A 24-hour strike by London Underground drivers has caused severe disruption to tube services and road traffic across the capital. About half of tube drivers are participating in the action, which stems from a dispute over the introduction of a four-day working week. A second strike is scheduled for Thursday.
Transport for London (TfL) reported severe delays on the Bakerloo, District, Hammersmith and City, Victoria, Piccadilly and Northern lines on Tuesday morning. Despite last-minute talks at Acas between the RMT union and TfL, the strike went ahead. TfL urged passengers to check before travelling, with about half of all tube services expected to run.
Drivers from the Aslef union, which represents a slight majority of tube drivers, have welcomed the four-day week proposals and are not on strike, limiting the impact. Other services, including the Elizabeth line, London Overground and Docklands Light Railway, operated normally, while buses were running but heavily congested due to extra traffic.
The RMT blamed TfL for failing to address concerns about fatigue, flexibility and shift lengths. A TfL spokesperson expressed disappointment, reiterating that the four-day week proposals are voluntary. Business groups warned that the strikes have already caused cancelled bookings and economic uncertainty.
