Trafalgar Square during strike
A Metropolitan Police skycopter photo of London's traffic chaos Met Police

While London Underground services ground to a halt yesterday, the capital's roads were swamped with more vehicles.

A photo released by the Metropolitan Police shows Trafalgar Square illuminated by vehicles' headlamps from long tailbacks during rush hour as millions of tube passengers were forced to find another way home during the first day of industrial action.

The ariel view shows The Mall and Strand rammed with traffic and buses after only 30% of underground tube services were up and running.

Dominic Gover
This photo of crowds at Stratford station taken by IBTimesUK's Dominic Gover Dominic Gover

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) and The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) unions are into the second day of a 48-hour strike, which is due to end at 9pm on Friday.

Talks are said to commence on Friday about ending the dispute, which is over Transport for London's proposal to cut 950 jobs on the London Underground and close ticket offices.

RMT leader Bob Crow has said despite the strike he retained the full support of union members, even though Prime Minister David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson condemned the walk-out.

How is your service affected?

  • Bakerloo Line - Some trains running between Queen's Park and Elephant & Castle
  • Central Line and Piccadilly Line - Trains running, with no service operating through the central areas
  • District Line, Circle Line, Metropolitan Line and Hammersmith & City Line - Some trains running, but not stopping at certain stations
  • Jubilee Line - Trains running between Stanmore and Finchley Road and between Waterloo and Stratford
  • Northern Line - Trains running every five minutes
  • Victoria Line - Trains running between Seven Sisters and Victoria