RMT tube strikes set dates

London Underground drivers in the Rail, Maritime and Transport union are still set to strike on six dates this spring, with the first walkout due to begin at midday on Tuesday, April 21. (rmt.org.uk, tfl.gov.uk) Transport for London says the remaining strike windows are April 21-22, April 23-24, May 19-20, May 21-22, June 16-17 and June 18-19. Each stoppage runs from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. the following day, with disruption expected to spill into the afternoon and evening. (tfl.gov.uk) The March strikes that had been planned for March 24-25 and March 26-27 were suspended after what the union called progress in talks with London Underground management. The dispute itself was not settled, and the union later kept the April, May and June dates in place. (rmt.org.uk, tfl.gov.uk) The row is about a proposed compressed four-day working week for Tube drivers. The union says longer shifts could increase fatigue and create safety and work-life-balance problems for members. (rmt.org.uk) Transport for London says the strikes will affect the whole Tube network, but it expects to run reduced services on most lines and says the impact should be lighter than the network-wide shutdown during the September 2025 strikes. Elizabeth line, Docklands Light Railway, London Overground and tram services are expected to run normally, though they are likely to be busier. (tfl.gov.uk) Because the action is limited to some Tube drivers in the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, the disruption is not expected to mirror last year’s full-scale stoppage. Reporting by Time Out and Yahoo News UK says the lines with the biggest exposure include the Northern, Jubilee, Victoria, Hammersmith & City, District, Metropolitan, Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines. (tfl.gov.uk, timeout.com, uk.news.yahoo.com) TfL’s current advice is that Tuesdays and Thursdays should run normally until mid-morning, then ramp down before significant disruption after midday. Wednesdays and Fridays are expected to see significant disruption until midday, with recovery during the afternoon and evening. (tfl.gov.uk) The timing matters because the strike days fall across four-day blocks in late April, late May and mid-June, when commuters and visitors will already be navigating planned engineering works and heavier use of alternative rail routes. TfL is telling passengers to check Journey Planner and the TfL Go app before travelling. (tfl.gov.uk, tfl.gov.uk, tfl.gov.uk) For now, the dates are live, not final in the sense of unavoidable: the March walkouts were pulled back after negotiations, and both TfL and the union have left room for more talks before April 21. (rmt.org.uk, standard.co.uk)