Transport chiefs have been forced to close a Tube line because of driver shortages due to Covid.
From December 23 the Waterloo and City line will shut until early January to enable drivers to be switched onto the Central line to keep that running.
About 500 “non-office based” Transport for London staff are currently absent due to Covid and there are staffing problems across all Underground lines.
Today there are also minor delays on the Barkloo, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines today with part suspension on the Overground.
The announcement from TfL on Wednesday is further evidence of how Omicron which is estimated to be responsible for more 90 per cent of Covid cases in the capital, is forcing thousands of Londoners to isolate.
The Waterloo and City line only reopened in June after a 15-month shutdown since the start of the pandemic.
A TfL spokesperson said: “Like many businesses and organisations around the country, we are experiencing the effects of the pandemic with a number of staff ill due to Covid or self-isolating.
“Since the Government advised people to work from home, we have seen fewer customers commuting and the coming festive period will reduce ridership further.
“The Central line has remained busier than the Waterloo & City line, which is currently experiencing very low demand, so our Waterloo & City line drivers will be driving Central line trains to ensure we can continue to provide a good service where there is greater demand. As a result, services on the Waterloo & City line will be suspended on Thursday until early January.
“Customers will still have a wide range of travel options, and while we continue to do all we can to keep operating a normal service, we advise everyone to check our website and the TfL Go app before they travel as other services may be affected at short notice by staff absences.”
