Talks planned to resolve Tube row as commuters suffer second day of strike misery #CarryGobySeanKellz #FutureGroupNG via @myentertain9jar

TALKS will be held in a bid to resolve a row that has sparked Tube strikes and commuter misery this week.

Hopes has been raised that next week's tube strike could be averted as fresh talks have been planned[PA]

Londoners today faced a second morning of rush hour disruptions as Underground workers continued their 48 hours of industrial action.

But workers in the capital have been offered some hope with the announcement of discussions between union and London Underground (LU) bosses, which it is hoped will avert a second strike planned to start next Bank Holiday Monday.

Conciliation service Acas will host the talks between London Underground (LU) and the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) on Friday.

Their dispute revolves around planned ticket office closures and has prompted the current two-day strike that will end at 9pm tonight.

London Underground workers continued their second day of industrial action on Wednesday [PA]

 

It helps no one for LU to deliberately mislead the public as to what services are available

RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash

Commuters faced another morning of widespread disruption to services as the strike moved into its second day this morning.

LU said that ten out of the 11 Tube lines were running, albeit on a significantly reduced service, despite the walkout.

Tube bosses added that more services were running on Wednesday than yesterday and an extra 268 buses, including 40 vintage Routemasters, are in operation.

However the RMT accused LU of "misleading" the public over the number of services and said platforms were "dangerously overcrowded."

Acting general secretary Mick Cash said: "It helps no one for LU to deliberately mislead the public as to what services are available as it simply piles dangerous levels of pressure on to the ghost trains and skeleton operations, leaving passengers and staff at risk.

"You cannot turn the crucial issue of Tube safety into a high-risk PR stunt designed to do nothing more than prop up the political position and cuts agenda of this Government and London's Tory mayor.

"Instead of producing bogus timetables, Tube chiefs should be around the table responding positively to RMT's proposals for resolving a dispute which is about nothing more than cash-led cuts to jobs, services and safety."

Vintage Routemasters were called into action to ferry commuters around during rush hour [PA]

LU said three Tube lines were running services on their entire lines and that it hoped to run at least as many Tube services as yesterday.

Around half of Tube services were in operation as the 48-hour strike began over ticket office closures and potential pay cuts.

Tube bosses said overground services were running normally but pictures showed passengers crowding onto services this morning in the capital.

Many services were delayed as doors would not shut and passengers reported on social media sites 20 minute waits as they could not board packed trains.

Underground stations also started opening from 7am as many commuters started to queue for packed buses but services eased for those travelling later.

The RMT said the strike remained "rock solid" but London Mayor Boris Johnson said the claim was "farcical" and it was just a minority at the picket lines.

Acas will host talks between London Underground and the RMT union on Friday [PA]

He said: "The idea that this is a solidly supported strike is farcical.

"This action is the result of a minority of just one union, the RMT, who are refusing to see the logic of what we are trying to achieve."

Mike Brown, managing director of LU, said 15 per cent more staff worked yesterday than during the previous strike in Ferbruary.

He said: "I'm sorry that Londoners are enduring more disruption today as a result of the RMT's pointless strike action.

"The only sensible course is for the RMT leadership to call off the strikes and get back to working with us to shape the future of the Tube, as the other three unions are doing.

"It was tough for our customers yesterday, but with more staff arriving for work than during the last strike in February, we were able to run 50 per cent of the train service and keep two-thirds of stations open.

"Nearly 90 per cent of the normal number of Oyster cards were used yesterday. We will be working really hard again to further improve this level of service."

The strike is in protest to planned closure of ticket offices and the job losses and pay cuts which could result.

It began at 9pm on Monday and will finish at 9pm tonight.

But commuters only have a brief respite as a second strike could begin next Monday at 9.30pm for 72 hours unless the talks between LU and the RMT succeed.