A 48-HOUR Tube strike across the capital city will take place tonight after crunch talks collapsed. Workers for the London Underground are taking action in a dispute over pay and proposed staff cuts. The strike which begins at 6.59pm tonight could bring t

A 48-HOUR Tube strike across the capital city will take place tonight after crunch talks collapsed.

Workers for the London Underground are taking action in a dispute over pay and proposed staff cuts.

The strike which begins at 6.59pm tonight could bring the city's transport system to a standstill and will affect thousands of commuters.

The Mayor and Transport for London have unveiled a raft of extra services to help people get around the capital.

Plans include extra buses, access to all Greater London National Rail services with Oyster pay as you go, taxi sharing at major rail stations, escorted commuter cycle rides, additional cycle parking and a free River shuttle service.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "I am determined to do as much as is humanly possible to ease the journeys of the millions of Londoners whose lives may be disrupted if strike action takes place.

"The myriad of organisations and individuals that have already agreed to lay on free services, lead cycle rides, drive extra services and marshal shared taxi ranks exemplifies the united approach we will need. Londoners can be assured a tremendous amount is being done to keep them moving if a strike does happen."

Londoners and commuters are being advised to make absolutely certain they plan ahead and check before they travel should the strike go ahead.

Over the two main days of the strike, TfL staff will be on hand across the bus network and at Tube stations to offer travel advice and will be distributing walking maps in central London.

Other measures include:

* 100 extra buses on key routes

* Oyster Pay As You Go will be accepted on all National Rail journeys within Greater London

* During the morning peak hours of 8am-10am, taxi drivers will be operating a marshalled, fixed-fare shared taxi service for six major London rail stations - Waterloo, Liverpool St, London Bridge, Marylebone, Paddington and Euston.

* Major roadworks will be stopped.

* Additional options for cyclists will include morning commuter led cycle rides, temporary parking facilities and thousands of cycle maps will be distributed across London.