1.
TGV EMPTY RAILWAY LINES AT NORTHFIELDS DEPOT.
0.05

2.
LV STATIONARY TRAINS.
0.08

3.
SV STRIKE PICKETS OUTSIDE NEASDEN DEPOT
0.11

4.
LV PAN..STATIONARY TRAINS.
0.15

5.
ANGLE V PAN..DOWN....CLOSED GATES OF OXFORD CIRCUS STATION.
0.18

6.
CU GATES.
0.21

7.
LV S. WIMBLEDON STATION DESERTED
0.24

8.
CU SIGN OUTSIDE "NO TRAIN SERVICE TODAY".
0.28

9.
ANGLE V PAN DOWN..CLOSED GATES AT NORTHFIELDS STATION.
0.32

10.
LV PEOPLE QUEUE FOR BUSES.
0.37

11.
LV TRAFFIC JAM.
0.39

12.
CU CAR IN JAM (NO DRIVER).
0.42

13.
TGV PAN..MASSED TRAFFIC
0.49

14.
GV PAN..MASSED CARS PARKED IN HORSE GUARDS PARADE.
1.00

15.
CU SIGN "NO PARKING".
1.03

16.
LV CARS DOUBLE PARKED IN THE MALL.
1.07

17.
SCU DITTO. BUCKINGHAM PALACE IN B/G.
1.10

18.
SV CAR PARKED BY TREE IN HYDE PARK.
1.14

19.
SV OLD CAR PARKED.
1.15

20.
LV PEOPLE QUEUE FOR TRAIN AT MORDEN STATION.
1.19

21.
LV QUEUE
1.23

22.
SV PAN..DITTO
1.29

23.
LV PAN..MASSED CARS ON MOVE PAN TO OVERTURNED TRUCK AT CHISWICK.
1.38

24.
LV TRUCK ON ITS SIDE
1.42

25.
SV DITTO.
1.46

26.
SV TRACK IN..DRIVER'S CABIN
1.52

27.
SV PAN..UNDERSIDE ON TRUCK.
1.56

28.
SV MEN WATCH
1.59

29.
LV CRANE BOISTS TRUCK UPRIGHT
2.14

30.
LV TRAFFIC CONTINUES INTO LONDON
2.19



Initials KB/V/MR/PB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MORE THAN 1,000,000 LONDONERS STRUGGLED TO WORK THE BEST WAY THEY COULD, USUALLY AMIDST CHAOTIC TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, WHEN A STRIKE PUT MOST OF THE CITY'S RAILWAY SYSTEM OUT OF ACTION FOR 24 HOURS ON JANUARY 29TH.

LESS THAN ONE-FIFTH OF LONDON'S RUSH-HOUR TUBE TRAINS WERE RUNNING, WHILE IN KENT RAIL SERVICES WERE DISRUPTED BY A WORK-TO-RULE CAMPAIGN.FORTUNATELY FOR THE HARASSED TRAVELLERS A BUS STRIKE COLLAPSED THE NIGHT BEFORE, BUT SCHEDULES WERE THROWN INTO CONFUSION BY THE SHARP INCREASE IN PASSENGERS.LONG QUEUES FORMED AT EVERY STOP.

THE STRIKE, BASED ON A WAGE DISPUTE, CAME TO A HEAD AFTER RAILWAYMEN ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF INTERFERENCE WHEN IT SUGGESTED THE UNION CLAIMS SHOULD BE REFERRED TO ARBITRATION.UNION LEADERS ADVISED THEIR MEMBERS NOT TO CARRY OUT THE STRIKE, BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS.

MANY WORKERS TOOK TO THE ROADS IN PRIVATE CARS AND TRAFFIC JAMES - SOME OF THEM UP TO SIX MILES LONG - ADDED TO THE CONFUSION.AS A SLIGHT COMPENSATION TO HARASSED MOTORISTS PARKING METERS WERE SUSPENDED IN CENTRAL LONDON AND CARS WERE ALLOWED IN THE ROYAL PARKS.ACCIDENTS IN THICK TRAFFIC CAUSED EVEN FURTHER DELAYS.AT CHISWICK A TANKER CARRYING BUTANE GAS CRASHED AND OVERTURNED, BANKING UP CARS FOR MILES.

SOME INDEPENDENT LONDONERS HITCH-HIKED OR RODE TO WORK ON BICYCLES WHILE THE REMAINDER, FINDING WHAT PUBLIC TRANSPORT THERE WAS HOPELESSLY OVERCROWDED, RESIGNED THEMSELVES TO THE INEVITABLE - AND WALKED.