Another wave of London Tube strikes is approaching, with disruption and patchy services expected across the network. Commuters have barely recovered from last month's strikes when another walkout is set to take place from Tuesday. The strike stems from an ongoing dispute between the RMT union and London Underground bosses over Tube drivers' condensed working hours. Fortunately, not all routes are affected, so here is what London transport services will be running next week.
When is the next Tube strike?
The walkouts will occur in 24-hour chunks, but disruption is expected throughout the week from Tuesday, affecting mornings and evenings as well. The first planned strike will run from 12pm midday on Tuesday, 19 May until midday on Wednesday, 20 May. The second walkout will be from midday on Thursday, 21 May until midday on Friday, 22 May. Further strikes, if not called off, are planned between June 16 and June 19.
Full list of affected Tube lines
Here are the Underground routes where no service is expected during the strike:
- The entire Circle and Piccadilly lines
- The Central line between White City and Liverpool Street
- The Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate
Services are expected on all other lines, but they will be less frequent and very busy. TfL warned that journeys will be disrupted and service levels will vary.
Elizabeth line, DLR, and Overground status during the strike
The purple Elizabeth line will run as normal throughout next week, and the same applies to buses, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), the London Overground, and the tram. However, these services are likely to be extremely busy.
What other travel alternatives are there?
Rental e-bikes, scooters, and Santander cycles will be on standby next week as commuters seek alternatives. Last month, e-bike operators like Forest and Lime increased operations in central London to have more bikes available. Forest recorded a 50% increase in rides on Wednesday, April 22, during the strike, while Lime experienced a 23% uptick that day. One rider travelled around 124 miles in four days, roughly the distance from London to Birmingham. While cycling in London may not suit everyone, "strikeling" has surged in popularity during recent walkouts, allowing commuters to avoid the worst disruption.
Rail services will also run as normal, although they could be busier than usual. In April, Greater Anglia trains arriving at Liverpool Street were extremely busy during rush hour. If you live near the River Thames, you can use the River Bus services operated by Uber Boat and Thames Clippers, paying with contactless or an Oyster card. For the adventurous, the London Cable Car runs between the Royal Docks and the Greenwich Peninsula.
Why is the Tube strike happening?
The strike, involving Tube drivers who are members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), stems from a disagreement over working hours. TfL has proposed condensing drivers' five-day working week into four days, meaning longer shifts, which RMT opposes, citing consequences for drivers' welfare. Jared Wood, RMT's London lead, claimed that under the changes, a driver could start at 3.45am, drive for over five hours without a break, then have a half-hour break and drive for up to 9.5 hours total. TfL stated it would never compromise safety and that the proposals align with national rail operators' shift patterns.
Claire Mann, TfL's chief operating officer, said: "It is disappointing that the RMT is planning this strike action despite our best efforts to resolve this dispute. We have been clear that our proposals for a four-day week are designed to improve work-life balance and are entirely voluntary. Any Tube driver who doesn't wish to opt in can remain on a five-day pattern. We have also said that the majority of issues raised would be resolved with more detailed work. A significant number of drivers have indicated they want us to progress the pilot on the Bakerloo line. We urge the RMT to work with us to resolve this dispute. In the meantime, we ask customers to check before they travel and allow extra time." TfL added that the four-day week proposal has been accepted by Aslef, the other Tube drivers' union.
