>> OMG - London Underground on Strike for Almost a Whole Week?!

Hello everybody,

I hope all is well. Welcome back to your favorite blog about transport and travel disruptions. I have just read that London Underground workers have gone on a 5-day strike! It started on Sunday and will last until Friday morning. This could be the longest one yet that I can recall and I am wondering how I would have managed to get to work under these circumstances if I were currently in London with the responsibility of getting to my workplace on a daily basis.

Only two options come to mind: get up earlier and use buses or take the southwest train that goes to Waterloo — and probably a bus from there too. Last year, we had to deal with strike action as well, but mostly for up to 3 days 'only'. I understand why the Underground workers are striking, fair pay and working conditions matter. At the same time, I can also see how incredibly frustrating this must be for anyone who needs to get into central London every day.

I am not currently affected by this but I know exactly what it is like having to deal with this issue. Plus, if you work remotely - good for you. :) 

Here is all you need to know about the current disruptions: 

London is in the middle of one of its biggest Tube shutdowns in years. RMT union members on the Underground launched a five-day strike on Sunday, September 7th, demanding a shorter working week (32 hours instead of 35), alongside better pay and conditions. Transport for London (TfL) has countered with a 3.4% pay rise but insists it can’t afford reduced hours.

The result? From Monday through Thursday, September 8–11, most Tube services are suspended, leaving Londoners to search for alternatives. The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is also completely shut on the 9th and 11th. A limited recovery is expected Friday morning, September 12th, with no trains until around 8am and normal service later in the day.

For commuters, it’s been chaos. Roads are clogged, buses and Overground trains are rammed and the Elizabeth line has seen a 31% jump in use. Many have switched to bikes (rental use has spiked dramatically) or even hopped on the Thames Clippers river boats, which added extra services.

A few reasons why workers may feel underpaid while fares are high:

1. Where fares go

   • The money from tickets doesn’t all go directly into staff pay. A big portion is used for maintenance of trains, tracks and stations, energy costs, upgrades (like new trains or signalling) and debt repayments from past projects.

2. Funding gaps

   • Transport for London (TfL) has had its government subsidies cut in recent years, which means it relies much more heavily on fares. Even with high prices, that doesn’t always cover everything.

3. Wages vs. living costs

   • Tube staff are not necessarily “low paid” compared to the UK average, but London’s cost of living is so high (housing, transport, food) that many workers feel their pay doesn’t stretch far enough.

4. Union demands

   • Strikes often aren’t just about pay. In this case, staff also want shorter working weeks, better fatigue management and safer shift patterns. They argue that with rising workloads, their current terms don’t reflect the pressures of the job.

5. The fare paradox

   • For passengers, the system feels expensive. For staff, the funding structure means their pay rises are still resisted. Both can be true: fares are high and workers feel squeezed. TFL’s budget is stretched in many directions, while passengers and workers both end up feeling shortchanged.