Victoria Coach Station rammed as rail network shuts down due to strike

Getting around the capital today meant many of us Londoners had to opt for a plan B. Due to a simultaneous rail and Tube strike, most National Rail services have been running a heavily reduced service (just 1 in 5 trains across the country) and eight Tube lines have been entirely suspended. Data from London’s remaining transport operators which has been obtained by MyLondon shows that there were three modes of transport which seemingly took on all of our displaced journeys: buses, coaches and active travel (walking/cycling etc).

On London’s buses, passenger numbers are up seven per cent so far on last Tuesday, at 1.42million journeys (around 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, so there does seem to be a long-lasting working from home effect). The bus network is currently bearing the brunt of north-south journeys across Zone 1 as Thameslink is not operating between St Pancras International and London Bridge, although east-west there is still a good service on the automated DLR and riverbuses as well as a reduced service on the Elizabeth line.

Transport for London (TfL) has also confirmed for its Santander Cycles shared bike scheme, hire numbers are up 46 per cent from yesterday alone. There were 16,831 hires between midnight and 10.45am this morning, compared to 11,491 hires yesterday. Daily rentals are up 132 per cent this year so far, with the bikes storming in popularity in Zones 1 and 2 where much of the train service is disrupted. Since the bike hire scheme’s inception in 2010, strike days have seen peaks in rentals with one strike in 2015 seeing a record 73,094.

READ MORE : Live updates from MyLondon reporters across the capital on this week’s strike action

One of the biggest ‘winners’, if any, today are London’s coach operators. As most of the rail lines out of the capital are shutting down from around 5pm, with some last trains to destinations such as the North, Scotland and the Westcountry as early as 1.30pm, Londoners heading out on summer staycations as well as others attending unmissable afternoon events all flocked to Victoria Coach Station.

There, both departure halls have been full all afternoon, with some journeys running duplicate coaches in order to cope with the extra demand. Megabus, National Express and Flixbus are all seeing surges in bookings, with the latter confirming a 61 per cent jump in demand in journeys to and from London since the rail strikes were announced. Flixbus UK managing director Andreas Schorling explained: “We’re proud to be able to support customers with more coach services than usual during the week of the rail strikes. We are committed to ensuring that travellers who have been let down are still able to get around.”

Passengers Chris and Louise Morgan (pictured), from Liverpool, said: “We had a great trip to London but are catching the Flixbus back to Liverpool because of the rail strikes. We would have gone with Avanti but they were uncertain and this turned out to be considerably cheaper. Now we’re here our coach is 30 mins delayed and it’s really busy but at least we’ll get back.”

Kim Grais, from London who is travelling to Leeds, said: “I booked my rail ticket in advance and it was cheaper but now I’m having to take the Flixbus. For what it’s worth, I support the strike though. This corrupt government is just screwing over the workers and it’s got to stop!”

With over 40,000 railway workers walking out across the country today in the first of a three-day (June 21, 23, 25) walkout by the RMT union over pay, conditions and a breakdown in industrial relations, these alternative travel patterns look set to last all week. Disruption has been announced by railway operators until June 26. Today’s simultaneous Tube strike disruption should come to a pause tomorrow at around 8am, although as the RMT has a six month mandate off its original ballot further action is likely to be announced. That’s unless TfL is given a funding deal by the government within the current June 24 deadline which allays the union’s concerns over pension reforms and 600 station roles being removed.

We’ve created a Facebook group for people who travel on London’s bus, rail, Underground, Overground and DLR services.

We will keep you informed about the latest news that affects your daily commute to work, as well as at the weekend.

We’ll also let you know in advance if there are any roadworks, railworks or closures you should know about, or if there are any problems on the city’s tube network.

Join the group here.

Have you taken an alternative route to get around the capital today? Tell us in the comments below!

Follow our Transport Editor Callum Marius on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok @callummarius.