With London braced for another week of travel chaos, businesses across the capital say they are already counting the cost.
From theatres and restaurants to retailers dependent on commuter footfall, many fear the looming Tube strikes could deal another blow to a city economy already under pressure.
Members of the RMT union are set to walkout at 12pm on Tuesday, May 19, for 24 hours and again at midday on Thursday, May 21, for 24 hours - with the effects felt across four working days.
It follows the strikes at the end of April, which left commuters facing long queues for the Elizabeth line and crowded bus stops, while e-bike usage surged across the capital.
For businesses, however, the impact was particularly grim, with some describing the disruption as “devastating” and an “own goal” for London’s economy.
The Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) estimated the strikes would cost the economy up to £250 million, driven by the loss of as many as 630,000 working days.
Businesses in London are “dreading” the upcoming strike action this week, as severe disruption is expected across the Tube network, causing havoc for commuters.
Ed Richardson, programme director for transport at BusinessLDN, said the disruption caused by this week’s strikes will “impact London’s reputation” as a place to invest and do business, at a turbulent time when firms are already grappling with the effects of the Iran war and political instability at home amid the government’s leadership crisis.
“While many Londoners can work remotely or find other ways to travel, businesses that rely on commuter footfall – not least restaurants, retailers and theatres – will be dreading these strikes,” he told the Standard.
“We urge both sides to reach an agreement urgently to avoid yet more damaging strike action.”
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan also said: “Nobody wants to see strike action which has a serious impact on Londoners, businesses and commuters.
“The Mayor continues to urge that there be a swift resolution to this dispute.”
As with the April strikes, industrial action will begin at midday on both days. Services will run as normal until noon before being reduced throughout the afternoon and evening, with trains also finishing earlier than usual on strike days.
Next week’s strike action stems from an ongoing dispute between RMT and Transport for London over the introduction of a compressed four-day working week, which is currently being trialled on a voluntary basis on the Bakerloo line.
Under the proposals, weekly hours would fall from 36 to 35, although drivers would effectively work longer shifts each day.
The RMT has labelled the plan a “fake” four-day week, arguing that compressing five days of work into four would increase driver fatigue and potentially compromise passenger safety.
The union also claims the proposals would reduce roster flexibility and could leave drivers with as little as 24 hours’ notice of shift changes.
The RMT has also accused TfL of performing a negotiating U-turn by attempting to push through the framework without including union feedback.
There is still time for the strikes to be called off, but Londoners may need to seek alternative ways to travel to work next week.
The Standard has put together a guide on how Londoners can beat the strikes next week.
London Underground
Strike action is set to disrupt the entire London Underground network next week. While services will continue to operate, TfL has warned disruption will vary throughout the week, with every line expected to be affected at some point.
Members of ASLEF, the capital’s largest train drivers’ union, voted to accept TfL’s proposal of a four-day working week, describing it as an excellent deal for members. ASLEF drivers will continue to work.
The RMT represents just under half of London Underground drivers. As only its members are taking strike action, the disruption is expected to result in severe delays and targeted line closures, rather than a complete city-wide shutdown.
No service is expected on the Circle line or the Piccadilly line next week, TfL says.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan line will not run between Baker Street and Aldgate, while the Central line will be suspended between White City and Liverpool Street.
The Elizabeth line, Docklands Light Railway, London Overground, buses and trams are all expected to operate as normal.
However, these services are likely to be a lot busier as passengers seek alternative routes across the capital. Commuters are being advised to allow extra travel time and prepare for possible queuing systems at busy stations.
Bike
One option that’s becoming increasingly popular as Tube strikes become more frequent is hopping on an e-bike.
During the April disruption, both Lime and Forest saw a big jump in ridership. Data from health and fitness platform TerraAPI found cycling activity tripled compared with usual weekly averages during the strike days.
E-bike commuting rose by 13%, and around 19% of cyclists were completely new to riding, showing just how many people gave it a go for the first time.
To get started, download the Lime or Forest app, add a payment method and use it to find your nearest available bike.
Santander Cycles will also continue operating as normal for those travelling through central London.
Bus
London’s buses will continue operating as usual next week, although services are expected to be much busier than usual.
Passengers may therefore need to wait for more than one bus before boarding, particularly during peak hours.
Commuters can use the TfL Go or Citymapper apps to track live bus arrivals and monitor disruption in real time.
Boat
A slightly more unorthodox option is to commute by boat if your office is near the Thames.
However, be aware that services can become extremely busy during strike action.
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.
