Commuter mayhem in London

2005-07-08 14:21

London - Millions of London commuters struggled slowly home after the string of bombs crippled public transport, and the capital looked poised for more mayhem on Friday.

At least 37 people were killed and hundreds injured after bombs exploded on a bus and three trains on the London Underground rail system, used by three million people a day.

The entire underground network - 12 lines and 275 stations - was shut down on Thursday following the blasts.

Only "an impaired service on some lines" was expected for Friday, operator London Underground said on its travel advice website.

The travel chaos was compounded as bus services were suspended in the central London area.

Some buses returned from Thursday afternoon, but in limited numbers and facing long queues of people desperate to get home.

Many overground suburban trains were running, but the service was disrupted and many workers faced the problem of even reaching the main line station they required without additional public transport.

Roads gridlocked

Available taxis were in extremely short supply, meaning many people left their offices early and headed home on foot.

Traffic in the city centre was eerily quiet, especially when the buses remained off the roads, but elsewhere roads were gridlocked, notably motorways on the fringes of the capital.

Many companies, especially those with offices close to the terror targets, relieved the jam somewhat by evacuating their buildings and telling staff to go home.

Other firms allowed employees to leave work from lunchtime because of the difficult slog home.

Police urged commuters to stagger journeys, and asked anyone thinking of travelling into London to put off their journey.

Some people opted to wait out the chaos in pubs and bars, while others tried to find a hotel.

Many hotels, especially those near major stations, said they were booked up by lunchtime and had been forced to turn away hundreds of others.

There was one final option for the totally stranded: The Salvation Army, a Christian charity which works closely with the homeless, opened three of its churches and said commuters unable to get home could sleep there.

- AFP