London's pulse slowed to a crawl on Monday morning as a fresh wave of Tube strikes plunged the city's transport network into chaos, leaving millions of commuters facing a week of severe disruption and travel misery.
The coordinated industrial action, led by the ASLEF and RMT unions, has effectively shut down large sections of the London Underground. The walkout is a dramatic escalation in an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions, with union bosses and Transport for London (TfL) locked in a stalemate.
Which Lines Are Affected?
The strike action is targeting key lines across the network. Travelers are facing severe disruptions or complete shutdowns on the:
- Central Line: No service between North Acton and West Ruislip/White City. Severe delays on the rest of the line.
- Waterloo & City Line: No service all day.
- Elizabeth Line: Reduced service, with no trains running between Paddington and Abbey Wood/Stratford.
Other lines, including the District, Circle, and Bakerloo lines, are experiencing significant knock-on effects, with severe delays and packed platforms becoming the grim norm.
A Week of Woes for Commuters
This is not a one-day event. The disruption is planned to ripple throughout the week:
- Monday 22 July & Tuesday 23 July: ASLEF drivers on the Central and Waterloo & City lines are on strike.
- Wednesday 24 July: A brief respite, but services will start later due to the previous action.
- Thursday 25 July & Friday 26 July: RMT workers walk out, likely causing further widespread cancellations and delays.
TfL has issued a stark warning, urging all Londoners to 'check before you travel' and allow for significant extra journey time. The network advises that services on strike days will start later and finish much earlier than usual.
The Heart of the Dispute
The unions are taking a firm stand against TfL's recent changes to station staffing and working agreements. The RMT has publicly accused TfL of "ripping up agreed procedures and policies" in a bid to cut costs, arguing it undermines both staff and passenger safety.
With no resolution in sight and both sides digging in their heels, Londoners are left paying the price, facing long waits for buses, extortionate taxi fares, and gridlocked roads as the city struggles to adapt to life without its vital Underground artery.
