London Tube Strike LIVE – Updates and TfL train status' as Central & Victoria lines face delays today

TODAY, Saturday 27, there will be strike action again for six hours from 8.30pm on the Central and Victoria lines.

In light of the Tube Strike, TfL have urged commuters not only to check their routes before travelling, but to also use alternative ways to travel around London.

There are also strikes planned next month, with the first starting on the 3 December.

Nick Dent, the director of London Underground customer operations, has also warned that the strike by RMT might have serious consequences as it comes ahead of Christmas.

Read our Tube strike live blog for live updates…

  • Milica Cosic

    London Underground says serious consequences in the run-up to Christmas

    Nick Dent, director of London Underground customer operations, said the strike by RMT was “avoidable” and it might have serious consequences as it comes ahead of Christmas.

    Nick said the strike: “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,” he added.

  • Milica Cosic

    TFL warns buses and roads to be busier than normal

    TFL urged commuters to plan more time for journeys as delays are expected and consider walking or cycling.

    “If the strikes go ahead, we will operate as many services as possible, but this will depend on staffing levels on the day,” it added.

  • Milica Cosic

    What lines are affected today?

    Strike action took take place for 24 hours from 4.30am on Friday (November 26) on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines.

    Today, there will be strike action again for six hours from 8.30pm on the Central and Victoria lines.

  • Milica Cosic

    Electric scooters

    In light of the Tube Strike, there are alternative ways you can use to travel around London.

    Some boroughs offer electric scooters to rent, which is the only way to legally ride one in London.

    These areas are Camden, City of London, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Westminster.

    Renting an e-scooter typically costs between £3.25 and £3.40 for a 15-minute journey, according to TfL.

    Operators charge a £1 unlock fee plus 15p per minute for Dott and Tier scooters or 16p per minute for Lime, which is paid via the relevant app.

  • Milica Cosic

    Saturday 27 November strikes

    Tube strikes Central and Victoria lines.

    Saturday 27 November evening and overnight (plus further strikes planned).

    Always make sure to check your travel.

  • Milica Cosic

    Advice on travelling around London

    Services are likely to be much busier than usual.

    Here are some tips from Transport for London (TfL):

    • Allow extra time to complete your journey
    • Consider walking or cycling, as other lines and services are likely to be busier as people seek alternative routes 
    • Follow our safer travel guidance throughout the strike
    • Check status updates before you travel using our travel tools below

    What should commuters do?

    Commuters should always check and plan their journey before they leave for their commute to see whether the lines are heavily affected.

    You can check our blog for the latest updates and news.

    You can also use the Official TFL website to check for closures and disruption.

    The strikes to come

    Below are the list of dates that drivers are expected to strike unless an agreement is reached between the RMT and TfL:

    • 4:30am 26 November – 04:29am 27 November (Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria)
    • 8:30pm 27 November – 04:29am 28 November (Central & Victoria)
    • 8:30pm 3 December – 04:29am 4 December (Central & Victoria) 8:3
    • 0pm 4 December – 04:29am 5 December (Central & Victoria)
    • 8:30pm 10 December – 04:29am 11 December (Central & Victoria)
    • 8:30pm 11 December – 04:29am 12 December (Central & Victoria)
    • 8:30pm 17 December – 04:29am 18 December (Central & Victoria)
    • 04:30am 18 December – 04:29am 19 December (Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly & Victoria)

    Cheaper way to get around London

    Like many, you’re probably also struggling with commuting in London at the moment following the strikes.

    Well TFL have jumped on the Black Friday band wagon and are offering 25% of Santander bikes.

    The offer lasts until Monday and you need to use the code ‘Cyclebf21’.

    • Milica Cosic

      Increased risk of close contact & spread of Covid

      A GP raised concerns over Tube strike actions taking place while a mega mutated Covid variant is emerging.

      Jamie Wallis told The Standard: “The strike will force lots of people from the Tube onto buses increasing the risk of close contact and the spread of Covid.

      “As a GP, my first thought is always how this will affect my patients travelling to hospitals for appointments and treatment.

      “Sitting on a packed bus where no one is wearing a mask isn’t where you want to be if you are having chemotherapy or are otherwise immunologically vulnerable.”

    • Milica Cosic

      Possible strikes to come

      Below are the list of dates that drivers are expected to strike unless an agreement is reached between the RMT and TfL:

      • 4:30am 26 November – 04:29am 27 November (Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria)
      • 8:30pm 27 November – 04:29am 28 November (Central & Victoria)
      • 8:30pm 3 December – 04:29am 4 December (Central & Victoria) 8:3
      • 0pm 4 December – 04:29am 5 December (Central & Victoria)
      • 8:30pm 10 December – 04:29am 11 December (Central & Victoria)
      • 8:30pm 11 December – 04:29am 12 December (Central & Victoria)
      • 8:30pm 17 December – 04:29am 18 December (Central & Victoria)
      • 04:30am 18 December – 04:29am 19 December (Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly & Victoria)

      'Night Tube important after Sarah Everard murder'

      People have taken to Twitter to express the importance of the Night Tube returning to London.

      One wrote: "The return of the night tube is important – especially in light of the murder of Sarah Everard – but unethical cost-cutting and such a lack of respect or concern for a workforce is not the way forward."

      Another person said: "A tube strike on the weekend they were supposed to be reopening the night tube to help people get home safer? Good one".

      Advice if travelling today

      Advice issued from Transport for London (TfL):

      • Allow extra time to complete your journey
      • Consider walking or cycling, as other lines and services are likely to be busier as people seek alternative routes 
      • Follow our safer travel guidance throughout the strike
      • Check status updates before you travel using our travel tools below

      Tube strike 'an unnecessary attack on Londoners'

      Conservative London Assembly member Emma Best has slammed the decision of the RMT Union to go on strike.

      She's tweeted: "The RMT tube strike today is an unnecessary attack on London’s commuters & visitors.

      "Other unions have already agreed the changes which ask drivers to work just FOUR night shifts a year.

      "For a global, 24/7 city, that is a wholly reasonable request."

      Transport Secretary urges union to “get services running"

      Grant Shapps told LBC yesterday: “I absolutely appeal to the unionsto not disrupt everyone’s lives. We have had enough disruption through coronavirus.

      “This is a dispute between TfL, the workers there, and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, so I don’t have a direct role in it.

      “I would just appeal for them to get round a table and get these services running. This is the last thing that Londoners need. I urge them to think again.”

      • Milica Cosic

        Tough weeks ahead for TfL

        Transport for London (TfL) faces a challenging couple of weeks in the lead up to Christmas.

        Today is the first of seven separate planned dates of strike action.

        Furthermore, TfL also faces concerns over its finances.

        Since May 2020, TfL has had three government bailouts – of over £4bn. There have been repeated rows over funding for TfL and the cause of its financial crisis.

        Discussions between TfL and the Department for Transport are continuing.

      • Milica Cosic

        Londoners complain

        Commuters complained of the ‘toxic’ strike action on the London Underground as they faced long delays.

        They took to Twitter to describe the stressed of traffic growing on the roads and buses crawling along.

        One wrote: "In solid traffic already not gonna last long today."

        Another said: "It’s disgusting. They earn more money than any of the British public services or frontline jobs. And yet again they strike and bringing chaos/financial difficulty to the whole of London. All because the don’t wanna work a night shift.”

        A third tweeted: “Trying to get to work during a tube strike, haven’t done this for a while. Wish me luck!!!”

      • Milica Cosic

        Sadiq Khan brands industrial action ‘unnecessary’

        Sadiq Khan has spoken out against Friday’s industrial action, branding it “unnecessary”.

        He told the BBC: “It is causing widespread disruption for millions of Londoners and will also hit London’s retail, culture and hospitality at the worst possible time.

        “It’s extremely disappointing that the RMT refused to attend talks yesterday with TfL to try to come to a resolution. I urge them to come back to the table.

        “The Night Tube has an important part to play in our capital’s recovery and helps to improve safety for everyone, especially women and girls making their way home at night.”

      • Milica Cosic

        London Underground boss say strike is unnecessary

        Nick Dent, director of London Underground customer operations, has said that: “At such a pivotal time for the capital’s recovery, we are hugely disappointed that the RMT is threatening London with this unnecessary action.

        “By making changes to Tube driver rosters we have provided greater flexibility for drivers as well as permanent work and job security, something welcomed by all other unions.”

      • Milica Cosic

        Pictured: Friday's travel chaos

        Commuters travelling towards central London today and tomorrow are in for a hectic commute.

        The ongoing dispute is over the night shifts that drivers will be required to work to enable the restart of the Night Tube.

        This means that passengers will experience delayed or no service on the trains, and more people using busses, taxis and bikes.

        Make sure to plan your route before you travel.

      • Milica Cosic

        Travelling to Heathrow Airport

        The London Tube strike means most routes into Heathrow Airport will be closed off.

        Passengers travelling to Heathrow are advised to use TfL Rail services as an alternative to the Piccadilly line where possible.

      • Milica Cosic

        Petition to restart night tube

        The industrial action threatens to wreak havoc upon the long-awaited return of the Night Tube that thousands of Brits were desperate for.

        A petition to restart the service gained 150,000 signatures, amid fears for women's safety when returning home in the dark in the wake of the Sarah Everard case.

        The nighttime service had been due to resume on November 27, but was only running on the two busiest lines, Victoria and Central.

        It seems the union have chosen their time to strike wisely, as it will cause chaos for bosses at Transport for London.

      • Milica Cosic

        Planned: London Tube strike

        Before travelling on Friday 26 and Sunday 27, check your route.

        The lines affected are:

        • Victoria, Central, Northern, Jubilee and Piccadilly – from 4.30am on Friday 26 for 24 hours
        • Central and Victoria from 8:30am on Saturday 27 until 4:30am on Sunday 28

        TfL have called for RMT to call off the strike

        TfL have called for RMT to call off the strike and enter talks about the staffing requirements of the Night Tube.

        Nick Dent, director of London Underground customer operations, added: “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.”

        Are there any other future Tube strikes I need to worry about?

        Further action has been planned each weekend in the run-up to Christmas on the Central and Victoria lines.

        There will also be another five-line 24-hour shutdown on the final Saturday before Christmas.

        TfL have called for RMT to call off the strike and enter talks about the staffing requirements of the Night Tube.

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