Londoners are set for more travel disruption next week as strike action returns to the Tube network, with passengers warned of one key difference compared with previous walkouts.
Unlike the April strikes, when industrial action began at midday, the 24-hour walkouts this time will run from midnight to 11.59pm on Tuesday, June 2, and again from midnight on Thursday, June 4.
This means disruption is expected to hit the morning rush hour hard, while the previous strikes had a more immediate impact on afternoon and evening journeys .
Transport for London says disruption will be felt across the network, but it is mostly centred around one main day, so the overall impact may not be quite as bad as previous strikes.
TfL is urging passengers to check their routes in advance and to allow extra time for travel.
Passengers are being advised to complete their journeys by 9pm on both strike days to avoid being caught out, as services are expected to become limited later in the evening.
On Wednesday and Friday mornings, a reduced service is expected before 6.30am, with a gradual return to normal operations as the day progresses.
The same lines affected in April will again be impacted, including a full suspension of the Circle line, while the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines are also expected to remain out of service.
The Elizabeth line, London Overground and DLR services will continue to run as normal, but are expected to be extremely busy due to the disruption.
TfL sources say talks are continuing with RMT, with regular meetings taking place in an effort to resolve the dispute over a proposed voluntary four-day working week.
They stressed they are not changing their position, but want to make sure the details are fully understood.
The sources said further discussions were held earlier this week to provide additional clarity on the offer, in the hope it could lead to the RMT calling off the strike action.
But TfL is planning for the strikes to go ahead, while still remaining hopeful they can be called off following the latest discussions.
They also reiterated that the four-day working week proposal is voluntary and no driver would be forced to accept it.
RMT has been contacted by The Standard for comment.
Two 24-hour walkouts earlier this month were called off amid growing questions over the level of support within the RMT for the industrial action.
The RMT’s position on the strikes was weakened after the Aslef train drivers’ union firmly backed the four-day week offer.
Aslef hailed the deal on offer as the “biggest improvement in working conditions for Underground train drivers in decades”.
Drivers belonging to Aslef will not be striking which means most Tube lines can still operate, just on a reduced service.
Questions were also raised over the effectiveness of its strike action in April after more than half of Underground services still ran. Some RMT drivers also turned up for work.
Some have also argued that Tube strikes no longer hit the capital quite as hard as they once did, with the rise of working from home and alternative options like e-bikes and river boats changing how many people, particularly younger, travel into work.
The RMT has described Transport for London’s proposals as a “fake” four-day week, arguing it would amount to compressing five days of work into four.
It has also raised concerns that the changes could increase fatigue among drivers and lead to shifts being allocated at short notice.
No additional dates have been confirmed by the unions, so next week’s Tube strikes could be the last for a while.
Claire Mann, Chief Operating Officer at TfL, said: “We are disappointed to see the RMT continue with this industrial action. We still believe that the points they have raised can be worked out in time, through more detailed discussions and we are continuing to talk to the union’s representatives to find a way to avoid disruption to London.
“Our proposals are, and have always been, clear. The completely voluntary four-day week has been designed to improve work-life balance and any of our Tube drivers who do not wish to take up the new proposed way of working and associated changes to working arrangements can remain on a five-day working pattern.
"A significant number of drivers have indicated that they want us to progress plans for the pilot of this new working pattern on the Bakerloo line, bringing benefits both for our colleagues and our customers. We urge the RMT to work with us so we can resolve this dispute. In the meantime, we are asking customers to check before they travel and allow plenty of extra time for their journeys."
If you’re looking for alternative ways to get around London during the Tube strikes, buses, bikes and boat services are available.
There are almost 700 bus routes operating in the capital, but be warned they are likely to be extremely busy during strike days, so you may not be able to get on the first service.
Two wheels are often the fastest way to get around the capital during strike action. E-bike operators including Lime and Forest offer an effective service, especially if you’re travelling in and out of Zone 1 and 2.
If your office is based on The Thames, you might want to consider hopping on an Uber boat.
Key commuter stops along the route include Canary Wharf, London Bridge, Blackfriars, and Battersea Power Station.
Services run frequently, with departures every 10–20 minutes during peak hours, starting from around 5:30am.
Standard pay-as-you-go fares typically range from £6.20 to £11.40 with an Oyster or contactless card, or around £19.30 for travel across all zones.
.png?w=600)
