Londoners faced severe travel disruption on Tuesday as the first of two 24-hour strikes by Tube drivers, organised by the RMT union, brought parts of the Underground network to a halt. The strike, which began at 12.01am, left no trains running on the Circle and Waterloo & City lines, while the Bakerloo, Central, and Piccadilly lines were partially suspended. Other lines experienced severe delays, compounding the misery of rainy weather.
Transport for London (TfL) apologised to customers but noted that around 60% of drivers reported for work, a higher turnout than in previous strikes. Despite the disruption, approximately 86% of Oyster and contactless card taps were recorded across the capital compared to the same day last year, indicating many commuters still attempted to travel. The Jubilee Line operated a normal service, with only a handful of drivers absent.
The RMT launched the strike after last-ditch talks with London Underground bosses failed to resolve a dispute over the working week. The union is seeking assurances on concerns about longer hours and driver safety. Fresh talks are expected next week. Mayor Sadiq Khan urged both sides to 'get round the table' before a second 24-hour walkout planned for Thursday, warning of the 'serious impact on Londoners, businesses and commuters'.
An RMT spokesperson said the strike had been 'strongly supported' by members, with well-attended picket lines. A TfL spokesperson expressed regret for the disruption but highlighted that service was maintained on almost every line. The second strike is scheduled from 12.01am to 11.59pm on Thursday.
