London Tube strikes LIVE: Heavy rain piles misery on travellers but ‘more drivers turn up to work’

More Tube drivers have come to work on Thursday, the second day of the RMT strike this week, than on the first on Tuesday.

The gradual drift back to work of more drivers suggests that the industrial action by the RMT may not be as strongly supported as previous walkouts.

On Tuesday, just under 60% of drivers turned up to work, with the figure for Thursday expected to be a couple of percentage points higher.

In the April walkouts, the turnout rate was 57%.

Just over half of Tube drivers are members of the Aslef train drivers’ union which is not on strike.

But more RMT drivers are also believed to be turning up for their shifts.

A Transport for London source told The Standard: “More Tube drivers came to work today than on Tuesday.

“There is less support for the strikes than previously.”

The strike is over reforms which the RMT has branded a “fake” four-day week.

However, Aslef is backing the voluntary four-day week which it has stressed offers drivers the best working conditions on the mainline rail network.

Those working from home today may be feeling glad they don’t have to pop out for a sandwich this lunchtime.

Heavy rain is now falling across the capital, with further storms expected later this afternoon.

Rain has stopped play at Lord’s in North London, where the England men’s cricket team are playing their first Test match of the summer against New Zealand.

O2’s anonymised Motion data shows that footfall in some key London areas is down compared to a normal Thursday morning.

According to the data, the City is down by 9% , King’s Cross by 12%, the West End by 5%, and Westminster by 11%.

A Virgin Media O2 spokesperson said: “As Tube strikes continue across London, our mobility data shows footfall remains down across some of the city’s busiest areas, including the City, Westminster and King’s Cross.

“The data highlights the continued impact transport disruption can have on central London, with many people once again changing their usual routines and journeys.”

Here is the status of all major Tube lines as of 11.30am:

After rush hour was busier than normal on the Elizabeth line, it is much quieter now as we approach lunchtime.

Service has improved on the Northern line.

There are now only minor delays between High Barnet and East Finchley and between Edgware and Golders Green.

There are still severe delays on the rest of the line.

Here is the status of all major Tube lines as of 10am:

Service has now resumed on the Bakerloo line between Queen’s Park and Harrow & Wealdstone, albeit with severe delays.

A union representative allegedly complained that work iPads being supplied to Tube drivers were “too small to watch Netflix” on.

Reforms to bring in a four-day week for Underground drivers, who earn around £74,000 a year, have been discussed on several rail forums.

On one of them, an ex-conductor who is now in middle management, posted: “Honestly, as much as I’m for unions, sometimes the reps just don’t help themselves.

“Rep at a recent meeting to give drivers tablets complained that the screen was too small to watch Netflix on, so they should be given bigger ones. Unreal stuff.”

The RMT is advising other union members to use the Tube on strike days.

The PCS Union’s Whitehall branch raised with the RMT whether it should be encouraging its members to avoid the Underground on days that it was being hit by industrial action.

But the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) said PCS members should “please travel as you can”.

Just over half of Tube drivers are members of the Aslef train drivers’ union, but more RMT drivers are also believed to have decided to work in the latest strikes, compared to those in April.