Helen Hoddinott
Journalist

Unfortunately it has not calmed down here at Paddington and in the last half an hour or so it has started raining again.

For all those people arriving in to London on trains - which all seem to be arriving and departing on time - they come up to the concourse and are greeted by the big locked gates of the Tube gates.

They then head to the bus stops and this is where the pavements are crammed with people trying to get on a bus to carry on their journey.

The buses are full and passengers are stumped at what to do.

Let's not forget today is also the day that TfL's fares went up across the network. People who are getting on the buses are paying an extra 10p to get on board.

Passengers out here have been waiting for hours, they can't get Ubers and can't get to their destination.

There is also a range of opinions here outside Paddington.

I've spoken to people who are understanding of the RMT union's cause, others who are now using a London bus for the first time ever and a many who feels totally inconvenienced by it all.

Harry Low
BBC London News

As the afternoon wears on, attention turns to the evening commute.

Elaine David, who has worked at Southwark Cathedral Cafe for the last 10 years, travelled by bus from Wood Green.

The 60-year-old had to leave before sunrise this morning to be here by 08:00 GMT.

She says: "It took me about an hour and 10 minutes by bus once I got through the queues to get onto the bus. I was one of the lucky ones."

Does she have high hopes for the journey back to west London after her 10 hour shift ends?

"I'm dreading it because I know it's going to take over two hours to get home which is a long wait to go home after a long day," she adds.

"I do have sympathy for the strike [action] but they also have to consider people like me who have no choice but to travel into work."

Thomas Mackintosh
BBC London News

Image source, PA Media

More on what we said earlier at 15:37 GMT - that more strike action was on the way.

The RMT union's John Leach confirmed to BBC London there had been no negotiations today.

Mr Leach said: "What there has been today is an absolute display of complete and total solidarity and determination by London Underground staff and members of the RMT who will not take this attack on their pensions, jobs and terms and conditions lying down.

"The mayor’s announcements [today] have said nothing about addressing the issues in my opinion so we will continue."

Sarah Lee
BBC London

More on the chaos for commuters around Paddington.

Buses are too full to pick up passengers at the station this afternoon.

The 205 services were particularly crammed, with passengers squished together like sardines, misting up the windows.

People are standing on the pavements in the pouring rain, sighing with disappointment as not one bus stopped to pick up more passengers.

One lady at the bus stop told me she’d been hopping on random buses in the hope she gets at least near her home in Willesden.

What is also noticeable is that a lot of passengers have loads of luggage.

Taxis have been hard to come by. If you can get one, Uber is currently charting £35 to go from Paddington to King's Cross!

BBC London's transport correspondent Tom Edwards has just had a chat with the RMT union's regional organiser John Leach.

He's warned that "more strikes are on the way" adding that his 10,000 members are "in it for the long haul".

More on this shortly and on tonight's bulletin on BBC One at 19:00 GMT.

Thomas Mackintosh
BBC London News

Image source, PA Media

Rail firm Greater Anglia has urged London commuters that they should work from home on Thursday.

The RMT union is planning similar strike action on Thursday - it will likely close the majority of the Tube network again.

Greater Anglia, which runs trains out of Liverpool Street between Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford and Southend, has tweeted a warning about the disruption.

Helen Hoddinott
Journalist

Image source, PA Media

I've moved from Finsbury Park to Paddington station in west London.

It was fine getting the train to King's Cross but then I was part of these crushes of people trying to crowd onto buses.

By the time I got one to Paddington, it was absolutely full to the rafters.

Getting off and walking up to the station, I could see that the pavements were chock-a-block with people waiting for buses, who had just arrived in central London.

Many have been waiting for hours, they can't get Ubers and really don't know what to do.

Usually they would pop down the stairs and jump on a Tube for a short journey, but the metal gates are completely shut across the Tube entrance.

So people are having to spill out onto the streets to find out what they are going to do next.

Thomas Mackintosh
BBC London News

Image source, PA Media

For those planning their journey home, here is the latest information about which services are currently running:

• Central Line - operating between White City and Ealing Broadway / West Ruislip, Liverpool Street and Loughton and between Newbury Park and Leytonstone via Woodford
• District Line - operating between Upminster and West Ham and between High Street Kensington and Wimbledon
• Northern Line - operating between East Finchley and High Barnet / Mill Hill East and between Edgware and Golders Green
• Piccadilly Line - operating between Acton Town and Hounslow Central
• DLR - No service between Shadwell and Bank. Lewisham services are terminating at Shadwell
• TfL Rail and Tram services are operating normally
• London Overground is running a reduced service

Thomas Mackintosh
BBC London News

Image source, PA Media

Safe to say businesses in London are not happy with the Tube strike today.

Richard Burge, chief executive of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the industrial action was "hindering" London's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

He said: “Tube strikes are a lose-lose situation and have a knock-on effect, discouraging people from coming to London for work or leisure which reduces footfall and in turn means that London businesses suffer.

“It is shameful that the RMT continue to consider strikes as a legitimate weapon to force a desired resolution.”

A string of Labour MPs have come out in support of the 10,000 RMT members on strike across London today.

They include Ian Lavery - the former Shadow Minister for Trade Unions and Civil Society - and Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy who tweeted her support.

It's cold, wet and gloomy at Charing Cross - and the outlook isn't much better for Tube passengers.

Jamie Moreland
BBC London

Harry Low
BBC London News

One small upside of the strike comes for these workmen here at London Bridge Tube station who are able to carry out their maintenance during the day-time.

Here, they're connecting the electricity to an advertising hoarding, work which would usually be carried out overnight when there are no passengers.

Thomas Mackintosh
BBC London News

The collapse in passenger numbers during the coronavirus pandemic has torpedoed Transport for London's (TfL) finances and since May 2020 it has required three government bailouts to keep services running.

TfL managing director Andy Lord said the pandemic meant TfL had had to adapt to new ways of working.

He said: "Our finances have been decimated as a result of the pandemic, our ridership has fallen hugely and we need to find more ways to be efficient.

"We have reached an agreement with the trade unions which is a more efficient way of running the rosters and actually meets the needs of our train operators."

TfL documents show London, external is one of the only cities in the world that does not receive government funding to support the operating costs of its transport network - in comparison, fares on the Paris Metro make up only 38% of its income.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has expressed frustration at the Tube strike.

Thomas Mackintosh
BBC London News

Image source, PA Media

It's proving to be an expensive day for anyone travelling to Heathrow Airport.

The five terminals in west London are served by the Piccadilly Line, which is shut due to the action.

Heathrow Airport warned passengers to take alternative routes to and from Paddington.

But, services are more expensive: TfL Rail's train to Paddington costs £11.60, while the fare for the Heathrow Express is £25.

By contrast, a single Tube fare to central London at peak time is £5.50.

Here are the headlines of what has been happening this morning with the Tube strikes:

• Nearly all Tube services currently suspended due to a 24-hour strike
• As of 14.00 GMT, some sections of the Piccadilly, Central, District and Northern lines operating reduced services, closed elsewhere
• About 10,000 London Underground workers from the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union went on strike at midnight
• The walkout is over changes to jobs and pensions, with unions concerned spending cuts could lead to hundreds of job losses and reductions in pensions and working conditions
• Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has told the BBC the ongoing pension review forms part of the conditions attached to Transport for London's (TfL) recent government bailout deal
• TfL Rail and tram services are operating normally
• London Overground is running a reduced service
• The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has no service between Shadwell and Bank

• Road congestion around the capital was at its highest level of the year so far, according to location technology firm TomTom, as some commuters attempted to drive through the capital
• Disruption came on the same day as Tube and bus fares went up by an average of 4.8%
• Another 24-hour walkout will be held on Thursday, and there could be knock-on effects on services on Wednesday and Friday.

Thomas Mackintosh
BBC London News

To add to the financial challenges facing Transport for London (TfL) - it has been announced the authority is still seeking a new sponsor for its cable car.

Currently named The Emirates Air Line, it opened in time for the London Olympics, crossing the Thames as part of a major regeneration of both the Royal Docks and Greenwich Peninsula, linking the ExCeL London and The O2 arena.

TfL's 10-year sponsorship with Emirates will end in June.

Its tender process deadline for a new sponsor passed last Tuesday with no luck.

But, TfL's head of cable car said it was now using other market engagement methods and said it was in discussion with a number of parties.

Josh Crompton added: “The search for a new sponsor for cable is ongoing and we are continuing with market engagement for a new commercial partner who shares the ambition to build on its success and help maintain its position as one of the best things to do in London.

"We know our customers love the unique experience and the spectacular views the cable car offers, which is demonstrated by being highly rated on visitor attraction sites and consistently strong passengers numbers."

Harry Low
BBC London News

I spot a man in a baseball cap reading this sign at London Bridge Tube station.

It turns out Marek has missed his job interview as a chef due to the industrial action.

He had been planning to be at the pub in Moorgate in time for 12:30 GMT.

"I've made a phone call and there will be another interview tomorrow," he says.

Although the strike ends at 23:59 GMT, further disruption is expected on Wednesday.

"I will take the bus" he adds.

Harry Low
BBC London News

Annie's dash to the Tate Modern has been delayed.

"How do you get across there?" she asks me, having just stepped off a train. The gates at Embankment, like at most Tube stations today, are closed.

"It's a habit of years," she says before I direct her the long way round to the steps at the foot of the Golden Jubilee Bridge.