By Samantha Jones-
The Elizabeth Line’s service has been disrupted today due to strike
London’s newest rail service, the Elizabeth Line, is expected to see disruption today amid strikes on the network.
The strikes come over pay and pensions disputes with members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) and Prospect walking out for the day.
Transport for London (TfL) has warned customers to be aware of the travel disruption and added they were doing everything they could to reduce the impact of the strike and were working with operator MTR-Elizabeth line to run as many services as possible.
Ahead of strike action, the TfL said it made a two-year offer of a 4% pay increase for 2022 and 4.4% increase in 2023, describing it as “fair.”
Howard Smith, TfL’s Director of the Elizabeth line, said: “Strikes are bad news for everyone, and we urge the TSSA and Prospect to continue to work with us to avoid industrial action.”
The strikes on the Elizabeth Line mark the first action since it opened in May.
Talks have taken place this week but the strike, as well as action short of a strike, will go ahead.
TSSA members work in roles including traffic managers, service and infrastructure, and incident response managers grades.
TSSA Organiser, Mel Taylor said: “Our members are rightly taking this action because they are not prepared to be pushed around on pay and pensions.
“We know workers at Rail for London Infrastructure (RfLI) are being paid significantly less than equivalent colleagues across the TfL network and that is simply not acceptable.
“Our members have the power to bring the Elizabeth Line to a standstill and that is exactly what will happen as a result of this strike and the lack of a serious offer from TfL.”
The Elizabeth Line will see some services be impacted with the line seeing no service throughout the day in the central section of the line between Abbey Wood and Paddington.
It will also operate as separate railways on the east and west of the line, but passengers were warned there may be short-notice alterations or cancellations.
In the east, between Shenfield and Liverpool Street mainline station, the Elizabeth line will operate a Saturday service of eight trains per hour, with three extra services per hour during the morning and evening peak.
In the west, there will be limited services with two trains per hour running from Paddington to Reading, two trains per hour running from Paddington to Maidenhead, two trains per hour running from Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 4 and no services running to Heathrow Terminal 5.
There’s no service running on the central section between Abbey Wood and Paddington, with TfL also warning of short-notice cancellations and changes.
The walkout comes following an ongoing row over pay and conditions.
Two rail unions rejected a 4% pay increase from TfL for last year and a 4.4% increase for 2023.
TfL say they’ve urged workers to work so disruption can be avoided.
The eastern section, from Shenfield to Liverpool Street, will still operate a Saturday service of eight trains per hour – with three extra services per hour during the morning and evening peak.
In the west, there will be limited services, with two trains per hour running from Paddington to Reading, two trains per hour running from Paddington to Maidenhead, two trains per hour running from Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 4 and no services running to Heathrow Terminal 5.
The London Underground and Overground will continue a normal service.
TfL’s Director of the Elizabeth line, Howard Smith said: “Strikes are bad news for everyone, and we urge the TSSA and Prospect to continue to work with us to avoid industrial action.
“These strikes will have a detrimental effect during a time where we are encouraging customers back on to trains into central London, in which the Elizabeth line has played a leading role.”
A good service is expected to resume at around 9.00am tomorrow (Friday, 13 January).