Talks but little optimism of breakthrough to avert worst strike chaos on Tube in years

LAST-DITCH talks were due to be held today in a bid to avert the worst week of strike chaos on the Tube for years.

- Ross Lydall, Rachael Burford

It came as Arsenal warned 60,000 fans due to attend the FA Cup tie with Liverpool, which kicks off at 4.30 pm on Sunday, that there would be no Piccadilly line services to get them home.

Transport for London said it would be hosting talks with RMT leaders, though there was little optimism of a last-minute breakthrough.

The strike, which starts at 6pm this evening with engineering train drivers walking out for two consecutive days, will escalate on Sunday when control room workers join the action.

This will result in the closure of most, if not all, of the Underground from about 8pm on Sunday.

Thousands of RMT station staff will join the action on Monday and Wednesday, leading TfL to warn of “little or no service” until Friday morning in what is shaping up to be the most disruptive Tube strike in recent years.