ASLEF downplay Royal Wedding Day Tube Strike

Interesting to see a union saying that a threat of a Tube strike is "remote". This is after a number of mainstream media (including BBC, Evening Standard & Sky News) reported that ASLEF were considering a strike on the day of the Royal Wedding.  Even the Mayor gave an angry Tweet  saying "Can't believe this. Surely not!"  about the news linking to a Press Association piece.


ASLEF's general secretary, Keith Norman, said today that industrial action on the London Underground had not even been discussed.

Steve Grant, their London Officer said no ballot had been held and the union and the management were due to resume negotiations about compensation for all Bank Holiday working by London Underground tube drivers.

‘The story is premature to say the least,’ added Keith Norman. Looks like the press got a little over excited about the Boxing Day strike action over pay on public holidays, and thought, this would apply to the next Bank Holiday likely to get extremely bad press if a strike took place.

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Royal Wedding Oyster Card

No Trousers on the Tube 2011

Over hundred brave souls braved the temperatures in London yesterday to take part in the second No Trousers on the London Underground event. Although over three hundred people had signed up to be in the London part of the global task, the numbers taking part were three times the amount who took place in 2010.


No Trousers on the Underground 2011 by Idil Sukan

Paul Sontagg took part & said "It was way out of left field, and we had an absolute ball. We met in Trafalgar Square at 3pm, were split into groups of around 25 then headed down to the Charing Cross Station. After lining up for the front carriage, we boarded then had to act like we were travelling alone and didn't know anyone else on the train. After stripping our jeans/trousers off and into our backpacks, putting our shoes (or cowboy boots in my case) back on, then act like life was normal. The looks from the innocent bystanders was priceless, it was a very unique way to spend a Sunday afternoon." There's more on his blog

Rammi the organiser was updating from Twitter, and was delighted with the amount of people who turned up this year.



There's a great set of photos by Idil Sukan here.

The video from you and i films of commuters reactions below has that usual mix of Londoners to unusual Tube encounters - from complete indifference, sly looks to laughter and someone actually deciding to join in.



Well done to those who braved it and it looks like No Trousers on the Tube is going to be a permanent fixture of the Global No Pants Subway Ride.

Tube Drivers to strike again on Bakerloo & Northern Line

Another year, another Tube strike announcement. Last year's dispute over staff dismissals continues as RMT members have just announced more London Underground strike action.

Members of the RMT union on the Bakerloo Line & Morden depot of the Northern Line will walk out at 9pm Friday 14th January 2011 for 24 hours.



Photo by www.CGPGrey.com

When the action took place last year Bakerloo line services were suspended between Harrow and Wealdstone and Queens Park stations due to the Tube strike on Friday evening.

On the Saturday there was only a partial service in operation south from Queens Park south to Elephant and Castle.

However as with all strikes please check the Tube's website before you leave for the latest information. At time of writing there has been no statement from either TfL's or RMT leader, Bob Crow about this action.

Update - 14th January 2011 - London Underground expect that disruption will be unlikely on the Northern Line, however significant disruption on the Bakerloo line is likely, though they intends to run as many trains as possible.

Howard Collins, LU's COO said : "The union leadership failed in its attempt to gain support for the strike from Northern line staff. Less than 20 per cent of those balloted voted for strike action, and on the Bakerloo line only one in three of those balloted voted to strike.


'For the RMT leadership to try to disrupt Londoners in this way shows a disregard for Tube passengers and contempt for their own ballot process.


'We will once again seek to operate the best service possible. The last Northern line strike had no effect and we managed to keep a service running on parts of the Bakerloo line despite the action there. The RMT leadership should stop threatening Londoners with strike action and let our staff get on with their job of keeping the capital moving."

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Tube Strikes could escalate in the New Year

No Trousers on the Underground 2011

Just as snow is forecast for London, it's time for the second No Pants Tube Ride or No Trousers on the Underground 2011. The No Pants Subway Ride has been running in the US since 2002, starting on the New York Subway by ImprovEverywhere. It's now taking place in over 40 cities throughout the world.



Photo by Idil Sukan
Rammi who took part in the event last year is organising this year's on the London Underground. Once again it looks likely to be a freezing cold weekend. However, on Sunday afternoon on the 9th January there'll be people casually travelling around the London Underground sans trousers.

Last year over thirty people took part in London and there's currently over 170 signed up on the Facebook event page. There's still time to sign up, all you need is "Willingness to take trousers off on the Tube and the abilty to keep a straight face about it".

The aim is to be nonchalant and like the US riders to look as though you've just forgotten to wear trousers. Rammi says: "You can wear fun underwear if you like, but nothing that screams out, 'I wore this because I'm doing a silly stunt.' Wear two pairs of underwear if it makes you feel more comfortable. Don't wear a thong or anything else that might offend people. Our aim is to make people laugh, not piss them off."

Good luck to them, and I look forward to seeing any pictures or videos on Monday!

Update - Over 100 people took part in the event. See what happened at No Trousers on the Tube 2011.

Top 10 Going Underground Blog posts from 2010

I've never looked at the top ten blog posts before, but as the blog is coming into its ninth year (yikes) I thought it was about time to see which posts received the most views. Interestingly (& surprisingly) there were actually three archive posts from older years that made it into the top 10. Two on Max Roberts' great curvy Tube map - his original post from June 2007 and a post where he revisited the map in February 2008. The third was the distances between tube stations map post from October 2004.


The Big Issue Cat by Stuff n Nonsense

So taking those posts out, here are the most visited posts, written in 2010, in reverse order.

10. Balloon Animals on the Tube

A cheery look at an outbreak of balloon animals on the London Underground

9. Body found in London Underground Tunnel

On November 12th 2010 a body was found on the tracks in a tunnel near Bayswater Tube at 2.30am

8. Tube staff set dates for strike action

The first (and sadly not only) appearance of posts about the Tube strike announcements in the top ten. This one's from 25th August.

7. Slides on the Tube - would you use them?

Another fun one. Video of commuters on the subway in Berlin who were offered the choice of stairs, escalators or a giant slide to get down to the trains.

6. Naked Tube

Pictures from a stunt involving naked commuters travelling through Charing Cross station.

5. Human body as a Tube Map

The only Tube Map "mash up" in the top ten. Sam Loman charted the interchanges in our body to various "lines" on the map.

4. Tube photo of the week - Angel Tube Cat

One of my favourite posts of the year. The lovely story of Bob the ginger cat who poses outside Angel Tube station with his Big Issue selling owner.

3. What's the best London Underground iPhone App?

A review of five Tube apps for the Tube and people's thoughts on the apps in the comments.

2. Dog confused by Tube escalator

Another four legged friend on the London Underground. Super cute video of a dog who knows very little of the workings of an escalator.

1. RMT set two Tube strike dates

Sadly the most visited post of the year was a post on the Tube strikes. It's one that Google seem to really like if you're searching for "tube strike dates", which as you can imagine a shed load of people did in 2010.

That's it. Thanks to all the comments, tweets, follows & ReTweets over the year. Thanks to everyone who keeps visiting the blog. And a special thanks to all those who send me fun (and not so fun) London Underground stories, pictures and videos. Please keep them coming. It clearly wouldn't be the same without you!