London tube strikes: first wave of industrial action begins as talks end

The first of two planned tube strikes in London over the next fortnight went ahead on Monday night after talks ended without agreement.

Members of the RMT union working on the capital's underground network began a 48-hour strike at 9.30pm over plans to close ticket offices.

Tube bosses accused the union leadership of holding a pointless strike and "simply making it up as they go along", but the RMT said tube managers were "hell-bent on confrontation". A two-hour meeting at the arbitration service Acas gave no sign of a breakthrough.

Services will be severely affected in places. Transport for London (TfL) vowed to keep the capital moving but appealed to commuters to plan their journeys and where possible walk or cycle.

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http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/28/london-tube-strikes-industrial-action-to-begin