Commuters crowd for buses outside the Green Park tube station in London, June 10, 2009. Members of Britain's National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) started a 48-hour strike at 7:00 p.m. local time (1800 GMT) on Tuesday after failed talks concerning disputes over pay, jobs and disciplinary issues, causing rush-hour chaos.(Xinhua/Zeng Yi) Photo Gallery>>>

    LONDON, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of London underground workers have begun a 48-hour strike after last-minute talks failed to avoid it.

    Londoners on Wednesday will have to find alternative transport to commute as the strike takes its toll.

    Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) started the strike at 7:00 p.m. local time (1800 GMT) on Tuesday after failed talks concerning disputes over pay, jobs and disciplinary issues.

A transit channel is seen closed during a strike at the Green Park tube station in London, June 10, 2009.(Xinhua/Zeng Yi) Photo Gallery>>>

    Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy said "services are currently running on more than half of London underground lines, with good service on the Northern line and a decent service across the Jubilee line. Clearly, support for the RMT leadership's actions is far from the level they were expecting."

    "Londoners and I will fully appreciate all the efforts being made by those tube and transport staffs who are working today to keep London moving," he added.

    There were fears that due to the strike, England's World Cup qualifier against Andorra at Wembley on Wednesday could be played behind closed doors because of safety concerns.

    But Football Association Chief Executive Ian Watmore said this would not be the case and the game would kick off at 8:15 p.m. local time (1915 GMT) as planned.