London Underground strike to roll for seven days in September

Published on Aug 21, 2025, 10:09 am CDT

6 min read

London Underground workers represented by the RMT will stage seven days of rolling strikes beginning September 5, 2025, after talks over pay, fatigue management, shift patterns, and a shorter working week stalled. Different staff groups will walk out on different days, with the most severe disruption expected between September 7 and 11. Transport for London warns that other services could be busier than normal, and station closures may affect interchanges even where trains are running. Travelers should allow extra time and build flexible plans.

Key Points

Why it matters: A week of rolling walkouts will disrupt nearly all Tube lines on multiple days.
Travel impact: Elizabeth line, London Overground, and buses will run, but expect crowding and intermittent station closures.
What's next: Talks could continue, but the union has set a detailed day-by-day plan.
Day-by-day Tube impacts include control, signallers, trains, and station staff walks outs.
Separate DLR action is planned the week beginning September 7, narrowing alternatives in Docklands.

Snapshot

RMT announced rolling action across London Underground for seven days starting Friday, September 5. Initial action affects a depot managers group over September 5 to 6. Wider walkouts then escalate from Sunday, September 7, when control and emergency response grades strike, followed by all fleet, engineering, stations, and trains staff on Monday, September 8. Signallers and service control are set to strike on Tuesday, September 9, before a repeat of fleet, engineering, stations, and trains on Wednesday, September 10, and signallers and service control again on Thursday, September 11. TfL says non-Tube services may operate, but interchanges could close without notice. DLR workers are also due to strike during the week beginning September 7.

Background

Industrial relations on London's railways have been tense since 2022. The latest Tube dispute centers on pay, fatigue and extreme shift rotations, and a union push for a reduced working week. RMT says prior agreements were not honored. TfL has encouraged passengers to check status before travel during past actions, noting that non-Tube modes often run but become extremely crowded, with some stations closed for safety. For visitors, especially Americans traveling the week after Labor Day, the rolling nature of these walkouts means each day could look different, with closures shifting by grade. Our July coverage provides additional context on how Tube strikes typically unfold and what travelers experience on the ground, including queuing controls and limited step-free routes. See London Underground Strike Set for July 8-9: What Tube Riders Need to Know and our London Travel Guide: The Ultimate 7-10 Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors.

Latest Developments

London Underground strike, dates and who is walking out

RMT's plan begins Friday, September 5, with a depot operational managers strike through early evening Saturday, September 6. On Sunday, September 7, Track Access Controllers, the London Underground Control Centre, power control, and emergency response units will strike. On Monday, September 8, all fleet, engineering, stations, and trains grades are due to walk out. On Tuesday, September 9, signallers and service control staff strike. Wednesday, September 10, repeats the Monday pattern for fleet, engineering, stations, and trains. Thursday, September 11, returns to signallers and service control. RMT says it remains open to talks, but the calendar is set.

What will actually run, and what lines are hit

Expect little or no service at times on the Bakerloo, Central, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria, and Waterloo & City lines, especially on September 8 to 11 when trains, stations, signallers, and service control take action. TfL advises checking live status and being prepared for crowding, queuing systems, and short-notice station closures even where trains operate. Non-Tube modes, including the Elizabeth line, London Overground, buses, and Trams, are expected to run but will be extremely busy.

Routing around the strikes, including Elizabeth line, DLR, and buses

Elizabeth line, fastest east-west spine: Use it to bridge major central hubs when Piccadilly, Central, or Jubilee are down. Key interchanges include Heathrow Terminals, Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Canary Wharf, Stratford, Woolwich, and Abbey Wood. For West End stays, Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road are strong substitutes for Oxford Circus or Leicester Square. For the City, use Farringdon or Liverpool Street.

DLR for Docklands and City Airport: When running, connect via Elizabeth line at Canary Wharf or Custom House for ExCeL, then ride DLR for Canary Wharf, Greenwich, or London City Airport. Note, DLR staff are set to strike the week beginning September 7, so availability may vary by day. Always confirm before you go.

Buses to replace short Tube hops: Expect dedicated queuing at major stops. Use buses for point-to-point moves inside Zones 1 to 2, for example Paddington to South Kensington, the West End to the City, or Waterloo to the South Bank and Tower areas. Journey times will be longer in traffic, and some stops near closed stations may be temporarily relocated. TfL says roads and surface modes will be much busier than normal.

Analysis

For travelers, the headline is not a total city stop, but a volatile week where disruption shifts daily. The heaviest impacts will likely fall on Monday through Thursday, September 8 to 11, when train crews, station teams, and service control grades alternate. On those days, entire lines could pause or fragment, interchanges may shut, and step-free journeys will be harder. The Elizabeth line is your best central artery, offering rapid, high-capacity service across the West End, the City, and Docklands, with direct Heathrow access. However, expect long lines to enter stations, especially at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, and Liverpool Street. In Docklands, the planned DLR action during the same week further compresses options, making buses the fallback for short links or last-mile connections. Build 30 to 60 minutes of cushion, travel outside peaks where possible, and keep plans flexible. If you rely on step-free routes, verify lifts and station openings before leaving your hotel.

Final Thoughts

The rolling calendar means conditions will change by day and by hour, so the smartest move is to anchor your plans on the Elizabeth line, then add DLR or bus connections as available. If your itinerary includes Westminster, Covent Garden, Soho, the City, or Canary Wharf, plot an east-west backbone first, then handle last-mile links on surface routes. Americans arriving just after Labor Day should expect queues, diversions, and crowded platforms, but most trips remain possible with extra time and patience. Check status often, and build a plan B and C during the London Underground strike.