Boxing Day Tube Strike - Services running December 26th 2012

For the third year in a row members of the train drivers' union Aslef are staging a Boxing Day walkout in a row with London Underground over pay. A statement on Aslef's site aims to simplify the row by saying: "What we are asking for is not complex. We want a volunteer service on Boxing Day with those working getting more than flat time. An enhancement for this day will ensure members will be able to swap duties with someone who wishes to work".

Aslef have blamed LU management for not offering anything constructive to resolve the dispute.  In an acknowledgement of the disruption that will be caused, Aslef ended their statement with "We don’t expect support or gratitude from the public who will be inconvenienced on 26 December. But we hope there will be understanding".   As further strikes are planned on 18th and 25th January 2013, there will probably less understanding as the inconveniece to the travelling public continues into working days.

If you were planning on using the Tube on Wednesday, you'd be very, very wise to find alternative arrangements. London Overground doesn't run on Boxing Day anyway, so that's not going to be an alternative. However, buses, the DLR, Tramlink and some River services will all run.  Additionally TfL have put out a PDF of services they expect to run.

Howard Collins, London Underground's Chief Operating Officer,  called the action of Aslef members "scandalous" and said: 'Train drivers are paid a salary that reflects some Bank holiday working, but the ASLEF leadership is demanding to be paid twice for the same work and has rejected our attempts to resolve the matter.

'The scandalous actions of the ASLEF leadership are an attempt to hold Londoners to ransom, and demonstrate a wholesale disregard for our customers - making life harder for shoppers, sports fans, retail workers and businesses amongst others at an important time. They also show a disregard for the thousands of transport staff who will be working hard to help people get around the Capital."

As usual with all strikes it's always best to check TfL's website and local TV and radio news for up-to-date travel information before you travel.

Related posts
Tube Drivers may strike on Boxing Day 2012
Boxing Day Tube Strike Going Ahead - December 26th 2011