London transit strikes

London is heading into four days of Tube disruption from Tuesday, April 21, to Friday, April 24, after RMT drivers confirmed strike action across the Underground. (tfl.gov.uk) Transport for London said the walkouts will hit the whole Tube network, with normal service early on Tuesday and Thursday, then major disruption after midday that carries into Wednesday and Friday mornings. TfL said reduced service is expected on most lines rather than a total shutdown. (tfl.gov.uk) The dispute is between London Underground and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union over a compressed four-day working week for Tube drivers. RMT announced the action on March 10 and said April’s strikes followed a breakdown in talks after a March suspension. (rmt.org.uk, rmt.org.uk) RMT said on April 18 that TfL had made the strike “inevitable” by backing away from earlier commitments in negotiations. TfL said last week that it was still in dialogue with the union and was working to run as many services as possible. (rmt.org.uk, tfl.gov.uk) The timing matters because the disruption reaches beyond the Underground itself: airport trips that depend on Tube connections, rail interchanges or central London bus links can unravel even if flights leave on time. Time Out’s airport guide says Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted journeys all need extra time this week because parts of the usual access chain are under pressure. (timeout.com) TfL says the Elizabeth line, Docklands Light Railway, London Overground and trams will run normally on the strike days. It also says most buses will keep running, though seven Stagecoach-operated routes face separate strike action from 5 a.m. on Friday, April 24, to 5 a.m. on Saturday, April 25. (tfl.gov.uk) That means the main alternatives are not evenly useful for every trip. The Elizabeth line can still reach Heathrow, but Tube-dependent routes to stations, hotels and central London interchanges may still be slower or more crowded than usual. (tfl.gov.uk, timeout.com) The current strike plan is smaller than the September 2025 Tube stoppages, and TfL says it expects less severe network-wide impact this time. But the agency is still telling passengers to check service updates before travel on each strike day, not just once at the start of the week. (tfl.gov.uk, tfl.gov.uk) For London this week, the practical picture is a city where trains may be running, but not when or where many passengers usually need them. The strikes are scheduled to end early on Friday, April 24, with recovery continuing into the evening. (tfl.gov.uk)