SEVERE DISRUPTION: Tube customers in for day of travel chaos following Tube strike action

Tube customers have been warned of severe disruption on five Tube lines (Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria) today following strike action called by the RMT Union.

The planned action will also disrupt Night Tube services on the Central and Victoria lines from the evening of Saturday 27 November and Night Tube services throughout December.

Transport for London (TfL) say they will do all they can to provide as many transport options as possible, but Londoners are advised to check before they travel and leave more time for journeys.

Demand for licensed taxis is expected to be extremely high throughout the period.

London's bus services will also continue to run throughout the planned strike action although are expected to be busier than normal, as will London Overground, DLR, TfL Rail and London Trams.

TfL announced recently that night services on London Overground will be restored on Friday and Saturday nights between Highbury & Islington and New Cross Gate from 17 December 2021.

The planned strike action is the first of two days and eight nights scheduled between now and Christmas, which will cause disruption to Londoners and the city's recovery.

The RMT has taken the action over proposed new rosters. London Underground has met with the RMT through conciliation service ACAS to work with the union to address their issue over the last few months and previous strike action was suspended while these constructive discussions continued.

However, TfL say that despite the meetings, the RMT hasn't presented any workable alternatives to the roster changes and refused a recent offer to jointly review the Night Tube after a trial period.

Today’s action will severely disrupt services on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines on Friday 26 November from 4.30am. It could mean a significantly reduced service on these lines and the Waterloo & City line all day with little or no service in places.

It is also likely to mean much busier services on the Tube lines that are not affected by the strike (Bakerloo, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan) as customers seek alternative routes. Thameslink services and buses through central London are also expected to be busier than normal.

The RMT has also called for strikes to disrupt the re-introduction of Night Tube services on the Central and Victoria lines from the evening of Saturday 27 November and on weekends throughout December.

Nick Dent, Director of London Underground Customer Operations, said: “The RMT's planned strike action is needless and it will threaten London's recovery from the pandemic, despite no job losses and more flexibility and job certainty for drivers.

“While every other union has agreed to these changes and our staff have been enjoying the benefits of the changes since August, we're willing to work with the RMT and review the changes after Night Tube services have returned.

“This review can only be successful if the RMT agrees to meet us for talks and withdraws its proposed action so we can all see how these changes will work in practice.

“If the RMT refuses to engage with us and carries out its unnecessary action, which is timed to cause maximum disruption for our customers looking to enjoy London during the festive season, Londoners are advised to check before they travel on days of planned strike action.”

RMT General, Mick Lynch, said: "The tube strike action this morning is rock solid in all depots and the widespread impact on services is solely down to the management failure to recognise and address the anger of their staff at the imposition of damaging and unacceptable working practices.

"This action was wholly avoidable if LU bosses hadn't attempted to bulldoze through arrangements that abolished the Night Tube driver grade, lumping everyone into a central pool where they can be shunted about at will in a drive to cut costs.

"Our members have spoken this morning and it's time for London Underground to start listening. This is just the start of a programme of action and the Mayor and his officials need to recognise our determination to defend progressive and family friendly working practices. We remain available for talks."