The strikes are being held in protest at plans to close all Tube ticket offices and redeploy staff to ticket halls and platforms where London Underground says they’ll be able to better serve passengers.
LU says the numbers of passengers using ticket offices continues to fall due to the popularity of Oyster card and predicts that the introduction of payment by contactless debit and credit cards later this year will further lessen custom.
It claims staff currently working in ticket offices could offer more help to passengers by being redeployed to ticket halls and platforms where mobile devices will continue to allow them to serve customers and sell tickets.
The changes would see 950 posts axed, although around 200 new jobs will be created when a new night Tube service starts in 2015.
The RMT and TSSA unions say the cuts will make the network less safe and make it harder for disabled other passengers needing assistance to travel.
Members are due to hold the second of two 48-hour strikes from 21:00 GMT on Tuesday (11th February).
Both sides in the dispute have rejoined talks at conciliation service Acas ahead of the strikes to try and avoid further disruption to passengers.
If the strike does go-ahead, LU will deploy back office staff to ticket gates and platforms in support union members who decline to strike. It will also use Travel Ambassadors to ensure Londoners are able to find alternative routes to work.
Last week’s strike caused major disruption to passengers, with most lines reduced to a ‘special service’ running a fraction of the normal numbers of trains.
Transport for London says all non-Tube services will operate as normal, although some London Overground and DLR stations which interchange with London Underground may be affected by the strikes.
The following Tube services will operate:
