London's Piccadilly Line delays add to rail strike nightmare

Commuters trying to make it into the British capital were affected by the early morning disruption

A sign at Waterloo station in London informing passengers of a strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union. PA

Commuters and travellers landing at Heathrow Airport and trying to make it to central London on Wednesday were affected by severe delays on a key Tube line, which added to a rail strike already causing chaos.

A signal problem in the Green Park area, near Hyde Park Corner and Buckingham Palace, meant the Piccadilly Line was effectively out of action for several hours.

The line begins at Heathrow Airport in the south-west of London, heads towards Hammersmith and Earl's Court before travelling through the tourist areas of Leicester Square and Covent Garden. It then heads north to Highbury and eventually Cockfosters.

Commuters were quick to take to social media to vent their anger. Many had already taken evasive action to accommodate strikes by the RMT union, which means that overground rail services were not an option.

One wrote on Twitter: “I should have stayed at home. Piccadilly Line is just causing me problems this morning.”

Another complained that Tube trains were packed and being terminated. Others said that the overspill on to other lines had made them unbearably packed.

Another complained that the service on the Piccadilly Line was “useless”.

The morning chaos adds to the suffering of rail passengers on another day of strike disruption.

The new general secretary of the TUC called for an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister in a bid to break deadlocked industrial disputes across the country.

On Wednesday, around half of Britain’s railway lines are closed and only a fifth of services are running as tens of thousands of workers at Network Rail and train operators walk out on the second day of a 48-hour strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT).

Train drivers in the Aslef union will strike on Thursday before a second two-day RMT strike begins on Friday.

TUC leader Paul Nowak called for a change in government direction, saying ministers should open pay negotiations with unions.

January rail strikes begin in the UK — in pictures

A closed Birmingham Moor Street station during a strike by train drivers from the Aslef union, in a dispute over jobs and pensions. PA

Southeastern trains sit in sidings at Ashford station in Kent, during a strike by train drivers. PA

An Aslef picket line at Birmingham Moor Street station. PA

Passengers outside the locked gates of Southfields London Underground station, waiting for the first train of the day. PA

Empty platforms in Euston station, London. PA

A deserted Paddington station in London, during a strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union over jobs and pensions. PA

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, joins union members on the picket line outside London's Euston station. Strikes have been taking place since last summer. PA

Passengers in an almost deserted Euston station during morning rush hour in London. PA

A sign warning of industrial action at Barnham train station in West Sussex, southern England PA

Passengers check the departure boards at Euston station. Getty Images

An empty platform at Eustion station in London. Bloomberg

A lone train leaves Ashford station in Kent, where a reduced timetable is in operation. PA

Signs with information on the strikes are lined up at Waterloo station in London. PA

Members of the RMT on a picket line outside London Euston station. Bloomberg

In a letter to Rishi Sunak, Mr Nowak said public services were in crisis after years of “underfunding and understaffing”.

“We can’t solve these problems without a fair deal for the people on the front line,” he said.

“Every month experienced employees are quitting, with one in three public service staff now taking steps to leave their professions or actively considering it.

“This is simply unsustainable.”

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said on Tuesday that strike would need to continue beyond May unless a reasonable offer to resolve the row over pay, jobs and conditions was made to the union.

On Wednesday, the DVSA driving examiners’ strike started in London, the South-East, South Wales and the South-West, while traffic officer service workers at National Highways and Rural Payments Agency staff continued their walkouts.

London bus workers at Abellio began a two-day strike — the first in a series of action planned by the group throughout January.

Winter strikes in Britain — in pictures

Protesters march through Trafalgar Square, towards Downing Street, London, during a nurses' strike. PA

A rally in support of striking Amazon workers outside the retailer's warehouse in Coventry. Reuters

Members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy on the picket line outside London's St Thomas' Hospital as they strike for the first time. PA

Teachers gather at The Mound in central Edinburgh to highlight the need for a fair pay deal for Scotland's teachers as they continue to take strike action. PA

Paramedic Gabriel McComish, on the picket line outside the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, as thousands of health and social care workers in Northern Ireland take part in strike action. PA

Ambulance workers on the picket line outside London Ambulance Service NHS Trust control room in Waterloo, London. PA

Ambulance workers gather at a picket line in Waterloo, London. AFP

Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland teaching union join a rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. PA

Striking ambulance workers outside the NHS London Ambulance Service HQ in London. Reuters

Passengers at a busy King's Cross station in London after a strike by RMT union members. PA

Driving examiners on a PCS picket line outside Goodmayes Driving Test Centre in London. EPA

Nurses and supporters march towards Downing Street after a day of strike action in London. Getty Images

Travellers waiting for Euston station to open in London. Getty Images

A warning sign at Heathrow Airport in London. Bloomberg

A packed concourse at London Euston station on Christmas Eve. Getty Images

Striking Border Force workers picket at Gatwick Airport. EPA

Armed forces personnel drive an ambulance as paramedics, ambulance technicians and call handlers strike in England and Wales. PA

A notice about strike action outside Mount Pleasant Mail Centre in Farringdon, as Royal Mail workers stage strikes. PA

Ambulance workers and supporters gather outside Brent Ambulance Station in London. Getty Images

Members of the Fire and Rescue Service join demonstrators on a picket line at Manchester Ambulance Station. Getty Images

Ambulances outside the West Midlands Ambulance Service headquarters in Coventry during a strike. PA