London transport news LIVE: Train strike to cause travel chaos as Aslef driver walkout to begin

Commuters are bracing for a day of travel chaos with a fresh full-scale walkout set to decimate services on several train lines on Tuesday.

Six train operators will be badly affected by the strike by drivers who are members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef) union.

These are Gatwick Express, Great Northern, South Western Railway (including Island Line), Southeastern, Southern and Thameslink. Most lines are running “very limited services”, while some have advised passengers not to travel unless absolutely necessary and others are not running at all.

The Aslef’s walkout - marking the start over a rolling programme of strikes over the next week - comes as a nine-day Aslef overtime ban kicked in on Monday, causing operators to run a reduced service.

Separately, a motorcyclist died after colliding with a Range Rover that was being pursued by police on the A3 in Roehampton, south-west London, causing severe disruption.

Just a few hours later, a pedestrian lost their life after a bus crashed into a shelter at Victoria station. The driver was taken to hospital but the extent of their injuries has not been revealed.

Key Points

• Aslef overtime ban hits rail network

• Commuters brace for more travel chaos as rolling train strikes begin from Tuesday

• Tube passengers face more delays on the Central Line amid shortage of trains

• Crash on A3 in Roehampton closes busy west London route for more than seven hours

Good morning

Monday 29 January 2024 07:03 , Jordan King

Hello and welcome to The Standard's coverage of London travel.

Today is the first day of a nine-day overtime ban called by the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef), meaning its members will refuse to work outside of their contractual hours.

Although this will have less disruption than a full walkout, Aslef says no train operator "employs enough drivers to provide the service they promise passengers and businesses they will deliver without asking drivers to work their days off".

What train operators are being hit with an overtime ban today?

Monday 29 January 2024 07:14 , Jordan King

The following operators will be affected by industrial action from today until February 6:

• South Western Railway (including Island Line)

• Southeastern

• Southern

• Northern

• TransPennine Express

• c2c

• Great Northern

• LNERAvanti West Coast

• East Midlands Railway

• West Midlands Railway

• Chiltern Railways

• CrossCountry

• Great Western Railway

How will the overtime ban affect the Gatwick Express?

Monday 29 January 2024 07:26 , Jordan King

Gatwick Express services will not be running between today and February 2 (Friday) or February 5 and 6 (Monday and Tuesday).

A normal Gatwick Express service will operate on February 3 and 4 (Saturday and Sunday).

You can get to the airport using Southern/Thameslink alternatives, but make sure to check their amended timetables.

Today's Southern services running to or from London Victoria:

Monday 29 January 2024 07:29 , Jordan King

Check Southern's amended timetable for the most up-to-date information.

• Brighton – two trains per hour

• Eastbourne / Ore – one train per hour

• Portsmouth / Bognor Regis via Horsham – one train per hour

• Littlehampton via Preston Park– one train per hour

• East Grinstead – one train per hour (two trains per hour in peak)

• Dorking – one train per hour

• Horsham via Dorking – one train per hour

• West Croydon via Crystal Palace – two trains per hour (peak only)

• Epsom Downs via Selhurst – two trains per hour

• London Bridge – two trains per hour

Today's Southern services running to or from London Bridge:

Monday 29 January 2024 07:30 , Jordan King

Check Southern's amended timetable for the most up-to-date information.

• Uckfield – one service in the morning peak, one in the evening peak

• Caterham – one train per hour

• Tattenham Corner – one train per hour

• East Croydon via Tulse Hill & Selhurst – two trains per hour

• Beckenham Junction via Tulse Hill – two trains per hour (peak only)

Today's Thameslink services:

Monday 29 January 2024 07:32 , Jordan King

Check Thameslink's amedned timetable for the most up-to-date information:

• Peterborough and Horsham via Redhill – one train per hour

• Cambridge and Three Bridges via Redhill – one train per hour

• Bedford and Brighton – two trains per hour

• London Blackfriars and Sutton via Wimbledon – two trains per hour

• St Albans City and Sutton via Mitcham Eastfields – two trains per hour

• Luton and Rainham – one train per hour

• London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks – two trains per hour

Today's Great Northern services:

Monday 29 January 2024 07:34 , Jordan King

The Great Northern's website is currently unavailable, but you can check National Rail for its amended timetable.

• London King’s Cross and King’s Lynn – one train per hour, rising to two trains per hour during peak

• London King’s Cross and Peterborough – one train per hour (peak only)

• London King’s Cross and Cambridge – one train per hour

• Moorgate and Welwyn Garden City – two trains per hour

• Moorgate and Stevenage via Hertford North – two trains per hour

Aslef train strikes begin tomorrow

Monday 29 January 2024 07:42 , Jordan King

Train drivers who are members of Aslef will will stop work region-by-region from tomorrow until February 5 (Monday).

Tomorrow's strikes will affect:

• Gatwick Express

• Great Northern

• South Western Railway (including Island Line)

• Southeastern

• Southern

• Thameslink

How will tomorrow's strikes affect you?

Monday 29 January 2024 07:44 , Jordan King

No Southern, Gatwick Express, Thameslink or Great Northern services will be running tomorrow.

There will be a "very limited shuttle service" on the following routes:

• Southern shuttle service calling at Gatwick Airport and London Victoria only

• Thameslink shuttle service calling at London St Pancras International, Luton Airport Parkway and Luton only

• Thameslink shuttle service calling at London Kings Cross and Cambridge only

Central Line severely delayed again

Monday 29 January 2024 07:51 , Jordan King

The Central Line is severely delayed, again, because of a shortage of trains.

London's busiest line is suffering a chronic shortage, which has been operating at times with barely half of the 78 trains required to run a peak service.

Read more about the chaos surrounding the Central Line here.

Drivers should avoid part of the A3

Monday 29 January 2024 07:57 , Jordan King

Kingston Police has advised drivers to avoid the A3 in both directions between Robin Hood Way and Roehampton Lane due to a major collision which has caused long delays.

Buses have been affected by the crash, with the 85 and 265 diverted.

Congestion to Malden Junction, and heavy traffic with people trying to find alternate routes through Kingston towards Richmond and Raynes Park and Wimbledon towards Putney.The road has reportedly been closed for more than seven hours, after the incident which took place just after midnight.

It was reopened southbound at around 7.30am, according to traffic monitoring system Inrix.

Disruption to Chiltern Railways services

Monday 29 January 2024 08:18 , Jordan King

Chiltern Railways has told customers to check before they travel, after a track circuit fault outside London Marylebone.

You can check here.

Kentish Town Underground Station closed

Monday 29 January 2024 08:28 , Jordan King

The station will be closed until mid 2024 while escalators are replaced.

The National Rail (Thameslink) station remains open.

Disruption at Vauxhall

Monday 29 January 2024 08:34 , Jordan King

This morning has seen disruption through Vauxhall train station - because of a train fault.

All lines towards Clapham juntion have now reopened but disruption on other lines is expected until 11am.

Follow National Rail's live tweets about it here.

Great Portland Street Underground Station has re-opened.

Monday 29 January 2024 08:38 , Jordan King

Great Portland Street was closed because of the temporary unavailability of station staff, but it has reopened as of an hour ago.

Motorcyclist killed by Range Rover in A3 crash

Monday 29 January 2024 09:17 , Jordan King

A rider died after he was hit by a Range Rover that police were chasing along the A3 dual carriageway in south-west London.

It is understood that the pursuit began after a Range Rover failed to stop for police. The 4X4 then smashed into a motorbike and overturned.An independent investigation has been launched into the fatal crash near Putney Heath.

Northbound traffic on the A3 being rerouted

Monday 29 January 2024 09:35 , Jordan King

Drivers travelling northbound on the A3 are being rerouted.

The major road was already reopened southbound at around 7.30am.

Reports emerging that a bus has crashed into a shelter at Victoria Bus Station

Monday 29 January 2024 09:38 , Jordan King

Social media reports have shown a number 13 bus supposedly crashed into a bus shelter at Victoria Bus Station.

Pedestrian hit by London bus at Victoria Station

Monday 29 January 2024 09:44 , Jordan King

Police said a pedestrian was hit by a bus at Victoria Station.

The incident happened on Monday morning as an image on social media appeared to show serious damage to a bus stop.

This is a breaking story, stay with us as we keep you updated.

Cricle Line no longer delayed

Monday 29 January 2024 09:46 , Jordan King

The Circle Line was facing minor delays but has now returned to good service.

Footage shows emergency services surrounding crashed bus at Victoria station

Monday 29 January 2024 10:21 , Jordan King

Free early travel for over-60s

Monday 29 January 2024 10:36 , Jordan King

Older Londoners will be able to travel for free early in the morning for the first time in four years as Sadiq Khan announced an expansion of his Friday off-peak fares initiative.

The mayor revealed on Sunday that he plans to scrap peak Tube and train fares in London on Fridays for three months in a bid to attract commuters back into workplaces and boost the night-time economy.

On Monday he said the 1.2million Londoners who have a 60+ Oyster or Freedom Pass will qualify for free travel throughout Fridays under the off-peak trial, which is due to start in March.

The trial is in addition to the mayor’s partial fares freeze that will leave all pay-as-you-go Tube and bus fares unchanged until March 2025 - though Travelcards and the “cap” on the total cost of multiple pay-as-you go journeys will increase by about five per cent.

Read more here.

Some of Euston's last trains will not run tonight

Monday 29 January 2024 10:41 , Jordan King

If you usually get the last London Northwestern Railway to or from Euston, you will have to get an earlier train or opt for rail replacement buses.

Today is the last day of the Great British Rail Sale

Monday 29 January 2024 10:47 , Jordan King

You have up until midnight to grab any rail deals, with more than a million train tickets discounted by up to 50%.

Cheaper Advance and Off-Peak tickets have been available to buy since January 23.

Tickets include journeys across England and Wales – and cross-border trips into Scotland – between January 30 and March 15.

Read more here.

Driver of bus involved in accident taken to hospital

Monday 29 January 2024 11:41 , Jordan King

In an update on the Victoria bus station accident, the police revealed that the driver was taken to hospital.

The extent of their injuries is not yet known.

Read more here.

Victoria bus station is closed

Monday 29 January 2024 11:43 , Jordan King

Victoria's bus station is closed, after an accident left a pedestrian dead.

The rail station is unaffected.

London mayor Sadiq Khan pays tribute to family of pedestrian who died after a bus crash

Monday 29 January 2024 12:05 , Jordan King

Mr Khan said: "I've been told about the tragic news that a pedestrian has lost their life as a consequence of an accident.

"My thoughts are with the bereaved family, it's really important that we allow them to be informed first about this tragedy.

"There is a full investigation under way.

"I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say our thoughts and prayers are with this person's family."

Read more here.

Central Line delays now minor

Monday 29 January 2024 13:39 , Jordan King

Delays to the Central Line have been changed from major to minor. The Elizabeth Line and the DLR are still facing minor delays as well.

Disruption to Southern trains in Streatham area

Monday 29 January 2024 13:55 , Jordan King

Delays of around 15-20 minutes are also possible in the Streatham area.

Southern trains going in the direction of East Croydon are facing "may be subject to short notice alterations so may terminate and restart at a different station to normal".

Central Line severely delayed again

Monday 29 January 2024 15:39 , Jordan King

Although the Central Line was facing minor delays earlier, it is now facing severe delays again.

Minor delays between Blackfriars and St Pancras

Monday 29 January 2024 17:10 , Josh Salisbury

Commuters are experiencing minor delays on trains running between Blackfriars and St Pancras International, due to a fault on a train.

Thameslink said the train caused the line to be blocked northbound, although it has since been moved.

A spokesperson said: "The faulty train has now moved and services are running as planned in both directions at London Blackfriars.

"Services may still face minor delays into the evening as we recover the services to be back on time however these will be no longer than 15 minutes."

Minor delays on DLR at Bank

Monday 29 January 2024 17:46 , Josh Salisbury

There are minor delays on the DLR between between Canning Town and Bank due to fix a track fault at Bank.

However, other DLR routes are not affected.

Trains at Waterloo disrupted for up to 20 minutes

Monday 29 January 2024 18:33 , Josh Salisbury

Some train services at Waterloo may be disrupted by up to 20 minutes until 8pm, commuters have been warned.

A National Rail spokesperson said: "We were informed of a fault on a train at London Waterloo earlier today, this meant that some services were delayed whilst waiting for alternative platforms.

"Engineers have attended to the fault and the incident has been resolved but some services may still be subject to delays or alterations whilst we return to normal."

The affected routes are: London Waterloo and Shepperton / Windsor & Eton Riverside / Hampton Court / Chessington South / Reading / Basingstoke / Alton / Guildford / Dorking / Fareham / Exeter St Davids / Portsmouth Harbour and Bournemouth

Engineering works near East Croydon

Monday 29 January 2024 20:38 , Josh Salisbury

Planned engineering works will affect some services running between London Victoria and Oxted this evening.

Engineering work is taking place between East Croydon and Oxted, closing all lines on Monday to Thursday evenings.

As a result, the 23:53 London Victoria to Oxted service will terminate at East Croydon, said Southern Rail.

A replacement bus will run from East Croydon to Oxted.

Live coverage ends

Monday 29 January 2024 21:03 , Josh Salisbury

We are now wrapping up over live coverage of today's transport disruption.

We will be back to cover Tuesday's Aslef walkout, which is set to bring widespread disruption across six train operating companies.