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Hundreds of thousands of Tube commuters suffered massive disruption today as a 24-hour strike by train drivers halted services on the District line.

The walkout, organised by the Aslef union, which will affect District line services throughout the day, is the result of a dispute over the treatment of a driver who allegedly passed three red signals.

The driver is alleged to have passed through the signals in his 11 weeks driving, two of which are said to have been passed at danger within a four-week period.

TfL said it was “simply not safe for this employee to continue in a role as a driver” and that he was offered another role.

The transport body added that the driver agreed to these measures before the dispute escalated.

Remarkable old maps of London's Tube network 7 show all Remarkable old maps of London's Tube network 1/7 Designers’ hand-drawn diagrams were largely based on the real geography of the Tube lines, which resulted in far more chaotic-looking maps (Published 1925) TfL 2/7 Prior to 1906, the individual railway companies produced their own maps and focused on their own lines (Published 1925) TfL 3/7 Henry C Beck's design was initially dismissed for being too revolutionary (Created 1931) TfL 4/7 The maps show how the ever-expanding Tube system and railways were previously depicted, often using free-hand drawings and calligraphy (Published 1937) TfL 5/7 The Victoria Line, which was opened in March 1969, shows the route from Victoria to Walthamstow (Published 1962) TfL 6/7 The historic diagrams provide a fascinating insight into the development of the capital’s famous Underground since it first began operations in 1863 (Published 1966) TfL 7/7 This map from 1978 announced the arrival of Heathrow Central underground station (Published 1978) TfL 1/7 Designers’ hand-drawn diagrams were largely based on the real geography of the Tube lines, which resulted in far more chaotic-looking maps (Published 1925) TfL 2/7 Prior to 1906, the individual railway companies produced their own maps and focused on their own lines (Published 1925) TfL 3/7 Henry C Beck's design was initially dismissed for being too revolutionary (Created 1931) TfL 4/7 The maps show how the ever-expanding Tube system and railways were previously depicted, often using free-hand drawings and calligraphy (Published 1937) TfL 5/7 The Victoria Line, which was opened in March 1969, shows the route from Victoria to Walthamstow (Published 1962) TfL 6/7 The historic diagrams provide a fascinating insight into the development of the capital’s famous Underground since it first began operations in 1863 (Published 1966) TfL 7/7 This map from 1978 announced the arrival of Heathrow Central underground station (Published 1978) TfL

TfL said the line was due to run at about 60 per cent of capacity during the 24-hour strike - which will last until 11.59pm.

But as of 6am there were severe delays throughout the length of the line.

The District line is the fifth busiest in London, with more than 800,000 passengers using it per day.

The rest of the Tube network, as well as TfL Rail, London Overground and DLR, will operate as normal.

The Aslef union balloted its members over the way the SPAD (Signals Passed At Danger) policy was applied to the member of train crew from the Acton depot.

It has refused to rule out more strikes in the continuing dispute and accuse LU of refusing to meet with them. The union says the last time they met was on 30 January.

But this was robustly denied by London Underground bosses.

Nigel Holness, LU’s director of network operations said: “The situation is not as the union has described as no disciplinary action has been taken against the employee and our action is in line with the safety policies agreed with our trade unions.

“We meet regularly with Aslef to discuss any concerns the union might have, including those in relation to this matter and will continue to do so.”

Faces of frustration: Battling the Tube strike 17 show all Faces of frustration: Battling the Tube strike 1/17 A tired commuter sits on a bus at Liverpool Street Jeremy Selwyn 2/17 A man looks through window on a bus at Victoria Station Carl Court/Getty Images 3/17 The top deck of a bus full on unimpressed commuters Stefan Rousseau/PA 4/17 Commuters queue patiently at Victoria bus station Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images 5/17 A man yawns on his way to work, as extra buses are laid on to help with capacity during a 24-hour tube strike Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images 6/17 Unhappy commuters on a bus at Victoria Station Alex Lentati 7/17 A man looks out on a window on a bus whilst battling the 24 hour tube strike Stefan Rousseau/PA 8/17 Commuters in Stratford, London wait for buses Stefan Rousseau/PA 9/17 A bus loaded with passengers bear the brunt on London Underground industrial action PAJohn Stillwell/PA 10/17 Disgruntled commuters walk across London Bridge making their way to work on foot Leon Neal/Getty Images 11/17 Commuters are seen through the windows of extra buses AFP/Getty Images 12/17 Bus queues at Liverpool Street Jeremy Selwyn 13/17 A woman wait for a bus at Liverpool Street Jeremy Selwyn 14/17 Commuters are seen through the windows of extra buses Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images 15/17 A woman make a call on her phone during the tube strike Jeremy Selwyn 16/17 Commuters queue for busses at Victoria Station Carl Court/Getty Images 17/17 People queue for buses at London's Waterloo Station Dominic Lipinski/PA 1/17 A tired commuter sits on a bus at Liverpool Street Jeremy Selwyn 2/17 A man looks through window on a bus at Victoria Station Carl Court/Getty Images 3/17 The top deck of a bus full on unimpressed commuters Stefan Rousseau/PA 4/17 Commuters queue patiently at Victoria bus station Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images 5/17 A man yawns on his way to work, as extra buses are laid on to help with capacity during a 24-hour tube strike Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images 6/17 Unhappy commuters on a bus at Victoria Station Alex Lentati 7/17 A man looks out on a window on a bus whilst battling the 24 hour tube strike Stefan Rousseau/PA 8/17 Commuters in Stratford, London wait for buses Stefan Rousseau/PA 9/17 A bus loaded with passengers bear the brunt on London Underground industrial action PAJohn Stillwell/PA 10/17 Disgruntled commuters walk across London Bridge making their way to work on foot Leon Neal/Getty Images 11/17 Commuters are seen through the windows of extra buses AFP/Getty Images 12/17 Bus queues at Liverpool Street Jeremy Selwyn 13/17 A woman wait for a bus at Liverpool Street Jeremy Selwyn 14/17 Commuters are seen through the windows of extra buses Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images 15/17 A woman make a call on her phone during the tube strike Jeremy Selwyn 16/17 Commuters queue for busses at Victoria Station Carl Court/Getty Images 17/17 People queue for buses at London's Waterloo Station Dominic Lipinski/PA

“With so many incidents in a short space of time, despite several weeks of training and assistance, it was simply not safe for this employee to continue in a role as a driver.”

Finn Brennan, Aslef organiser on the Underground, said Tube bosses had sent a “stream of letters threatening legal action” to try and prevent the strike from taking place.

He said the only reason the driver had accepted a transfer of duty was because LU had threatened disciplinary proceedings if he didn’t.

“When management are intent on getting their way by threats and intimidation then we need to take a strong stand to protect our agreements and ensure fair treatment at work.”

The strike involves Aslef members at the giant Acton Town depot where they voted 98 per cent in favour of action.

TfL disputed the union’s version of events and said no disciplinary action had been threatened against the driver at the centre of the dispute.

A spokesman added: “A driver had a number of safety incidents in their first few months of driving and, in line with our agreed policies, was offered an alternative role on our stations which they agreed to.

“There is no cause for a dispute, and we call on the unions to continue working with us to ensure the safety of our customers and staff.”