London Tube strikes live: Commuters hit by severe delays as drivers walkout for second time this week
The strikes are in response to issues including a new four-day week
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Commuters in London are facing further travel misery on Thursday as the second major Tube strike in a week got underway, bringing disruption to most services in the capital.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan had urged RMT bosses to return to the negotiating table before the second 24-hour walkout began at midnight.
Talks between Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and Transport for London (TfL) on Monday failed to resolve the long-running dispute over working hours. Members of the union walked out on Tuesday and did so again on Thursday.
Sir Sadiq had urged the union to call off Thursday’s strike to prevent further travel chaos.
“The workers on strike lose a day’s salary, TfL loses revenue, businesses are losing their customers, people who have hospital appointments can’t get to them. It is a massive inconvenience,” he added.
The strikes are in response to issues including a new four-day week which the union says its members oppose. The drivers’ union Aslef has accepted the new arrangements.
Watch: Severe delays and suspensions across London as 24 hour tube strike begins
Rebecca Whittaker4 June 2026 07:00
Underground status as services disrupted
Shweta Sharma4 June 2026 06:51
Several lines completely suspended
A number of tube lines have been completely suspended as of 6.30am today.
Services are currently suspected on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, and Hammersmith & City lines.
Most lines are expected to have some disruptions today.
Transport for London (TfL) has warned that no service is expected on the Circle line, Piccadilly line, and Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate.
Services will also remain disrupted on the Central line between White City and Liverpool Street.
Passengers are being advised to consider alternative routes.
The Elizabeth line, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and National Rail services are expected to run as normal.
Shweta Sharma4 June 2026 06:47
Piccadilly line closures to cause major disruption for Heathrow passengers
Major closures on the Piccadilly line this June will force Heathrow passengers to find alternative routes to the airport.
Transport for London is carrying out necessary work to upgrade the Piccadilly line ahead of the new fleet of state-of-the-art trains scheduled to enter passenger service by the end of this year at the earliest.
The £3.4bn investment will offer 10 per cent more capacity, along with wider double doorways for easier boarding, and will be the first deep Tube trains to have air conditioning.
Shweta Sharma4 June 2026 06:30
What to expect on Thursday?
London commuters are being warned to expect severe disruption on Thursday as a 24-hour strike by tube drivers who are members of the RMT union is expected to impact services across the Underground network.
The walkout began past midnight on Thursday and will continue until 11.59pm, with Transport for London advising passengers to plan ahead and consider alternative routes where possible.
Tube services are expected to be heavily reduced throughout the day, with only a limited service operating before 6.30am. Travellers have been advised to complete their journeys by 9pm on Thursday as disruption is expected to continue into the evening.
Transport officials have warned that stations could become busier than usual and that buses, rail services and other alternative transport options may face increased demand as commuters seek ways to avoid disruption on the Underground.
Passengers are being encouraged to check before they travel and allow extra time for journeys throughout Thursday.
Shweta Sharma4 June 2026 06:19
When are London Tube strikes taking place this week and which lines are affected?
Rebecca Whittaker4 June 2026 06:00
Recap: London Underground drivers on strike again today
London Underground drivers are striking again today, causing fresh disruption for travellers in the capital.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) walked out on Tuesday after last-ditch talks failed to resolve a dispute over a four-day week.
Picket lines will again be mounted outside Tube stations throughout today and the union said it expected the strike to be solidly supported.
The RMT added that talks were expected to resume next week.
The two sides met for five hours on Monday, with the assistance of the conciliation service Acas, but the talks ended without any resolution.
Shweta Sharma4 June 2026 05:59
NHS Trust said it would be 'flexible with appointments' during strikes
Barts NHS Health Trust, one of London's largest, has issued guidance for its patients regarding the tube strikes.
Those attending appointments at its five hospitals are urged to check their travel routes and inform relevant teams if they are delayed.
The trust confirmed it would be “flexible with appointment timings” for those delayed, however patients might experience a wait upon arrival.
All hospitals operated by Barts NHS Health Trust will be open during the strike action.
Patients are encouraged to “plan ahead” and “allow extra time” for their journeys.
Rebecca Whittaker4 June 2026 05:00
Data shows decrease in London footfall on Tuesday
Data compiled by Virgin Media’s O2 network has found that footfall in several of London’s key areas has been down compared to a normal Tuesday morning.
The City of London is down by 16 per cent, while Westminster is down by 11 per cent. In King’s Cross, footfall was down by 8 per cent, while the West End was down by 6 per cent.
A Virgin Media O2 spokesperson said: “As Tube strikes take place across London, our mobility data shows footfall is down across some of the city's busiest areas, including the City, Westminster and King's Cross.
“The figures provide a real-time snapshot of how London responds when major transport disruption hits. Whether people are working from home, changing their commute or staying closer to where they live, reliable mobile and broadband connectivity plays an increasingly important role in keeping people connected throughout the day.”
Rebecca Whittaker4 June 2026 04:00
Why is there a Tube strike today?
The main reason for the strikes is the proposed introduction of a 35-hour, four-day week for Tube drivers.
Following strikes in September a pay deal was signed to increase pay by about 3.6 per cent which is above inflation.
Currently the average Tube driver earns about £72,000 a year.
But the pay deal only guaranteed negotiations over working hours and the potential for a four-day week.
Currently drivers work a minimum 35-hour week, which is spread over five days. But TfL wants to compress these hours over four days rather than spread across five.
While TfL believes these new shifts would give drivers more time to rest, RMT says its members are concerned about fatigue from longer shifts.
Rebecca Whittaker4 June 2026 03:00
