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The entire Tube network will grind to a halt on Wednesday evening as Underground workers mount their biggest strike in more than a decade.

Last-ditch talks between London Underground and union bosses broke off at 5pm on Tuesday having failed to avert the walkout.

Tubes will start running down from 6pm on Wednesday and there will be no service at all on Thursday, across all 11 lines and 270 stations.

Almost 20,000 members from four trade unions are due to strike in a dispute over the new all-night Tube services, which are set to begin on September 12.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), Aslef, Transport Salaried Staffs Association and Unite have been in dispute over pay being offered for the new service, as well as new shift patterns.

Finn Brennan, district secretary of the Aslef union representing the majority of drivers, said: "Sadly we were not able to make sufficient progress to avoid industrial action and it is clear that we cannot do so at this late stage. Our strike action will go ahead.

"The responsibility for this strike and the disruption that it will cause rests squarely with London Underground management."

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Despite strenuous efforts by union negotiators to press London Underground to address the issues of fairness, safety, work/life balance and equality at the heart of this dispute, they have come up with nothing in the talks this afternoon.

"The action is on and RMT will be mobilising picket lines and effective action with our sister unions and there are no further talks planned at this stage."

Tubes are expected to be "exceptionally busy" between 3pm and 6pm on Wednesday - just after the Budget - as people try to get home before the biggest Tube strike since 2002 officially starts at 6.30pm.

The DLR, London Overground and buses are not affected. TfL said extra bus and river services will run, but warned that roads and all public transport will be much busier than usual.

The talks collapsed despite Tube bosses dramatically increasing their pay offer on Monday, including a £2,000 bonus for train drivers working on the Night Tube.

The "final" offer also included pay rising by 2 per cent this year.

With the walkout going ahead the improved offer is now off the table – raising the threat of yet more strikes.

Union leaders will now hold crisis meetings to discuss the next course of action.

Tube bosses urged the unions to return to the negotiating table.

“We remain ready for talks,” said a spokesman.

Speaking on Tuesday before talks ended, LU's chief operating officer Steve Griffiths said: "Londoners and businesses overwhelmingly back the night Tube. It will make life better for everyone, cut journey times, create jobs and boost the economy.

"No-one is being asked to work more hours than they do now. In return, we have offered a very fair and competitive package of an average 2 per cent increase this year, a pay increase of RPI or 1 per cent, whichever is greater, in 2016 and 2017, a £500 launch bonus to all staff on the night Tube lines and stations and a £2,000 transition bonus for train operators.

"We received no response to this from the union leaderships."