Large swathes of London's sprawling transport network shut down after maintenance workers walked off the job, arousing commuter anger and drawing warnings that the strike would inconvenience millions of Britons.
About 2,300 members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers left their jobs at 6pm on Monday to begin a 72-hour strike, in a dispute related to the collapse of their employer, maintenance consortium Metronet.
Many commuters were on their way home when the strike took effect, forcing them to take overcrowded buses and taxis. London Underground urged passengers to walk if possible.
'The buses were horrendous,' said commuter Caroline Hoyle, 24. 'Every one was jammed full of people. Two passed without letting me on.'
London Mayor Ken Livingstone said the union was disrupting the lives of millions of Londoners for no reason.
'This strike is one of the most purposeless ever called,' he said. 'All of the issues raised have been settled.'
