Tube and rail strikes extend heatwave travel delays across Barnet
RMT walkout shuts Northern line Bank branch and halts Thameslink services through Mill Hill Broadway on 12 August
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Commuters in Barnet faced renewed travel disruption on 12 August as RMT members staged a 24-hour strike across London Underground and Thameslink services. The walkout, called over pay disputes and working conditions, forced the closure of the Northern line’s Bank branch and suspended all Thameslink trains stopping at Mill Hill Broadway.
Transport for London (TfL) confirmed that Northern line trains would run only between Morden and Kennington, bypassing High Barnet and Edgware. Thameslink services between Luton and London St Pancras were cancelled north of St Albans, leaving Mill Hill Broadway without rail access for the day.
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Heatwave worsens crowding on replacement services
The Met Office recorded temperatures of 32°C in Barnet on 11 August, with similar conditions forecast for 12 August. TfL advised passengers to carry water and avoid non-essential travel between 06:30 and 21:30, citing reduced capacity and heat-related health risks.
Replacement buses operated between High Barnet and Finchley Central, and Edgware and Golders Green, but TfL warned of delays up to 60 minutes due to congestion. Barnet Council opened cooling centres at Burnt Oak Library and Hendon Town Hall until 18:00, offering water and air-conditioned spaces for vulnerable residents.
Charing Cross northbound Tube services suspended after passenger incident
The incident, reported by London Now, caused northbound trains to skip the station while staff manage the situation; passengers are advised to use alternative routes.
Council and unions clash over strike impact
Barnet Council leader Barry Rawlings said the strike would disproportionately affect residents in outer London, where alternative transport options are limited. "Many of our residents rely on the Northern line and Thameslink to reach work or medical appointments," he said, as reported by *This Is Local London*. "The timing, during a heatwave, makes this disruption particularly concerning."
The timing, during a heatwave, makes this disruption particularly concerning.
Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet Council
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch defended the strike, stating that members had "no choice" after TfL rejected a revised pay offer. "Our members are working in unsafe conditions during extreme heat, with no adequate cooling measures in place," Lynch said in a statement published by the *Evening Standard*. TfL has not commented on the specific claims about workplace temperatures.
What happens next
The RMT strike is scheduled to end at 04:30 on 13 August, with TfL expecting services to resume gradually from 05:30. Thameslink has not confirmed whether additional engineering works will extend disruptions beyond the strike period. Barnet Council will keep cooling centres open if temperatures exceed 30°C on 13 August.
TfL urged passengers to check its website or the TfL Go app for real-time updates. The next RMT strike is planned for 19 August, though negotiations between the union and TfL are ongoing. No further heatwave-related travel advisories have been issued beyond 12 August.
Questions this report answers
+Which Tube and rail services are affected in Barnet on 12 August?
The Northern line Bank branch is closed, bypassing High Barnet and Edgware. Thameslink services are suspended at Mill Hill Broadway. Replacement buses run between High Barnet and Finchley Central, and Edgware and Golders Green, but with delays up to 60 minutes.
+How long will the RMT strike last?
The strike began at 04:30 on 12 August and is scheduled to end at 04:30 on 13 August. TfL expects services to resume gradually from 05:30 on 13 August, but Thameslink has not confirmed if further disruptions will follow.
+Where can Barnet residents find cooling centres during the heatwave?
Barnet Council has opened cooling centres at Burnt Oak Library and Hendon Town Hall until 18:00 on 12 August. They will remain open on 13 August if temperatures exceed 30°C, offering water and air-conditioned spaces for vulnerable residents.
+What is the cause of the RMT strike?
RMT members are striking over pay disputes and working conditions, including claims of unsafe temperatures in Tube tunnels and stations. TfL has not commented on the specific allegations, but the union states its members had "no choice" after rejecting a revised pay offer.
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