Travellers in north London who have switched to National Rail trains to avoid the Tube strike are facing further problems.

“A fault with the signalling system at Elstree & Borehamwood is causing disruption to Thameslink services between London St Pancras International and St Albans,” passengers are being told.

“Drivers must stop their trains and get verbal permission to proceed. This takes additional time, compared to a normal journey.

“Some services may need to be revised to call at fewer stations en route, and may also use different platforms at West Hampstead Thameslink, Cricklewood, Hendon, Mill Hill Broadway and Elstree & Borehamwood.”

Disruption is expected until 2pm.

Fewer trains than usual are running on the Thameslink network, which connects Brighton and Gatwick with Luton, Peterborough and Cambridge.

“This is following a period of significant staff absence due to Covid,” the train operator says.

Much of central London is gridlocked – partly because of the extra traffic created by the Tube strike, but also because one of the capital’s key arteries, Whitehall, is closed. Buses that normally use the link between Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square are being diverted via the Embankment, adding to congestion and extending journey times for passengers who are unable to take the London Underground.

Traffic is reported as very slow moving on the South Bank, across Waterloo Bridge and along the Strand.

Unusually, traffic jams have built up on the roads through the Royal Parks. The Queen’s own limousine – which does not have registration plates – was caught up in a long queues of vehicles in St James’s Park, but the monarch was not in the car.

As the latest Tube strike by members of the RMT union closes down most of the London Underground network, Transport for London (TfL) has emailed passengers to warn them about further disruption over the coming weekend – with industrial action forecast into the summer and a reduction in services on one key line to every half-hour.

“There is planned strike action every Friday and Saturday night between 8.30pm and 4.29am the following morning until Sunday 19 June,” TfL says.

“If these strikes go ahead, normal services are expected on the Victoria line, while we expect the Central line to run a regular service through central London, with at least two trains per hour.”

Over the weekend of 5 and 6 March, no Central line trains will run in east London between Bethnal Green and Loughton/ Woodford (via Newbury Park and Hainault).

Euston Station taxi rank is “virtually inaccessible from the east due roadworks and heavy traffic in the Bloomsbury area,” according to Twitter account London Traffic Watch.

Meanwhile, safety concerns have been raised more generally as 72 per cent of UK taxi users have reported walking home alone due to a shortage of cabs, according to new research.

In a survey of taxi users, UK taxi technology company Autocab found that 70 per cent said they have struggled or completely failed to book a cab ride since 1 December 2021.

Not all Londoners are frustrated by today’s Tube strike.

Some have reported that the industrial action has spurred them on to try cycling to work.

Twitter user Daniel Rodrigues wrote: “First time cycling this year feeling great done over 13 miles from my home to one of my projects thank you tube strike save me £8.70 today if the weather stays like this I will carry on cycling.”

Although Tube strikes across the entire London Underground network have stalled the city today, some transport options are still in operation.

London Overground, TfL Rail, DLR, London Trams and National Rail services are all running but “will be busier than usual,” according to TfL.

“Allow more time for your journey and consider alternatives.”

Travellers are also warned to check before travel for possible station closures.

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Sadiq Khan was booed by the audience at the NME Awards over the Tube strikes that have enraged commuters this week.

Walkouts affected the entire London Underground network on Tuesday (1 March) and Thursday (3 March). The dispute is over jobs, pensions and working conditions.

The London Mayor was at the music awards ceremony last night to present a prize for Best Solo Act From the UK.

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RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch has said of today’s Tube Strike: “Our members across LUL are making it crystal clear again this morning that they are not going to be used as pawns in a political fight between the Mayor and the Government which threatens their futures and their livelihoods.”

The former shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, has joined striking Tube workers on the picket line at Uxbridge – the station serving Boris Johnson’s constituency.

The Labour MP represents the neighbouring constituency, Hayes and Harlington.

The RMT union, which has called this week’s stoppages, retweeted a photo from Cat Cray, showing Mr McDonnell.

The message read: “Great to have @johnmcdonnellMP support at Uxbridge picket line.”

Although today’s strike is solely on the London Underground, commuters using the London Overground are facing problems too.

Transport for London is warning that trains “will be busier than usual”, and advises: “Allow more time for your journey and consider alternatives.

“If you are using services from stations also served by the Tube, check before you travel for possible station closures.”

A fault with the signalling system between Stratford and Cheshunt means some lines are blocked, and trains running between Stratford and Meridian Water are cancelled.

On the GWR Thames Valley network, Covid-related cuts mean shorter trains. “Some services between London Paddington and Reading will be formed of eight carriages instead of 12,” the train operator says.