'Shut your pie hole!' Moment that stressed-out London bus driver who had been drafted in to combat crippling Tube strike loses his temper with commuters

  • Commuters near St Paul's were struggling for space when tempers flared between driver 'and man trying to board'
  • Capital crippled by strike as 250 extra buses were put on and hundreds of police drafted in to deal with crowds
  • Passengers struggled to get on board packed public transport as London faced more than 400 separate traffic jams
  • Workers faced further misery tonight for second night running as Tube network remains shut until tomorrow
  • Walkout follows long-running row over wages and conditions for new Night Tube expected to launch next month 
  • Have you got any photos of travel chaos? Email emma.glanfield@mailonline.co.uk or pictures@mailonline.co.uk

This is the moment a stressed London bus driver who was drafted in to deal with the congestion caused by the Tube strike lost his temper with commuters and told a passenger to 'shut your f****** pie hole'.

Workers near St Paul's station in the capital were jostling to get on the Number 25 bus when an argument erupted between the driver and a man trying to board.

As a female passenger tried to intervene, the driver responded: 'Keep your f****** nose out of it, no-one is talking to you, shut your f****** pie hole, missus.'

It came as millions of commuters endured a hellish journey home for the second night running as the Tube strike continues to cripple the London transport system - with the Underground network not reopening until tomorrow morning.

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Angry: Commuters outside St Paul's station  were jostling for space when a row allegedly erupted between the bus driver and a passenger
The driver told a passenger to 'shut your f***ing pie hole' during a row aboard an overcrowded bus during today’s Tube strike.

Angry: Commuters outside St Paul's station were jostling for space when a row allegedly erupted between the bus driver and a passenger

Crammed: Buses across the capital were packed as commuters faced a hellish journey home for the second night running due to the strike

Crammed: Buses across the capital were packed as commuters faced a hellish journey home for the second night running due to the strike

Chaotic: Commuters piled onto buses in Stratford, London, at rush-hour tonight as they were forced onto alternative modes of transport

Chaotic: Commuters piled onto buses in Stratford, London, at rush-hour tonight as they were forced onto alternative modes of transport

Police: Met officers were brought in to help deal with the chaos as workers faced another hellish journey home for the second night

Police: Met officers were brought in to help deal with the chaos as workers faced another hellish journey home for the second night

Congested: There were dozens of people desperate to board buses bound for Barking at Stratford as the strike continued for another night

Congested: There were dozens of people desperate to board buses bound for Barking at Stratford as the strike continued for another night

All aboard: Passengers waited patiently at bus stops across the capital as the closed Tube network forced people to find other transport

All aboard: Passengers waited patiently at bus stops across the capital as the closed Tube network forced people to find other transport

Congestion: Millions of commuters have endured travel misery today due to Underground staff striking over pay and working conditions

Congestion: Millions of commuters have endured travel misery today due to Underground staff striking over pay and working conditions

Scramble: Dozens of passengers desperately tried to board buses ahead of rush-hour tonight as the strike continued into a second night

Scramble: Dozens of passengers desperately tried to board buses ahead of rush-hour tonight as the strike continued into a second night

Alternative routes: Many workers opted to walk home from work instead of facing jam-packed buses, roads or Overground trains tonight

Alternative routes: Many workers opted to walk home from work instead of facing jam-packed buses, roads or Overground trains tonight

Patiently waiting: Queues at bus stops across the capital were lengthy this evening as commuters endured another lengthy journey home

Patiently waiting: Queues at bus stops across the capital were lengthy this evening as commuters endured another lengthy journey home

Large queues built up for buses outside stations this morning and hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers were called to help control the crowds. 

Some 250 extra buses were put on to cope with the disruption, while there was high demand for taxis, Overground and National Rail trains.

Twitter users described 'greedy' Tube drivers - who earn a starting salary of £50,000 for a 36-hour week - as 'ridiculous' and 'ungrateful' for striking.

London Mayor Boris Johnson urged trade unions to call off their ‘stupid’ strike and branded their leaders ‘totally bone-headed’.

The row on the Number 25 bus at St Paul's was filmed by a passenger and showed the driver shouting at a female on board. 

He told her: 'Keep your f***ing nose out of it, no-one is talking to you, shut your f***ing pie hole, missus' as he sat with the engine turned off.

The woman can be heard accusing him of being rude to her as she tried to board, before he replies: 'It's because you can't f***ing speak English.'

The woman then tells him that she can speak five languages, before the enraged driver replies: ‘Obviously one of them ain’t English, is it?’

He was behind the wheel of a Travelmasters bus brought in to help during the strike. MailOnline has contacted Transport for London for comment.

Despite the chaos, others were taking it in their stride, describing an air of 'British wartime spirit' on the streets and boasting how they got to work early.

Drafted in: Scores of 'Boris bikes' were brought in to help ease the congestion with plenty outside the Royal Festival Hall near Southbank

Drafted in: Scores of 'Boris bikes' were brought in to help ease the congestion with plenty outside the Royal Festival Hall near Southbank

Extra measures: Piles of Santander bikes could be seen near Southbank this evening as more were brought in to help with the strike chaos

Extra measures: Piles of Santander bikes could be seen near Southbank this evening as more were brought in to help with the strike chaos

Empty: Elsewhere, docking stations for 'Boris bikes' were bare as commuters used them to get home instead of facing cramped buses

Empty: Elsewhere, docking stations for 'Boris bikes' were bare as commuters used them to get home instead of facing cramped buses

Lengthy: There were extraordinarily long queues across the capital, including at Waterloo Station (pictured), as tonight's rush-hour began

Lengthy: There were extraordinarily long queues across the capital, including at Waterloo Station (pictured), as tonight's rush-hour began

Is it on its way? Commuters waited patiently in Stratford for buses to take them on their desired journey as the strike crippled London

Is it on its way? Commuters waited patiently in Stratford for buses to take them on their desired journey as the strike crippled London

Strike: Pavements and bus stops were far busier than usual as those who usually take the Tube waited on buses and bikes to get home

Strike: Pavements and bus stops were far busier than usual as those who usually take the Tube waited on buses and bikes to get home

Delays: Commuters were faced with long delays, with reports of 428 separate traffic jams stretching over 200 miles across the city

Delays: Commuters were faced with long delays, with reports of 428 separate traffic jams stretching over 200 miles across the city

Waiting: An extra 250 buses, including the older routemaster models, were added to the city's fleet in an attempt to minimise the impact

Waiting: An extra 250 buses, including the older routemaster models, were added to the city's fleet in an attempt to minimise the impact

Many passengers organised alternative transport methods to beat the strike, which saw the Underground network grind to a halt yesterday evening.

One of those was Alan Price, who has owned a penny-farthing since the 1980s and used it to commute from his home near Battersea Bridge to Parsons Green.

He was among those who managed to avoid gridlock on the roads, with lengthy traffic jams clogging streets across the capital today - and further traffic jams hitting this evening during the peak time of 4pm to 7pm.

Shortly before 9am there were 428 separate traffic jams on London's roads - causing 197 miles of tailbacks, according to traffic experts at TomTom. 

That is double the congestion compared with the same time last Thursday - but far less than on the last strike day of July 9 when there were 1,445 jams.

The most congested roads were around Parliament Square, with 48 minute delays, and half an hour on the A40 from Wood Lane to Marylebone Road. 

Congestion on London’s roads this evening was much worse than during the morning rush-hour with 894 separate traffic jams causing 500 miles of tailbacks by 6pm. 

The most congested road was the M25 from the A243 (J9) to the M40 (J16) with a queue of 17 miles causing delays of an hour.

During the congestion earlier today, one female cyclist was taken to hospital after a collision with a van at the seven-way junction outside the Bank of England in the City.

The woman suffered back injuries but was said to be conscious and talking after being involved in the crash at about 11.30pm.

Police presence: Passengers try their best to get on board a Number 25 bus in Stratford, east London, at about 6.30am this morning

Police presence: Passengers try their best to get on board a Number 25 bus in Stratford, east London, at about 6.30am this morning

Scrambling to get on: People wait for buses outside King's Cross station in central London after Tube services were completely suspended

Scrambling to get on: People wait for buses outside King's Cross station in central London after Tube services were completely suspended

Jams: Lengthy queues were building on roads across the capital including near Euston (above) as commuters found alternative transport

Jams: Lengthy queues were building on roads across the capital including near Euston (above) as commuters found alternative transport

Struggle: People in Stratford, east London, try to push their way onto a bus to work at about 6.30am - the normal start of Tube peak time

Struggle: People in Stratford, east London, try to push their way onto a bus to work at about 6.30am - the normal start of Tube peak time

Making it through: Commuters cross the River Thames on the Millennium Bridge in the morning rush hour as many had to walk to work

Making it through: Commuters cross the River Thames on the Millennium Bridge in the morning rush hour as many had to walk to work

Waiting game: People queue to enter Clapham Junction train station in south-west London at about 9am as commuters face travel chaos

Waiting game: People queue to enter Clapham Junction train station in south-west London at about 9am as commuters face travel chaos

Police holding the line: People queue for a bus at Stratford in east London at 7am as those using public transport face  chaotic scenes

Police holding the line: People queue for a bus at Stratford in east London at 7am as those using public transport face chaotic scenes

Not running: This aerial view showed Underground trains parked at the Upminster depot in Essex while the Tube strike was going on today

Not running: This aerial view showed Underground trains parked at the Upminster depot in Essex while the Tube strike was going on today

Gridlock: This was the scene on London's roads at about 9am today, with red and orange showing the slowest-moving traffic areas

Gridlock: This was the scene on London's roads at about 9am today, with red and orange showing the slowest-moving traffic areas

THE TUBE STRIKE IN NUMBERS 

  • 250 extra buses laid on
  • 270 Underground stations closed
  • 428 separate traffic jams at 8.45am
  • 197 miles of tailbacks
  • 600 TfL ‘travel ambassadors’ on hand to help
  • September 12: When Night Tube is due to start
  • £300million cost to London's economy
  • £50,000 starting pay for Tube drivers for 36-hour week
  • 43 days' holiday for drivers, while station staff get 52 days

The collision occurred at the same junction as where newlywed cyclist Ying Tao was crushed under a lorry on June 22.

Mete Coban, a Labour councillor in Hackney and charity director, saw today’s incident unfold.

He told the Evening Standard: 'I saw someone lying flat on their back in the road and there were a few pedestrians trying to help.

‘About five or 10 minutes later the police arrived and then an ambulance arrived.

'It's a really dangerous junction. It looked quite distressing to be honest.'

The road was closed to traffic for a short period of time but has now been reopened.

Once again, as was the case during the last 24-hour walkout from July 8 to 9, Uber drivers increased the price of their fares to cash in on the chaos.

Users of the smartphone minicab app woke up to find fares had been hiked to 1.8 times the normal amount because of the high level of demand.

According to the app, demand was 'off the charts' and fares had been 'increased to get more Ubers on the road'. 

The surge saw a minimum £9 fare introduced, with £2.25 per mile then added. Prices started increasing from 5.30am as people began ordering cabs.

Chaotic: Passengers crowd around a bus stop outside Paddington station to get on the number 23 at about 8am this morning

Chaotic: Passengers crowd around a bus stop outside Paddington station to get on the number 23 at about 8am this morning

Standing in line: Commuters queue for buses during the Tube strike at Victoria train station in central London this morning

Standing in line: Commuters queue for buses during the Tube strike at Victoria train station in central London this morning

When's the next bus? Hundreds of people at Stratford in east London were trying their best to get on a bus at 6.30am this morning

When's the next bus? Hundreds of people at Stratford in east London were trying their best to get on a bus at 6.30am this morning

Busy platform: Commuters wait to board a train to Kings Cross at Finsbury Park train station in north London at about 7.30am today

Busy platform: Commuters wait to board a train to Kings Cross at Finsbury Park train station in north London at about 7.30am today

An exceptionally busy London Overground train heading to Stratford from Clapham Junction in south-west London at 7am
People packed on the Overground

Packed in: An exceptionally busy London Overground train heading to Stratford from Clapham Junction in south-west London at 7am

Gridlock at the Marylebone flyover heading into central London at 7am this morning. Many drivers turned off their engines as they waited for traffic to move

Gridlock at the Marylebone flyover heading into central London at 7am this morning. Many drivers turned off their engines as they waited for traffic to move

Getting on the 108: People queue for a bus at Stratford train station in east London this morning as commuters face a day of travel chaos

Getting on the 108: People queue for a bus at Stratford train station in east London this morning as commuters face a day of travel chaos

Commuters on a packed London Overground train travelling from Clapham Junction to Stratford at about 7.15am today
A man reads his newspaper on an Overground train

Squashed: Commuters on a packed London Overground train travelling from Clapham Junction to Stratford at about 7.15am today

The rush this morning came as TfL admitted that it is impossible for an outsider to become a Tube driver, with the jobs not advertised externally for at least seven years. 

The strike comes after staff walked out in protest at TfL's latest revised offer over plans to introduce Tube services all night on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Unions are locked in a bitter dispute with Tube operator London Underground over plans to run trains through the night from September 12.

After talks broke down again on Monday, union leaders called for the new service to be postponed until a deal is reached on pay and work conditions.

Mick Cash, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, said the all-night service was 'rushed and botched from the off'.  

He added that the organisation would now ballot more workers for industrial action

Milking it: Tube drivers striking across the city today are earning up to double the wages of bus drivers, it has been revealed

Milking it: Tube drivers striking across the city today are earning up to double the wages of bus drivers, it has been revealed

Standing: People wait for buses at Liverpool Street station in central London as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos

Standing: People wait for buses at Liverpool Street station in central London as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos

Crowds line the pavement at Victoria as they wait for rail replacement buses at 7.30am today. The strike by Underground rail staff brought the network to a standstill for the second time in a month over plans for a new night-time service

Crowds line the pavement at Victoria as they wait for rail replacement buses at 7.30am today. The strike by Underground rail staff brought the network to a standstill for the second time in a month over plans for a new night-time service

In the line: People queue for a bus at Stratford station in east London at 7.30am as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos

In the line: People queue for a bus at Stratford station in east London at 7.30am as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos

Queueing: The A40 coming into London near Paddington train station in west London at about 7am on the morning of the Tube strike

Queueing: The A40 coming into London near Paddington train station in west London at about 7am on the morning of the Tube strike

Alternative transport: Commuters walk outside Victoria London Underground station this morning at about 8am during the Tube strike

Alternative transport: Commuters walk outside Victoria London Underground station this morning at about 8am during the Tube strike

WHAT IS THE DISPUTE ABOUT? 

Unions are furious over how plans to run trains through the night on Friday and Saturdays from September 12 will affect their working conditions.

TfL has already made what it says is a very generous offer to resolve the dispute with the RMT, Aslef, Unite and TSSA unions.

Train drivers have been offered a £500 bonus and no-one will be forced to work overnight. Drivers will also get an extra £200 per night shift, and station staff an extra £500 bonus by next February.

Starting pay for Tube drivers is just under £50,000 for a 36-hour week, and they get 43 days' holiday. Station staff get 52 days.

They have been offered an average 2 per cent salary increase this year, compared with pay freezes across the public sector.

But the unions want a 32-hour four-day week to maintain their 'work-life balance', London Underground says.

The employees’ wages compare with £17,945 for a soldier, £21,583 for a firefighter, £21,692 for a nurse and £23,317 for a police officer.

However, London Mayor Boris Johnson told BBC London: 'What I won't do is sit down and negotiate with them when they're holding a gun to Londoners' heads. This is something for the management of London Underground.

'It would be totally wrong for politicians to weigh in when their managers, the managers of the Tube, are trying to sort this out. What the unions obviously want to do is muddy the waters about who is running the Tube.’

He added: 'What they should do is call off this stupid strike and put the deal we're offering to their members and stop pointlessly flexing their muscles.

‘I think most people can see this is the union leaderships trying to flex their muscles absolutely hell-bent on having a strike because they want to make some sort of point about they didn't like the General Election result or they don’t like Conservative union reform or whatever, or they love Jeremy Corbyn, or something like that. It is totally bone-headed of them in my view.’

Mr Johnson said unions should put the latest 'incredibly generous' offer to members and repeated his refusal to meet their leaders to try to break the row.

Speaking of the new night service, he added: 'I want it starting in the autumn - what I am fussed about is the offer being put to union members. I am not going to authorise any more money. Most people would recognise that this is a very generous deal.'

The network will remain at a standstill until Friday morning, at an estimated cost to the economy of £300million. 

TfL bosses have already made what they see as a very generous offer to resolve the dispute with the RMT, Aslef, Unite and TSSA unions.

Train drivers have been offered a £500 bonus and no one will be forced to work overnight.

Drivers will also get an extra £200 per night shift, and station staff an extra £500 bonus by next February.

Starting pay for Tube drivers is just under £50,000 for a 36-hour week, and they get 43 days' holiday. Station staff get 52 days. 

They have been offered an average two per cent salary increase this year, compared with pay freezes across the public sector. 

Big and small: Alan Price cycles to work in London on a Penny farthing, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos
Traditional mode of transport: Alan Price cycles to work across Battersea Bridge

Big and small: Alan Price cycles to work in London on a Penny farthing, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos

Skating through Victoria: Two skaters take part in a promotional event by Penny Skateboards, giving free boards to stranded commuters

Skating through Victoria: Two skaters take part in a promotional event by Penny Skateboards, giving free boards to stranded commuters

Good idea: Nic Jackson, a development manager, decided to paddle board along the River Thames into work from Richmond to Chiswick
Beating the traffic: A woman skateboards next to a major bus stop outside Victoria train station to avoid the problems of the Tube strike

Good idea: Nic Jackson (left), a development manager, decided to paddle board along the Thames into work from Richmond to Chiswick, while a woman skateboarded (right)next to a major bus stop outside Victoria train station to avoid the problems of the Tube strike

Improvised transport: The 24-hour strike by four unions means there will be no Tube service until tomorrow morning

Improvised transport: The 24-hour strike by four unions means there will be no Tube service until tomorrow morning

Boris Bikes waiting to be moved after being parked in Soho Square, an official drop-off point where cyclists can be guaranteed to park

Boris Bikes waiting to be moved after being parked in Soho Square, an official drop-off point where cyclists can be guaranteed to park

Cycling: Thousands of bicycles are locked in a rack at Paddington Station in London this morning, next to a First Great Western train

Cycling: Thousands of bicycles are locked in a rack at Paddington Station in London this morning, next to a First Great Western train

But the unions want a 32-hour four-day week to maintain their 'work-life balance', London Underground says. 

New rules from the Conservatives will soon see striking becoming harder by making 50 per cent of those eligible in a strike ballot cast a vote.

CURB ON TRADE UNIONS TAKING FEES FROM WAGES

Trade unions face losing millions of pounds after ministers moved to scrap the automatic payment of membership fees from workers’ wages.

The change in the law could also slash union funding to the Labour Party.

It will end the system of ‘check off’ in the public sector, administrated at the taxpayer’s expense, under which unions are paid directly from members’ pay.

The 3.8million workers affected will instead have to make payments themselves or set up a direct debit. The move against automatic payment of dues has been long planned by Tory ministers but was blocked by the Lib Dems under the Coalition government.

It is estimated that less than one in four public bodies charge to deduct dues, leaving taxpayers to pay the administrative bill.

Cabinet Office minister Matthew Hancock said: ‘In the 21st century era of direct debits and digital payments, public resources should not be used to support the collection of trade union subscriptions.

‘It’s time to get rid of this outdated practice and modernise the relationship between trade unions and their members. By ending check off we are bringing greater transparency to employees – making it easier for them to choose whether or not to pay subscriptions and which union to join.’ 

However, this would not have prevented the current industrial action – with Aslef seeing a 97 per cent vote on an 81 per turnout.

It came as it emerged that the striking Tube drivers are earning up to double the wages of the bus drivers trying to keep the capital moving.

Transport chiefs say passengers cannot see why drivers earning £50,000 per year – plus generous perks – for a 36-hour week are walking out again.

London’s bus drivers earn between £25,000 and £31,000 a year. In addition, they are much more vulnerable to assaults.

Nick Brown, managing director for Rail and Underground at TfL, said he believes passengers would be astonished at the offers being turned down. 

He said: ‘I’ve got two kids working in London and their combined income doesn’t match what our drivers earn. Our staff work really hard. Our issue is not with our front-line staff. It is with the unions.

'They are trying to put a gun against our head the whole time – and it is the travelling public who are suffering. 

'There’s no end in sight. The unions have also muttered darkly about 48-hour strikes in future. They should allow their members – our employees – to vote on the generous offer.’

The Metropolitan Police has deployed hundreds of officers to help deal with the travel chaos today.

A force spokesman told MailOnline: ‘The Metropolitan Police Service will have additional officers on duty across London for the duration of the Tube strike. Officers will be deployed at key locations in the capital, including along major bus networks and outside train stations. 

'We have been working with all our partners, including Transport for London and British Transport Police. Officers will be on duty to prevent crime and disorder, wherever possible minimise disruption and congestion and respond to any incident that unfolds.’

The strike involves 3,700 Tube drivers who walked out along with thousands more Underground workers belong to the four main rail unions. The action has left 24,000 bus drivers, themselves doing ‘anti-social’ night shifts at times, to take the strain.

Kate Andrews, of the free-market Adam Smith Institute, said commuters would be shocked at striking Tube drivers earning twice as much as those operating buses.

She said: ‘Today’s strikers have a cushier salary and benefit package than many of those who take the Tube to work – and yet those less well-off are inconvenienced once again.’

However, all four of the main rail unions have continued to reject the revised offers from Transport for London prompting the industrial action. 

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said bosses were ‘offering no commitments on work-life balance’. 

It follows a similar walkout last month - the first complete shutdown of the system in 13 years - which passengers described as causing 'absolute carnage'.

Downing Street has condemned the strikes as 'unacceptable and unjustified'. 

While millions of commuters endured disruption today, there was no travel chaos for two transport union bosses, who were sunning themselves on holiday

John Leach, London regional organiser and chief negotiator at the RMT union, is currently holidaying in the US.

And his counterpart at train drivers' union Aslef, chief negotiator Finn Brennan, was believed to be flying to Spain on his holiday yesterday. 

People stand on a cramped bus from Finsbury Park station, London, at 7.30am today as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos

People stand on a cramped bus from Finsbury Park station, London, at 7.30am today as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos

Commuters jostle for space in a cramped bus from Finsbury Park at 7.30am this morning as passengers battle to get on. While overground trains and buses are running as normal, most services are being stretched to their limit during rush hour

Commuters jostle for space in a cramped bus from Finsbury Park at 7.30am this morning as passengers battle to get on. While overground trains and buses are running as normal, most services are being stretched to their limit during rush hour

People queue for buses near Stratford station, London, at 7.35am today. Tube services ground to a halt on Wednesday evening and will not resume until Friday

People queue for buses near Stratford station, London, at 7.35am today. Tube services ground to a halt on Wednesday evening and will not resume until Friday

Commuters anxiously check their phones as they wait for replacement buses outside Victoria Station at 8am today. The 27-hour stoppage by about 20,000 Tube staff has shut down the entire London Underground network  over pay and conditions for the new Night Tube

Commuters anxiously check their phones as they wait for replacement buses outside Victoria Station at 8am today. The 27-hour stoppage by about 20,000 Tube staff has shut down the entire London Underground network over pay and conditions for the new Night Tube

Victoria station was soon filled with commuters desperate to board a rail replacement bus at 7.30am today. Unions are locked in a bitter dispute with Tube operator London Underground over plans to run trains through the night on Friday and Saturdays

Victoria station was soon filled with commuters desperate to board a rail replacement bus at 7.30am today. Unions are locked in a bitter dispute with Tube operator London Underground over plans to run trains through the night on Friday and Saturdays

Making it onto the platform: This was the scene at Clapham Junction station in south-west London at about 8.30am this morning

Making it onto the platform: This was the scene at Clapham Junction station in south-west London at about 8.30am this morning

Backbench Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi said: 'Whilst they are sunning themselves on holiday I hope they will feel the pain of all the families and commuters who are being put through such massive inconvenience at this difficult time.'

ANOTHER STRIKE? MORE MISERY FOR COMMUTERS IS THREATENED

The dispute about Night Tubes worsened last night after a union announced it will ballot more workers for industrial action.

The RMT said it will now ballot engineers working for Tube Lines for strikes over the same issue. The Tube Lines staff maintain the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee Lines.

The company is part of the legacy from the collapsed public-private partnership that the RMT said created ‘chaos’ across the Underground.

General secretary Mick Cash said: ‘Tube Lines staff have been offered a deal over the next two years on pay and 24-hour running which mirrors that on offer to the rest of the LU workforce.

‘It is as unacceptable on Tube Lines as it is across the rest of the combine and as a result these essential maintenance staff will now be balloted for both strike action and action short of a strike.’ 

One Tory source added: 'This is really starting to take the proverbial if the rest of the capital is left with a nightmare commute while union bosses swan off on holiday leaving them to it.' 

On Tuesday night, a Tory London Assembly member called for a 'Dad's Army' of retired former Tube workers to 'prop up' the Underground during the industrial action.

Transport spokesman Richard Tracey said: 'Recently retired Tube workers, such as drivers, signallers and station staff, could prop up the Underground during industrial action.

'The unions are actively blocking the Night Tube which would benefit millions of people. 

'It's Londoners who will yet again suffer on their way to work, and businesses will be hit to the tune of £300million a day.'

The dispute over Night Tubes worsened on Tuesday night after the RMT announced it will ballot more workers for industrial action.

The union said it will ballot engineers working for Tube Lines for strikes over the same issue. 

The Tube Lines staff maintain the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee Lines.

The company is part of the legacy from the collapsed public-private partnership that the RMT said created 'chaos' across the Underground.

Steve Griffiths, London Underground's chief operating officer, said the company had made 'an extremely fair offer' to workers over the new Night Tubes.

He added: 'We have made every effort to reach agreement with the unions and avoid this unnecessary strike action.'

Current timetables vary depending on the line but trains begin in the outer edges of London just after 5am and the last services leave the centre about half past midnight.

From September, trains will run 24 hours on Friday and Saturday on five of the 11 underground lines, bringing London in line with other cities such as New York, Berlin and Sydney.

Happy: Many Londoners battled through the chaos with a smile on their face, finding alternative ways to beat the strike

Happy: Many Londoners battled through the chaos with a smile on their face, finding alternative ways to beat the strike

'Everyone is being lovely': One Twitter user said the Tube strike was bringing out 'that British wartime spirit'

'Everyone is being lovely': One Twitter user said the Tube strike was bringing out 'that British wartime spirit'

Unfazed: Mollie Bourne said that walking to work was 'fine' this morning - although other commuters faced travel chaos

Unfazed: Mollie Bourne said that walking to work was 'fine' this morning - although other commuters faced travel chaos

People wait for buses which line the street at Liverpool Street station, London, at 8.30am today. Many decided instead to put on their walking shoes and embark on a long walk, rather than face a long wait, into work this morning

People wait for buses which line the street at Liverpool Street station, London, at 8.30am today. Many decided instead to put on their walking shoes and embark on a long walk, rather than face a long wait, into work this morning

Hundreds of people at Stratford Bus Station in East London struggle to commute to work as the 24-hour Tube strike takes its toll causing travel misery 

Hundreds of people at Stratford Bus Station in East London struggle to commute to work as the 24-hour Tube strike takes its toll causing travel misery 

Commuters at Stratford bus station desperately try to clamber aboard a bus at 7am today as police marshal the crowds 

Commuters at Stratford bus station desperately try to clamber aboard a bus at 7am today as police marshal the crowds 

Buses park ready to take waiting commuters as Met police officers look on at 8am this morning. Shortly before 9am there were 428 separate traffic jams on London's roads - causing 197 miles of tailbacks, according to traffic experts at TomTom

Buses park ready to take waiting commuters as Met police officers look on at 8am this morning. Shortly before 9am there were 428 separate traffic jams on London's roads - causing 197 miles of tailbacks, according to traffic experts at TomTom

Pavements were packed at Grosvenor Gardens at 8am today with workers and tourists anxiously waiting for buses

Pavements were packed at Grosvenor Gardens at 8am today with workers and tourists anxiously waiting for buses

Bus users push for room on pavements outside Victoria station at 8am. Roads in the capital are expected to be extremely busy today during the normal Underground peak times of 6.30am to 9.30am, and 4pm to 7pm

Bus users push for room on pavements outside Victoria station at 8am. Roads in the capital are expected to be extremely busy today during the normal Underground peak times of 6.30am to 9.30am, and 4pm to 7pm

Large queues were building up for buses at Victoria station at 8am this morning and Metropolitan Police officers were called to help control the huge crowds

Large queues were building up for buses at Victoria station at 8am this morning and Metropolitan Police officers were called to help control the huge crowds

RMT members hold a picket outside Brixton Underground station, London, at 7am as workers across the capital face a day of travel chaos

RMT members hold a picket outside Brixton Underground station, London, at 7am as workers across the capital face a day of travel chaos

Mayor of London: Boris Johnson (pictured yesterday at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London) said union chiefs were 'bone-headed'

Mayor of London: Boris Johnson (pictured yesterday at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London) said union chiefs were 'bone-headed'

John Leach (left), the RMT union's chief negotiator is currently on holiday in the US while his counterpart at the train drivers' union Aslef, Finn Brennan (right), is set to fly out to Spain today
John Leach (left), the RMT union's chief negotiator is currently on holiday in the US while his counterpart at the train drivers' union Aslef, Finn Brennan (right), is set to fly out to Spain today

Bosses: John Leach (left), the RMT union's chief negotiator is currently on holiday in the US while his counterpart at the train drivers' union Aslef, Finn Brennan (right), was believed to have flown out to Spain yesterday

Ufi Ibrahim, chief executive of The British Hospitality Association, condemned the strike, saying: ‘London’s economy is heavily reliant on its fast and reliable public transport network to move around the capital’s residents, tourists and visitors.

‘Strike action especially during busy summer months is a real nightmare for our hotel, restaurant and visitor attractions who have to maintain high standards while facing the staff shortages and unpredictable customer footfall resulting from the transport challenges.’

Meanwhile it was claimed two in five small businesses in Britain have contingency plans for staff to work remotely without customers being aware of disruption.

Reuben Singh, chief executive of call answering service alldayPA, said: ‘Businesses have become more aware of the need for contingency plans, whether it is in response to extreme weather conditions or strikes. 

'The mantra for many forward thinking businesses is “never let the customer know”.’

 

Have you got any photos of travel chaos? Email pictures@mailonline.co.uk 

 

£50,000 FOR BEING A TUBE DRIVER... BUT YOU CAN'T APPLY BECAUSE JOBS HAVEN'T BEEN ADVERTISED FOR 7 YEARS

In recent campaigns to hire around 200 drivers at a time, TfL has received between 250 and 1,700 applications and the roles have all been filled internally

In recent campaigns to hire around 200 drivers at a time, TfL has received between 250 and 1,700 applications and the roles have all been filled internally

It is impossible for an outsider to become a Tube driver despite the lucrative pay and perks on offer, Transport for London has admitted.

As the London Underground ground to a half last night tonight in a long-running row over pay for running services through the night, it has emerged that jobs driving trains have not been advertised externally for at least seven years.

A newly-qualified driver can enjoy a salary of almost £50,000 plus 43 days paid holiday, but anyone thinking of a career change will be left disappointed.

Tube bosses made clear their irritation at the strike action, with a message to commuters pointing out how well-paid tube drivers already are.

As part of the deal, drivers have been offered an above-inflation pay rise, an extra £200 per shift for working nights and the choice of not covering Night Tube shifts.

Nick Brown, managing director of London Underground, said: 'Drivers will have the same number of weekends off as now and no one will be asked to work more hours than they do today.

'Everybody will remain entitled to two days off in seven. Annual leave will remain at 43 days for a train driver and 52 days for station staff.'

The revelation that tube staff get up to 52 days a year in annual holiday sparked outrage on social media, with many workers joking they would like to swap jobs.

But since 2008, every vacancy for tube drivers has been filled internally by people already working for TfL.

Trainee tube drivers start on £24,133 rising to £49,673 when they finish their training. After five years they could earn up to £60,000.

A TfL spokesman told MailOnline: 'We advertise internally and in recent years we have had enough applications of suitable candidates to fill positions.'

In recent campaigns to hire around 200 drivers at a time, TfL has received between 250 and 1,700 applications.

The revelations will raise further questions about the grip of the unions on the Underground, and the chaos they can cause for Londoners trying to get to work – often in less well-paid jobs. 

BY MATT CHORLEY, POLITICAL EDITOR FOR MAILONLINE 

 

As millions of commuters struggle through the chaos on London’s roads, MailOnline reveals alternative ways on how to make the most of the tube strike

Walking map: This diagram shows how long it takes to make a journey by foot between any two stations on the Underground network

Walking map: This diagram shows how long it takes to make a journey by foot between any two stations on the Underground network

Getting around: This map shows the calories burned by walking between Underground stops in the central part of the network

Getting around: This map shows the calories burned by walking between Underground stops in the central part of the network

Bus map: This diagram shows the major bus routes running through central London, which are likely to become extremely busy today

Bus map: This diagram shows the major bus routes running through central London, which are likely to become extremely busy today

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