Tube strike dates

What we know about

We are not currently carrying any reports of announced industrial action on London Underground. That is not a guarantee that none has been called — it means nothing has reached our sources. Transport for London’s own status page is the authoritative check before you travel.

How much warning you get

A strike is never a surprise, legally speaking. A union must hold a postal ballot of its members, which takes weeks, and must then give the employer at least fourteen days’ notice of the action — or seven, if the employer agrees to the shorter period.

In practice that means dates become public two to three weeks ahead, and are frequently called off in the final days if talks succeed. A strike announced is not a strike that will happen, which is the single most common misunderstanding about them.

What still runs

Strikes rarely close the whole network, and the shape of the disruption depends on who is striking.

If drivers strike

Affected lines run little or nothing, while stations stay open and other lines are normal. This tends to produce a clean split: some lines gone entirely, the rest working.

If station staff strike

Trains may run but stations close, because a station cannot open safely without staff. The effect is patchier and harder to plan around — a line can be running while the station you need is shut.

What is usually unaffected

The Elizabeth line, London Overground, the DLR, trams and the buses are operated under separate arrangements and are often untouched by a London Underground strike. They also become extremely crowded, so being unaffected in principle and usable in practice are not the same thing.

Who calls them

The RMT is the largest union on London Underground and represents a broad mix of grades. ASLEF represents train drivers. The TSSA covers many management and clerical staff. A strike by one is a different day from a strike by another, which is why two strikes described identically in a headline can produce completely different journeys.

Refunds

Pay as you go journeys you did not make are not charged, so there is nothing to reclaim. Travelcard and season ticket holders can apply to Transport for London for a refund where the service was not provided. TfL’s own refunds page is the authoritative source for the current process and time limits.

Before you travel

Check the live board on the morning itself. Strike days move: services are often restored earlier than announced, or withdrawn later than expected, and the position at 7am is not always the position at 4pm.