 11:13 BST

    RMT signs and banners at a picket lineImage source, PA Media

    Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are due to hold six 24-hour strikes over plans to introduce a voluntary compressed four-day working week.

    The union argues the proposed longer shifts could lead to fatigue and impact safety.

    TfL says the changes are optional and would give drivers more days off without reducing pay.

    You can find out all you need to know here.

  12. What is happening today?published at 10:49 BST

    Chart showing when Tube trains are expected to face disruption on Thursday and Friday due to the strike

    As happened on Tuesday, the strike is set to begin at midday and last into Friday but significant disruption will occur both in the hours leading up to the walkout and after it.

    On Tuesday the Circle line was suspended for the entire time while the Waterloo & City was suspended on Wednesday morning.

    Other lines reported part suspensions and severe delays with fewer trains running and it is likely that similar disruption will happen this time round.

    Once the strike is over on Friday, it will still take time for the service to recover, with Transport for London (TfL) warning that disruption could last into the evening.

    Currently, the Circle line is suspended, while the District and Metropolitan lines have severe delays and minor delays are reported on the Central, Piccadilly and Victoria lines all due to the upcoming strike, according to TfL.

    You can see the latest Tube status on TfL's website, external.

    Graphic showing various Tube statuses
  13. Second 24-hour Tube strike set to beginpublished at 10:44 BST

    Hello and welcome to our coverage of a 24-hour Tube strike in London.

    First things first, no you are not experiencing déjà vu - this is the second 24-hour walkout by drivers from the RMT union this week, and part of a total series of six.

    As on Tuesday and Wednesday we'll be bringing you the latest updates throughout the strike.