Londoners face huge commuter headache as subway workers go on strike

September 17th, 2009 Londoners miffed after Tube map ditches ThamesLONDON — London's subway bosses have erased the River Thames. Mayor Boris Johnson on Thursday joined a chorus of disapproval at a new version of the London Underground map that does not show the river, which divides north and south London.

August 25th, 2009 SF Bay area rail union voting on contractSAN FRANCISCO — Members of a commuter rail union in the San Francisco Bay area are voting on a new contract aimed at averting a strike. Union president Jesse Hunt says he's confident the Bay Area Rapid Transit agency's train operators and station agents will ratify the agreement.

August 19th, 2009 South African taxis to strike over bus systemJOHANNESBURG — The entrepreneurs who move commuters around Johannesburg are threatening to strike next month to protest a new public bus system. The South African National Taxi Drivers Council said Wednesday its indefinite strike will start Sept.

August 16th, 2009 Negotiations on between SF rail union, managementOAKLAND, Calif. — Talks aimed at averting a commuter rail strike in the San Francisco Bay Area are ongoing, with negotiators intent on hammering out a deal before Monday's commute.

August 15th, 2009 SF rail union, management to resume negotiationsOAKLAND, Calif. — The San Francisco Bay area's commuter rail system and the union representing its station agents and train operators are resuming negotiations to try to avert a strike Monday.

August 14th, 2009 Bay area's commuter rail system union plans strikeOAKLAND, Calif. — The union representing train operators and station agents for the San Francisco Bay area's commuter rail system says it's planning go on strike at the close of business Sunday.

June 23rd, 2009 Obama offers prayers for victims of commuter crashWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says the thoughts and prayers of the first family go out to the victims of the commuter train crash in Washington, D.C., that killed six people and injured scores of others. Obama issued a statement Monday night thanking rescue personnel who helped to save lives.

June 23rd, 2009 Recent commuter train accidents in the USRecent commuter train accidents in the United States: —June 4, 2009: A light rail train and a city bus collide in downtown Phoenix, slightly injuring several passengers. —May 8, 2009: A trolley rear-ends another trolley that is stopped between two underground stations in downtown Boston, injuring about 50 people.

June 23rd, 2009 NTSB eyeing subway standards in wake of accidentWASHINGTON — Past accidents on the Washington-area subway system raised concerns about the safety commuter trains that were not addressed, said a federal official investigating the cause of a deadly rush-hour crash that killed seven people Monday. "We know accidents are going to happen," but there must be a better system to prevent them said Debbie Hersman, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board.

June 23rd, 2009 Unions meeting with employers over refinery strikeLONDON — Union leaders met with construction bosses Tuesday in an effort to resolve an acrimonious industrial dispute that has led to walkouts across the British energy sector. The UNITE union said it was in talks with the companies contracted to work at Total's Lindsey Oil Refinery in northern England, where more than 600 workers were fired after staging unauthorized strikes over job losses.

June 23rd, 2009 Third recent subway or commuter rail hits big cityWASHINGTON — For the third time in nine months, a major subway or commuter rail crash occurred in a big city. Until last September, rail systems — much like their airline counterparts — were cruising with far fewer accidents than in previous years and decades.

June 23rd, 2009 NTSB: past subway train accidents raised concernsWASHINGTON — Past accidents on the Washington-area subway system raised concerns about the safety commuter trains that were not addressed, said a federal official investigating the cause of a deadly rush-hour crash that killed seven people Monday. "We know accidents are going to happen," but there must be a better system to prevent them said Debbie Hersman, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board.

June 12th, 2009 London subway strike ends; but disruption goes onLONDON — A two-day subway strike that delayed millions of Londoners' journeys into work ended Thursday evening as the two sides agreed to restart talks. Nine of 11 subway lines were fully or partly suspended because of the walkout by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union over pay, disciplinary issues and job losses.

June 11th, 2009 London subway strike in 2nd day; union to talkLONDON — For the second day in a row, millions of Londoners struggled to get to work and school and unlucky tourists found new ways to reach museums Thursday as a strike by subway workers shut down much of the city's Underground network. Nine of 11 subway lines were fully or partly suspended because of the walkout by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union.

June 10th, 2009 Londoners struggle to work amid subway strikeLONDON — Londoners squeezed onto overcrowded buses, boarded river boats, pedaled bikes or walked in the rain Wednesday — as thousands of subway workers went on strike and drove the capital to transportation chaos. Tempers frayed as buses struggled through heavier-than-normal rush-hour traffic.