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London's Tube system shuts down as workers start a week-long strike

London's Underground rail network halted on Monday, as workers began a strike over pay and conditions of employment. This caused travel disruptions for both commuters and tourists. The underground rail network is expected to be shut down until Thursday. This means that the 3.7 million people who use it daily will have to work from home or find other ways to travel.

Forest, which operates 15 000 e-bikes throughout London, reported that it was experiencing four times the demand for its ebikes at 9 am.

Some commuters opted for buses or the few remaining train lines, but most reported longer journeys.

Laura Sutton, 46 years old, a legal adviser, was standing near London Bridge Station.

Transport for London (which operates London's public transport system) said that it offered staff a pay increase of 3.4%, but the union only accepted a deal if the result was a shorter working week.

The RMT union stated that the dispute was centered on pay, fatigue management and shift patterns, as well as a reduction of hours.

The spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir starmer told reporters that the PM wanted a solution.

They said that "Londoners trying to get to their jobs, dropping off their children at school, and businesses who depend on the Tube to bring in work and footfall, will be tired of these strikes."

Outside the Tower of London

Peter Rolf (58), a German citizen, told his family that they had decided to reduce their two-day London trip to just one day, and spend more time in England.

Patricia Ware (75), who visited from near Chicago, U.S.A., said that it took much longer to get to the historic castle.

She said, "We found it difficult to get a taxi here."

She was still having a great time in London.

"Travelling is at best a hassle. So we just go along with it." Reporting by Will Russell. Marissa Davison. Sam Tabahriti. Sarah Young. Andrew MacAskill. Sachin Ravikumar. William James edited the story.

(source: Reuters)