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London commuters set for more strike misery but good news about Elizabeth line

Ross Lydall
·3-min read
Paddington station during a train strike (Jeremy Selwyn)
Paddington station during a train strike (Jeremy Selwyn)

Rail commuters faced a day of delays and disruption ahead of another walkout by train drivers on Friday– but were boosted by the suspension of strike action on the Elizabeth line.

The central section of the “Lizzie line” was shut for 24 hours on January 12 - the first time since it was opened by the Queen last May – when members of the TSSA, Prospect and the RMT unions walked out over pay and pensions.

But Transport for London commissioner Andy Lord revealed that progress had been made in negotiations that had enabled the unions to call off further action.

Crossrail Project: Elizabeth Line - In pictures

Queen Elizabeth holds a commemorative plaque given to her by Crossrail workers after she formally unveiled the new roundel for the Crossrail line which is still under construction in London (Feb 2016) (Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth holds a commemorative plaque given to her by Crossrail workers after she formally unveiled the new roundel for the Crossrail line which is still under construction in London (Feb 2016) (Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
TBM Elizabeth lowered into main shaft (October 2012) (Crossrail Project)
TBM Elizabeth lowered into main shaft (October 2012) (Crossrail Project)
TBM Elizabeth break through in to Liverpool Street (January 2015) (Crossrail Project)
TBM Elizabeth break through in to Liverpool Street (January 2015) (Crossrail Project)
Crossrail Art: Simon Periton’s Spectre at Farringdon eastern ticket hall (May 2018) (Crossrail Project)
Crossrail Art: Simon Periton’s Spectre at Farringdon eastern ticket hall (May 2018) (Crossrail Project)
Elizabeth line test train passes through Custom House station (April 2018) (Crossrail Project)
Elizabeth line test train passes through Custom House station (April 2018) (Crossrail Project)
Prime Minister Tony Blair sits next to Mayor of London Ken Livingstone at the start of the Crossrail Committee meeting, at 10 Downing Street, London (March 2007) (PA)
Prime Minister Tony Blair sits next to Mayor of London Ken Livingstone at the start of the Crossrail Committee meeting, at 10 Downing Street, London (March 2007) (PA)
Crossrail Executive Chairman Douglas Oakervee, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and Secretary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly look at a model of a new Crorssrail carriage in central London (October 2007) (PA)
Crossrail Executive Chairman Douglas Oakervee, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and Secretary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly look at a model of a new Crorssrail carriage in central London (October 2007) (PA)
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson stands on a balcony overlooking the Crossrail construction site at Tottenham Court Road tube station (October 2009) (Getty Images)
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson stands on a balcony overlooking the Crossrail construction site at Tottenham Court Road tube station (October 2009) (Getty Images)
TBM Phyllis breaks ground at Royal Oak Portal (May 2012) (Crossrail Project)
TBM Phyllis breaks ground at Royal Oak Portal (May 2012) (Crossrail Project)
Plumstead (January 2013) (Crossrail Project)
Plumstead (January 2013) (Crossrail Project)
Construction of tunnels at new Crossrail Bond Street (March 2013) (Crossrail Project)
Construction of tunnels at new Crossrail Bond Street (March 2013) (Crossrail Project)

The line has become the best-used railway in the country, carrying about 600,000 passengers on weekdays. Yesterday it hit the milestone of 100m journeys, little over eight months since it started running under central London.

Mr Lord said that TfL had been unable to increase “base” rates of pay for Elizabeth line managers. But a “benchmarking” review of roles at Rail for London Infrastructure, the TfL subsidiary that oversees the line, could lead to staff being moved onto higher pay bands.

The TSSA union said it had agreed to suspend action for a month while discussions continued. TSSA organiser Mel Taylor said the negotiations were “significant and serious” and added: “The progress made since the strike just goes to show the power of our collective action, and in the days since we have seen more people becoming members of our TSSA family.

“The company should take note however, that we reserve the right to reissue our notice to take action at any time with 14 days’ notice.”

Action by Aslef, which is seeking a pay deal that recognises the cost of living crisis, will affect 14 train firms on Friday. No services are expected to run on Southeastern, Thameslink and Southern, all key commuter routes.

This morning about one in seven trains across the UK rail network was late, very late (delayed by more than 30 minutes) or cancelled, according to the trains.im website. Network Rail expected about 80 to 85 per cent of trains to run.

TfL has announced a two-year pay deal worth 8.8 per cent for white collar staff - four per cent for 2022 and 4.4 per cent for this year. This excludes London Underground staf, who received an eight per cent rise last April.

Mr Lord said the offer, which is being implemented despite not all unions having agreed, was “reasonable” in the context of TfL’s post-pandemic financial challenges.

Fiona Brunskill, interim chief people officer at TfL, said: “While the offer did not receive unanimous support, it has been agreed by two of our workplace unions.

“The amount we can offer for pay increases has been a key talking point throughout.

“We’re aware some colleagues would have liked to see this offer increased further, but unfortunately this was the best offer we could make to comply with our funding deal and the attached financial sustainability commitments.”