Hopes that a strike on the Docklands Light Railway would be called off to avoid disruption to travel to and from World Travel Market (WTM) have been dashed.
Rail union the RMT confirmed that the 48-hour industrial action on the DLR would go ahead from today (Tuesday) after last-ditch talks failed to make any progress.
Staff across all grades on Keolis Amey DLR will strike over the two days, affecting transportation to WTM venue ExCel in London Dockands.
RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, said:? “RMT negotiators have made every effort over the past 72 hours to resolve this dispute through negotiation but due to the sheer intransigence of the management the DLR will now face its first ever all-out strike action in the 28-year history of the railway.”
WTM organisers have highlighted alternative methods of public transport to get to the show on Tuesday and Wednesday.
These include using the London Underground to Canning Town Station where a regular transfer service to ExCeL will be running.
Transport for London will operate an enhanced bus service on routes serving ExCeL. The 325 and 541 routes serve both Custom House Station (West Entrance) and Prince Regent Station (East Entrance) of ExCeL from Canning Town Station.
Prince Regent Station is also served by the 147, 300 and 473 bus routes from Canning Town Station. ??
Canning Town Station is a 10 to 15-minute walk to ExCeL, and a signposted walkway with staff also directing the journey will be in place. ??
Alternative routes to ExCeL include taking the Jubilee line and getting off at North Greenwich to use the Emirates Airline cable car to ExCeL. The cable car will be free of charge on the two days of the strike. ??
Thames Clippers is also running a river boat service from central London to the O2 arena, where delegates can then take the Emirates Airline cable car to ExCeL. ?
The DLR said: “It is unlikely that any Docklands Light Railway services will operate on these days [Tuesday and Wednesday]. Services will be disrupted on the morning of Thursday 5 November.”
Limited services will begin at the start of Thursday – the final day of WTM – with a full service not due to be in operation until late morning.
The company warned that Jubilee, Central, District, Hammersmith & City and London overground line services in east London are expected to be much busier than usual.
Stations with a DLR interchange will also be busier than usual. In particular, Canning Town, Bank, Stratford, Canary Wharf and Canada Water stations will be especially busy.