Tube commuters face more delays as engineers begin industrial action
RMT union members start work-to-rule over 'unresolved breaches of agreed machineries and agreements'
Tube strike: how will your journey be affected?
24 August
London Underground managers are meeting union leaders today in a bid to avert Tube strikes due to take place later this week.
Members of three unions – the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), Unite and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association – are threatening to stage two 24-hour walkouts, which will affect services from Tuesday 25 August until Friday 28 August. The drivers' union Aslef has said it will not be taking part.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The unions are in dispute over pay and conditions for the new all-night Tube service, which is scheduled to begin on the Jubilee, Victoria and most of the Piccadilly, Central and Northern lines on 12 September. There were suggestions earlier this month that the launch date might be postponed.
Transport for London (TfL) has said it will run as many services as it can over the next four days, depending on the number of staff who show up. Nevertheless it has advised all customers to allow more time for their journeys.
Here's what to expect if this week's strike goes ahead:
Tuesday 25 August
Tube services are due to stop running from around 6.30pm, with an "exceptionally busy" period between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.
Wednesday 26 August
"Most Tube services are unlikely to run at all and those that do will be less frequent than normal," says TfL. Any services that do operate may only stop at a limited number of stations and/or run for a limited number of hours.
Thursday 27 August
Tube services should be running again in the morning, although travellers have been warned that there may be some "lasting impact" from Wednesday's strike action. The Tube will then stop running at 6.30pm – again with an "exceptionally busy" period expected between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.
Friday 28 August
Friday's strike action is expected to be similar to Wednesday's, with Tube services "unlikely to run at all". Those that do will be less frequent than normal, may only service some stations and may only run for part of the day.
Saturday 29 August
London Underground services will open at the usual time, although scheduled engineering work will go ahead as planned.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures Firing shells, burning ballots, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
Damian Barr shares his favourite books
The Week Recommends The writer and broadcaster picks works by Alice Walker, Elif Shafak and others
By The Week UK Published
-
The Great Mughals: a 'treasure trove' of an exhibition
The Week Recommends The V&A's new show is 'spell-binding'
By The Week UK Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'People in general want workers to earn a decent living'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published