Elizabeth line still operating to Heathrow as rest of London Tube comes to a standstill

The London Underground strike, initiated by the RMT union, has entered its most intense phase, with fleet, engineering, stations and trains staff walking out from midnight until 11.59pm, ensuring virtually no services across all lines.

The Elizabeth line and the Overground are operating but will be much busier than usual/ Travellers are warned to allow longer journey times to and from airports. With the Piccadilly line unavailable, the best way to travel from Heathrow is on the Elizabeth line

The strike is estimated to cost the local economy €270m. It affects all tube lines and has led to a significant increase in bus, cycling, and river boat usage among commuters. Small businesses, particularly in hospitality and retail, claim they are suffering losses due to the disruption, with some estimating €12,000-€24,000 shortfalls.

There is a standoff between RMT and TfL over pay and working conditions, with the union demanding a reduction in the working week.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Prime Minister Keir Starmer have called for negotiations to resolve the issue and restore normal transport services.

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR), hit by a separate but concurrent dispute, was also shuttered for the full day on Tuesday and is expected to remain non-operational on Thursday, further complicating travel in east and southeast London.

tarmerEddie Dempsey of RMT shared, “Industrial relations with TfL have totally collapsed.”

England’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer shared, “Londoners are rightly fed up with the chaos affecting school runs, hospital visits and daily commutes.”