London Tube strikes: May walkouts and affected lines

London Tube strikes are expected to bring further disruption next week. Underground drivers are due to hold another round of industrial action across four days. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The walkouts are expected to affect travel in the capital for much of the week, as Sky News reported. They follow similar action in April by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT).

London Tube strikes in May

The first 24-hour Tube strike is due to begin at 12pm on Tuesday 19 May. A second 24-hour stoppage is scheduled to start at midday on Thursday 21 May.

Transport for London says services may not return to normal immediately. Disruption is expected to continue into the afternoon and evening after each strike officially ends.

On Tuesday 19 May and Thursday 21 May, Tube services are expected to run normally at first. From mid-morning, services may be reduced before the strikes begin. Passengers may then start to see disruption.

After midday on both strike days, journeys are expected to be disrupted on all lines. Any Tube services that continue operating will end earlier than usual. Disruption is expected to continue into the following day.

On Wednesday 20 May and Friday 22 May, passengers should expect morning disruption on all lines. Any Tube services that operate will begin later than normal.

TfL says some disruption may continue after midday while services are restored. By the evening, normal service is expected to resume.

Also, passengers are being advised to plan journeys in advance using TfL’s journey planner. They should check live line updates before travelling.

Affected Tube lines and other services

No service is expected on the Piccadilly and Circle lines during the strikes. The Metropolitan line is also expected to be suspended between Baker Street and Aldgate. The Central line is expected to have no service between White City and Liverpool Street.

The disruption is limited to the named Tube lines and sections. Other London Underground lines are not expected to be affected.

At the same time, buses and the Elizabeth line are due to operate as normal. The DLR, London Overground and tram services are also due to operate as normal. Still, they are likely to be busier than usual.

Separately, Stagecoach bus routes from Bow garage in east London also have strike action planned. It is scheduled to run from 5am on Friday 15 May. It ends at 5am the following day.

The affected routes are 8, 25, 205, 425, N8, N25 and N205.

In addition, two more 24-hour Tube strikes are currently planned for 16 and 18 June. They remain scheduled unless transport managers and unions reach an agreement before then. Those walkouts are expected to follow the same structure as the May action. They are also expected to affect the same lines.

Why drivers are striking?

The dispute centres on TfL’s plan to introduce a new four-day working week for drivers. The RMT has criticised the proposal as “fake”. It says the plan would compress drivers’ weekly hours.

The union had originally suspended the April strike. It said management had agreed to talks. Later, it accused TfL of reversing its position. The union then decided to proceed with industrial action.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said the union had “approached negotiations with TfL in good faith”. He added that “TfL seem unwilling to make any concessions”.

Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, defended the four-day week proposal. She said it would give drivers an additional day off. She also said it would bring the Underground “in line with the working patterns of other train operating companies”.

“The changes would be voluntary,” she said. “There would be no reduction in contractual hours and those who wish to continue a five-day working week pattern would be able to do so.”

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