London Tube Strike Begins Causing Travel Dismay

The London Tube strike begins Friday causing travel dismay for commuters and Christmas shoppers.

A 24-hour strike started at 4.30am Friday on Night Tube lines – Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria – with further walkouts planned in the coming weeks.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will walk out in a dispute over rosters, which will hit the planned return of Night Tube services.

The union said new shifts are being imposed on staff which will affect their work-life balance.

However, Transport for London (TfL) have insisted the changes have been agreed by other unions and would result in drivers working approximately four night shifts a year.

Londoners face service disruption and have been advised to check before travelling.

There are no timetable changes scheduled for London bus services on Friday, however works on Westway will affect local traffic after 10pm.

Buses and roads are expected to be busier than usual and travellers are advised to allow more time for their journeys and to walk or cycle where possible.

Apparently, with a critical look there are several transportation upgrades through the introduction of new improved technologies that are environmental friendly or that seek to meet energy neutral targets.

In march, it was reported in the news that, New energy-efficient trains are coming to the world’s oldest metro system in London.

Designs for new trains that will be introduced to the London Underground’s Piccadilly Line from 2025 have been revealed, in the latest example of how mass transportation systems in major cities are changing and incorporating new features and technologies.

Details of the trains, which will replace rolling stock from the 1970s, were released by Transport for London and Siemens Mobility.

They will use underfloor air conditioning units, consume 20% less energy compared to the current fleet and be “significantly lighter” than existing units — which will in turn reduce damage to tracks.

The London Underground dates back to 1863, when the world’s first subterranean railway was opened between Paddington and Farringdon Street. The Piccadilly Line traces its roots to 1906. Given its age, authorities in the city have introduced a number of innovations focused on modernizing the network in recent years.