London waits for transport meltdown.

A 24-HOUR tube strike is scheduled to begin tonight which could bring chaos to commuters on Monday morning.

London Underground unions RMT and TSSA are set to go ahead with their planned downing of tools from 6.30pm tonight (Sunday) to 6.30pm Monday.

Further 24-hour strikes are also planned for November 2 and 28 and will mean the almost complete closure of the London Underground network.

Over a hundred extra buses, capacity for over 10,000 more journeys on the river, and marshalled taxi ranks have been organised.

Planned roadworks are being delayed or curtailed where possible to keep road traffic flowing around key transport hubs.

Volunteers will be positioned at Tube, bus, and rail stations to assist Londoners with their journeys and provide maps and other information.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “This strike is pointless, and I hope that this time - when Londoners beat the strike once again - the RMT and TSSA leaderships will see sense and return to talks to avert further disruption.”

The unions are striking over fears that Transport for London (TfL) is planning to get rid of around 800 station staff posts, reduce ticket office opening times by around 7,500 hours, carry out essential maintenance checks on trains every four weeks instead of every two weeks and cut the number of train drivers’ posts.

The unions argue the changes could lead to a less safe London Underground, problems obtaining travel tickets and serious risk of accidents, injuries and even deaths.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “The Mayor and his transport officials cannot simply wash their hands of this dispute.

“Boris Johnson has said that he will stand up and fight for London against the ConDem government cuts – that’s exactly what RMT and TSSA members are doing on the tube right in the Mayor’s own back yard.

“Rather than attacking us the Mayor, as Chair of TfL, should instruct his officials to put safety first and withdraw the cuts that they are bulldozing through without agreement and with complete disregard for the consequences.”

For latest on the strike and the best transport links check back here.