A planned London Underground drivers’ strike is set to cause another day of travel disruption in the capital on Thursday, after the RMT union confirmed its 24-hour stoppage would go ahead. Transport for London urged the union to cancel the action, which is part of a dispute over proposals linked to the introduction of a four-day working week for Tube drivers.
Passengers have been advised to check before travelling, with little or no service expected on parts of the network. TfL said no service is expected on the Circle line, Piccadilly line and the central sections of the Metropolitan and Central lines. Other Underground lines are expected to start later than usual, finish earlier than normal and run less frequently.
Despite the strike, TfL said Tuesday’s industrial action did not shut down most of the Tube network, as more drivers than expected came to work. The transport authority said 60% of drivers reported for duty on Tuesday, suggesting a significant number of RMT members did not join the walkout. Contactless and Oyster use fell by around 10% across the day, while Tube journeys dropped by 41%. At the same time, demand increased on buses, the Overground and the Elizabeth line.
TfL said the Jubilee line ran at almost 90% of its normally scheduled distance, and it thanked customers for their patience during the earlier disruption. Services returned to normal on Wednesday morning, with no residual impact from the strike.
The proposed working-pattern change has been supported by the Aslef union, which represents just over half of London’s Tube drivers, but has been opposed by the RMT. The RMT has accused TfL of trying to force through changes to working arrangements, while TfL says the proposals are voluntary.
Negotiations at Acas ended on Monday without agreement, and no further talks have taken place since then. TfL has called on the RMT to return to negotiations and resolve concerns about the proposed four-day week.
Although the Underground will face severe disruption on Thursday, other rail services are expected to continue as normal, including the Elizabeth line, London Overground, national rail services and the Docklands Light Railway. Buses are likely to be busier than usual and may also face delays because of heavier traffic on roads affected by the strike.
The RMT declined to comment on the latest developments and has not announced any further strikes on the Underground. Talks between the union and TfL are expected next week, leaving open the possibility of a settlement after this week’s disruption.
