Commuters brace for travel chaos next week with ‘little to no service’ across London

TfL is advising passengers to “only travel if their journey is essential” on the Tube network from Sunday evening.

The strikes comes amid an ongoing pay dispute.

The chaos will begin when engineering and maintenance workers take action this Friday and Saturday, with no rest-day working or overtime from then until January 12.

Underground control centre and power and control members follow suit this Sunday and next Monday, while all fleet workers will walk out next Monday.

Signallers and service controller members will also strike next Tuesday and Thursday as well as all fleet, stations and trains grades, who will walk out next Wednesday.

Travel chiefs warn that the Docklands Light Railway, London Overground, Elizabeth line and TfL bus services are expected to be busier than normal next week.

Talks between TfL and RMT remain ongoing today amid hope that action could yet be called off – as happened in October last year.

The union says it wants to “see full staff travel facilities for all Tube workers restored” and slammed TfL bosses for “freezing pay bands”.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The refusal of Transport for London to restore staff travel facilities and create a two-tier workforce is also unacceptable.

“Our members have made it clear that they are prepared to take action and we urge TfL to improve their offer to avert disruption in the capital.”

Glynn Barton, TfL’s chief operating Officer, said today: “We are disappointed that RMT is planning strike action in response to our offer of a 5 per cent pay increase.

“We have been clear throughout our productive discussions with our trade unions that this offer is the most we can afford while ensuring that we can operate safely, reliably and sustainably.

“We encourage the RMT to engage with us to avoid disruption for Londoners. We would like to advise anyone travelling during the strike days to check before they travel.”