London Tube strikes: Latest updates as Underground lines disrupted today

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The entire Tube network is expected to be disrupted as London Underground staff stage the first of two 24-hour strikes, starting from 12.01am on Tuesday, 1 March.

The walkout will affect all lines, with commuters advised to work from home where possible.

The RMT union has blamed the dispute on “a financial crisis at LUL (London Underground Limited)”, which general secretary Mick Lynch described as being “deliberately engineered by the government”.

Transport for London (TfL) has warned travellers to expect “severe disruption to all lines and stations throughout the day [and the] possibility of no London Underground services.”

A second 24-hour strike begins a day later, running from 12.01am on Thursday, 3 March.

Commuters are encouraged to walk or cycle where possible; London buses, TfL Rail, National Rail, DLR, London Overground and Tram services will all be in operation, but are expected to be busier than usual.

Passengers have been advised to allow more time for their journeys during the industrial action.

Key pointsShow latest update 1646124109London tour guide tells RMT: ‘You get money/pensions/free transport that I will never see in my sodding lifetime’

The London tour guide, Sophie Campbell, has tweeted the RMT union to say: “You know, @RMTunion, you get money/pensions/free transport that I will never see in my sodding lifetime, not even if I work until I’m 109, which looks more likely.

“PS Yes, very grateful for you working during Covid.”

A Freedom of Information request to Transport for London (TfL) in 2018 showed that nine drivers were paid more than £100,000; another 30 made more than £80,000, and 100 were paid £70,000 to £80,000.

Simon Calder1 March 2022 08:41

1646123150Londoners share commuting horror stories on Twitter

As London commuters swapped the entire Tube network for crammed buses on busier than usual streets, many took to social media to share their frustration.

Photos and gifs of paparazzi-swamped celebs, elbowing crowds on the New York subway and panicking muppets were just some of the reactions to the day’s travel landscape.

Lucy Thackray1 March 2022 08:25

1646122220Which services are running during the tube strike?

Most TfL Tube lines are completely out of action today, due to the RMT union strike.

However, the Central Line is running some trains, between White City and Ealing Broadway/West Ruislip, and between Liverpool Street and Loughton. Both are at a reduced frequency.

On the District Line, there are a few trains operating between Upminster and West Ham, and between High Street Kensington and Wimbledon.

London Overground, TfL Rail, the DLR, London Trams and National Rail will all run services this week. However, TfL says: “If you are using services from stations also served by the Tube, check before you travel for possible station closures.”

Buses are running, but likely to be busier than usual with many commuters taking them in place of the Tube.

Lucy Thackray1 March 2022 08:10

1646121516Tube workers left with ‘no choice but to strike’

Why is the tube strike happening?

A dispute about pensions and working conditions of tube workers has resulted in the two-day strike on Tuesday 1 March and Thursday 3 March.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Sadiq Khan should be standing up to Tory ministers who want to needlessly attack jobs, pensions and conditions of key transport workers.

“It is this political failure that has left Tube workers with no choice but to strike this week. Our members have been left paying the price for a turf war between City Hall and the Government and they are not having it as can be seen right across London today.

“The mayor knows the plan to attack our members’ pensions and conditions is wrong and would leave our union no choice but to take industrial action.

“However, only last week the Mayor agreed to submit proposals to the Government that will result in detrimental changes to pensions.

“The mayor has to decide if he is on the side of key workers who have kept London moving during the pandemic or Tory ministers hellbent on punishing tube workers.

“This dispute can be solved if the mayor meets the reasonable demands of his own workforce.”

The RMT said 10,000 Tube workers are taking part in the strikes, with pickets at key locations.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain1 March 2022 07:58

1646116360Tube strike on Tuesday: What officials are saying

London Underground is set to be crippled on Tuesday because of a strike by thousands of workers amid a warning there could be no Tube services because of the action.

A spokesperson for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “The upcoming strike action will cause disruption to Londoners and businesses that are trying to recover from two devastating years.

“It will also damage TfL’s revenues at a time when TfL is already under huge financial strain due to the pandemic.

“TfL are working to mitigate the impact of the strikes but disruption is inevitable. The mayor urges Londoners who need to travel on 1 and 3 March to check before they make their journey, consider whether they are able to work from home and use alternative modes of transport where possible.

“Sadiq doesn’t want to see strike action and is imploring the unions to come to the table and work with City Hall and TfL.”

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Sadiq Khan knows that this raid on our members’ pensions and conditions is unfair and would lead to industrial action because he’s said it himself.

“Yet only last week we find out that the mayor has agreed to submit proposals to the Government that will result in attacks on those pensions.

“Which side is he on? The side of our members who risked their lives as key workers in Covid and are now, as he predicted, striking to defend (their) livelihoods and future? Or the side of a Tory Government which wants to attack jobs, pensions, conditions and services?

“The mayor can solve this dispute by agreeing to talks that meets the concerns of his own workforce.

“Our members are central to the future of passenger safety and confidence on the Tube and they’ll be at the heart of London’s recovery. For the good of his workers and London’s recovery, Sadiq needs to stand firm against the Government, stop the pensions raid and end the job mosque.”

Andy Lord, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: “I would ask anyone who needs to use the Tube on 1 and 3 March to check before they make their journey, consider they are able to work from home and use alternative modes of transport where possible.

“It’s highly unlikely there will be an Underground service running during the strike action and services are likely to be affected on the mornings of 2 and 4 March, too.

“I apologise to customers for this and understand that they will be frustrated by this strike action, but urge them not to take it out on those who are trying to help.

“We haven’t proposed any changes to pensions or terms and conditions, and nobody has or will lose their jobs because of the proposals we have set out, so this action is completely unnecessary.

“We know our customers deserve better than this and that is why we’re urging the RMT to talk to us so we can find a resolution to this dispute and call off this action, which is threatening London’s recovery from the pandemic.”

Adam Withnall1 March 2022 06:32

1646104500’No service’ today and Thursday, TfL warns

Sam Hancock1 March 2022 03:15

1646100600London travellers braced for ‘severe disruption’

Travelers in London are being warned of severe disruption to tube services this week because of strikes by thousands of workers in a dispute over jobs, pensions and conditions.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk out on Tuesday and Thursday, and Transport for London (TfL) says it expects severe disruption across all Tube lines on strike days.

The planned action is also likely to severely affect services on Wednesday and Friday, particularly in the morning peak.

TfL has criticized the industrial action, saying there are no proposals on pensions or terms and conditions, and nobody has or will lose their jobs because of the proposals it has set out.

“TfL will do all it can provide as many transport options as possible, but customers are advised to check before they travel, consider if their travel is essential and work from home if possible. They should leave more time for journeys and travel at quieter times where possible,” it said a statement.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Our members will be taking a strike action because a financial crisis at LU (London Underground) has been deliberately engineered by the government to drive a cuts agenda which would savage jobs, services, safety and threaten their working conditions and pensions … in addition to the strike action, RMT is co-ordinating a campaign of resistance with colleagues from other unions impacted by this threat.”

Picket lines will be mounted outside Tube stations across the capital on Tuesday and Thursday.

Sam Hancock1 March 2022 02:10

1646096700When are London Underground services going to be disrupted?

Major tube strikes are expected to affect the entire London Underground network this week.

The RMT union confirmed on Friday that talks with arbitration service Acas had broken down.

The strikes were initially announced in February, with RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, blaming “a financial crisis at LUL (London Underground Limited)”, which he described as being “deliberately engineered by the government”.

So, which lines will be affected and when? Lucy Thackray has everything you need to know.

Sam Hancock1 March 2022 01:05

1646092920Strike officially begins

It is 12.01am, which means the London tube strikes have officially begun.

For more information on why staff are taking this action in the first place, head here:

Sam Hancock1 March 2022 00:02

1646089247Is the UK too quick to suggesting working from home post-Covid?

Harry Cole, of the Sun newspaper, sparked debate this evening by suggesting as much.

Sam Hancock28 February 2022 23:00

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