LONDON – Thousands of commuters, including Filipinos, were affected by a 24-hour transport strike that paralyzed several lines of the underground transportation in London.

The tube strike that began Monday afternoon reportedly caused 50 million pounds in damages.

“Thirty minutes by tube but this morning, it took me around an hour and 30 minutes by bus. Yung bus po talagang pila-pila but noong dumating na yung bus nawala na ang queue at nagtutulakan na,” said Pinoy commuter Jaydee Hernandez.

Majority of London commuters rely on the underground tube service to get to work. However, several lines of the underground train were closed due to the strike of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union or RTM. The union reportedly has more than 10,000 members.

The strike was conducted in protest of the transport for London’s planned workers’ mass layoff.

Stranded commuters had to take alternative means of transportation like bus, bike, taxi and ferry.

“Ang hirap. Traffic. Pero hinatid ako ng mister ko pero traffic pa rin ang London, end to end,” said Lily Cachero.

Unlike the past strike, the government was able to announce other alternative routes earlier.

“Traffic kasi. Most people travelled by car na instead of by train so busy ang mga kalsada ngayon. Mas matagal pa yung travel ko sa bus kaysa train,” said JC Eustaquio.

Others opted not to report for work as the traffic would just eat up most of their time.

“Mas better na lang mag-stay sila sa bahay kaysa mag travel ng 2 hours, 4 hours,” said Louie Ambrosio.

More tube transport strikes are already scheduled for October and November. Rose Eclarinal, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau