Christmas Tube passangers face strikes

Millions of commuters were expecting to hear today that they would face travel chaos on the Tube in the run-up to Christmas because of industrial action in a dispute over safety.

Thousands of London Underground workers have been voting on whether to go ahead with a strike as part of a protest by the Rail Maritime and Transport Union over safety levels.

The union wants all maintenance and renewals contracts to be put under the direct control of LU rather than being given to private companies.

The dispute flared after two Tube derailments in two days last month, one on the Piccadilly Line in Hammersmith and the other on the Northern Line at Camden Town.

More than 8,000 workers have been balloted and the results, announced by the union today, were expected to show overwhelming support for industrial action.

The union has warned that Tube drivers could be asked to reduce speeds as part of any industrial action, which could be followed by a series of one-day strikes.

It says the action would cause huge delays and substantial disruption to the underground, which is used by three million travellers every day.

A union spokesman said decisive action was needed because of a “sudden decline” in safety.

The union is calling for a return to daily inspection of all Tube tracks, speed restrictions where defects are discovered and a return to in-house maintenance work.