Tube strikes: Bakerloo line staff to stage two 24 hour walkouts next month over passenger safety

London Underground staff on the Bakerloo line are set to stage two separate walkouts next month over passenger safety.

Members of Aslef on the Bakerloo line will walk out on February 4 and 11 after voting in favour of industrial action.

The union objects to a plan by management to allow trains to go into sidings and depots without a check to ensure that passengers have left the train.

Aslef has dubbed the proposal as ‘flash and dash’ as passengers would have to depend on hearing unreliable public address announcements on trains to avoid being taken into depots and sidings.

Finn Brennan, ASLEF’s organiser on the Underground, said: ‘This puts both passengers and staff at risk. Previous experience had shown that removing physical checks means that thousands of passengers are unwittingly taken into sidings or depots.

‘We understand the pressure that London Underground is under to cut costs. But this cannot be at the expense of the safety of passengers and staff.’

A Transport for London (TfL) spokesperson said: “The safety of staff and customers is our number one priority and we have never compromised on safety and never will.

“No one wants to see strike action on the network, especially when we are trying to encourage commuters and visitors back into London.

“We will continue to work with ASLEF and urge them to call off this action.”

Strike action is already planned by Aslef members working for 15 rail companies across the country on February 1 and 3.