Six days of chaos begins as London tube driver strike gets underway

Ben Chapman
Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:48:43 +0000

London Underground drivers belonging to the RMT union walked out at noon today, launching the first of two planned 24-hour stoppages that have thrown the capital's transport network into chaos.

A second day of industrial action is set to begin at midday on Thursday, concluding Friday lunchtime.

The Circle line has been completely suspended, whilst the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate is also out of service.

Severe delays are affecting the Central, District, Jubilee and Piccadilly lines, with commuters facing significant disruption across the network.

The RMT represents approximately half of all Tube drivers, and its members are protesting against what they describe as TfL imposing a new four-day working week arrangement on train operators.

The dispute revolves around TfL's voluntary proposal that would enable drivers to shift to a compressed working pattern, trimming their weekly hours from 36 to 35.

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Union officials argue that condensing the same workload into fewer days would create unacceptably long shifts, raising serious concerns about fatigue and safety on the network.

The scheme is currently being trialled on a voluntary basis among Bakerloo line staff.

However, the RMT maintains that the arrangement falls short of what workers deserve, instead demanding a 32-hour week spread across four days with no reduction in pay.

TfL has characterised the industrial action as entirely avoidable, given that participation in the new working arrangements remains optional for drivers who wish to take part.

The rival drivers' union Aslef has taken a starkly different position, backing TfL's proposal and publicly criticising the walkout.

An Aslef spokesman said: "It will be the first strike in the history of the trade union movement designed to stop people having a shorter working week and more time off."

The union described the deal as "exactly the sort every trade union should be trying to achieve".

TfL has dismissed the strike action as "completely unnecessary", pointing to the voluntary nature of the four-day week scheme.

The transport authority noted that today's disruption, whilst significant, is expected to be less severe than the strikes witnessed in September 2025, when both Aslef and RMT members participated in coordinated industrial action.

Beyond the suspended services, the Central line is not operating between White City and Liverpool Street, whilst the Piccadilly line faces severe delays between Acton Town and Heathrow Terminals as well as Uxbridge.

The Victoria line is experiencing minor delays throughout, with the remainder of the Metropolitan line also seeing some disruption outside the closed section.

Passengers can still rely on alternative TfL services, with the London Overground, Elizabeth line, DLR and tram network all running to their normal timetables during the industrial action.

Transport bosses have indicated that the overall impact on services should prove less disruptive than the walkouts in September 2025, when coordinated strike action by both major unions brought the network to a near standstill.