RMT industrial action 5th - 12 September 2025

[Hadders]

My observations from working in London yesterday.

Fewer commuters than normal, many I suspect choosing to work from home. Buses very busy, some wedged full but plenty of room o others, depending on route.

Plenty of people walking to their places of work. Many with phone in hand consulting google maps.

I remember a tube strike c.20 years ago and it was far more disruptive. Then there were swarms of commuters walking along the Euston Road. It was like Oxford Street on the busiest Saturday of the year. Yesterday was busy on the streets but not at all like that.

 

[Nova1]

Northern line running today?

 

[Tetchytyke]

Wow.

Not sure why you've responded like that. Train driving in general is high concentration/low stimulus, i.e. you have to remain alert despite the fact nothing much is happening. Tube driving will be even worse for that- long periods of time in tunnels, ATO, frequent station calls requiring monotonous actions.

The mental load required to maintain high concentration in a low stimulus environment is very high. That's where the fatigue comes in. Ever noticed how you always feel more tired when you've had a boring day at work?

 

[kitchenoven]

Northern line running today?

Running is an overestimate lol, frequency is not there at all with a 5-15min wait between services during the peak. Maybe to try and get north-south services going and let EL handle east-west???? Seems to be more a PR move likely....

 

[MichaelJWP15]

There is a drastic increase in the number of cyclists, most of which are high speed electric Lime bikes and similar. As virtually no rental cyclists wear helmets and most of them have no road sense or cycle training I expect a drastic uptick in accidents and head injuries this week. Lives will be affected, this is not just a matter of inconvenience.

 

[Ethano92]

Running is an overestimate lol, frequency is not there at all with a 5-15min wait between services during the peak. Maybe to try and get north-south services going and let EL handle east-west???? Seems to be more a PR move likely…

Who is responsible for organising this at short notice? Is it the unions or TfL?

 

[MrJeeves]

Who is responsible for organising this at short notice? Is it the unions or TfL?

Where staff choose not to strike and attend work, a decision will be made by LUL senior management whether a service can be sustained. This is done in accordance with the usual emergency and contingency plans, and generally isn't just 'vibes'. In some cases it may be deemed that a service still cannot operate even with a full complement of staff on safety grounds.

I have it on good authority that there is a reduced number of staff on duty at Highgate SCC allowing a reduced service to run. Those staff at work will be required to determine the service level and manage it, as they would on any other day. The staff at work will generally be either non-union members, or members of other unions (TSSA or Aslef).

It won't be a PR move.

 

[bramling]

There is a drastic increase in the number of cyclists, most of which are high speed electric Lime bikes and similar. As virtually no rental cyclists wear helmets and most of them have no road sense or cycle training I expect a drastic uptick in accidents and head injuries this week. Lives will be affected, this is not just a matter of inconvenience.

Cycling in London has already been a menace since the advent of the rental bikes, for exactly this reason. Nothing new, unfortunately.

It used to be the case that most cyclists in London had a reasonable idea what they were doing. Not the case nowadays. I don’t think it’s fair to blame the RMT for that.

 

[Leight]

Just had a fun experience...

I live in Woking and am going to Cambridge to meet a friend (probably should've checked for industrial action in advance but, oh well) I knew the Tube might be completely shuttered, so was prepared to make a non-LU connection, i.e. Woking - Wimbledon - St Pancras - KX - Cambridge.

This morning I checked the TfL website, which claimed the Northern line was running (albeit with delays)! So I decided to stay on till Waterloo as usual; the train arrived at Wimbledon late anyways, so I would've missed my connection. I took the tube to Euston as usual, then headed down to the Bank branch platforms to see if there was service on that stretch of the Northern. A train pulled in so I got on; then the driver seemed to make a PA announcement, but it came out so muffled I couldn't make out anything. I had a bad feeling...

Indeed the train skipped KX (and Angel)! I was quite surprised that they would've shut KX (connected to two mainline stations) of all stations due to lack of staff. Slightly miffed, I got off at Old Street, headed to the NR platforms to perhaps catch the train to Stevenage. But the next train was half an hour away and was a local service which would've taken forever, so I hopped on the train to Moorgate instead, planning to catch the Elizabeth line to Farringdon and then a Thameslink service.

So I got to Moorgate and noticed that there was no signage at all that KX was closed; on the contrary there was a handwritten sign directing passengers to KX and Euston. I asked one of the staff, who assured me that KX was open, even after I told him the train had skipped KX on the way there. Not fully believing in him, I headed down to the Northern line platform and saw that the next train was due to arrive in 12 minutes... at which point I decided not to risk it and legged it through the winding passage to Liverpool St Crossrail, managing to just catch a departing train.

In hindsight I definitely should've just legged it from Euston to King's Cross, but well.

 

[Mawkie]

It won't be a PR move

If running the Northern Line with a 15 minute headway and Piccadilly Arnos to Cockfosters* isn't a PR move then I don't expect we'll see Lord Andy on the news today gloating about how much of the network they've been able to run....

*Arnos to Cockfosters doesn't have any trip cock testing facility, so not sure how that risk assessment was done.

 

[MichaelJWP15]

Cycling in London has already been a menace since the advent of the rental bikes, for exactly this reason. Nothing new, unfortunately.

It used to be the case that most cyclists in London had a reasonable idea what they were doing. Not the case nowadays. I don’t think it’s fair to blame the RMT for that.

I do agree, but this week it is x10 given the number of people who are taking to these bikes for the first time. These electric bikes allow them to go far faster for longer than they would with pedal power. They are also heavier and stop more slowly. (oh, and add in scooters which are in many ways even worse)

 

[bluegoblin7]

Arnos to Cockfosters doesn't have any trip cock testing facility, so not sure how that risk assessment was done.

Not the only service to run without TCT per trip, this week or historically. There are... ways around it, but I'd expect (hope) to see some SOO (Senior Operating Officer) waivers in place. The LU Rule Book allows SOOs to deviate from it, provided that there is a documented risk assessment process. This is one that is relatively easy to work around, and was done quite a lot with various service patterns during Covid.

 

[Thirteen]

Cycling in London has already been a menace since the advent of the rental bikes, for exactly this reason. Nothing new, unfortunately.

It used to be the case that most cyclists in London had a reasonable idea what they were doing. Not the case nowadays. I don’t think it’s fair to blame the RMT for that.

I agree, you can't blame TfL or the RMT for people not using their common sense when it comes to cycling.

I do agree, but this week it is x10 given the number of people who are taking to these bikes for the first time. These electric bikes allow them to go far faster for longer than they would with pedal power. They are also heavier and stop more slowly. (oh, and add in scooters which are in many ways even worse)

But that's not on TfL or the RMT if people decide to be reckless.

 

[MichaelJWP15]

I agree, you can't blame TfL or the RMT for people not using their common sense when it comes to cycling.


But that's not on TfL or the RMT if people decide to be reckless.

TFL/RMT cannot abandon all responsibility for knock-on effects, especially when RMT have chosen the blunderbuss approach of a comprehensive 5-day disruption. 1-day people could wfh mostly, this is different.

 

[philjo]

Just had a fun experience...

I live in Woking and am going to Cambridge to meet a friend (probably should've checked for industrial action in advance but, oh well) I knew the Tube might be completely shuttered, so was prepared to make a non-LU connection, i.e. Woking - Wimbledon - St Pancras - KX - Cambridge

For that journey I would walk from Waterloo to Blackfriars southern entrance for a Thameslink service.

 

[35B]

For that journey I would walk from Waterloo to Blackfriars southern entrance for a Thameslink service.

Or straight through - it's only a couple of miles and quite doable.

 

[Kay_M]

TFL/RMT cannot abandon all responsibility for knock-on effects, especially when RMT have chosen the blunderbuss approach of a comprehensive 5-day disruption. 1-day people could wfh mostly, this is different.

That's the whole point of a multi day strike. It's meant to be disruptive

 

[markle]

Monday, the first day of the strikes which are closing down London Underground, has come and gone. We are now into Tuesday which is day 2 of 4. Despite the Government statement urging TfL and the RMT to settle and end the dispute, the Government and the Mayor of London have not so far done anything or made any concessions to try to end the strikes.

We shall have to see what happens in the remaining three days but at present it looks like the Government and the Mayor of London have decided to let these strikes continue to the end and not make any concessions to end the strikes. Perhaps the Government and the Mayor of London have decided that with the ability for many people to work from home and the availability of the Elizabeth Line as an alternative to many Underground and DLR journeys they can ride these strikes out.

The current state of public finances, and the pressure the government is facing from the bond markets, means that I suspect they will be holding that position indefinitely.

The country is in a position where it needs to either cut spend or increase taxes (and on the latter option, we're probably on the right hand side of the Laffer curve right now). On the former, the government can of course choose to protect (or increase) spend in certain areas. But I suspect they're not leaping to meet TU demands on the basis that (a) it may preciptate subsequent strike action in other public sector unions (b) ultimately risk further upset in the bond markets.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Sep 2025 ==

There is a drastic increase in the number of cyclists, most of which are high speed electric Lime bikes and similar. As virtually no rental cyclists wear helmets and most of them have no road sense or cycle training I expect a drastic uptick in accidents and head injuries this week. Lives will be affected, this is not just a matter of inconvenience.

Lime bikes are limited to 16mph and go no faster than a cyclist of average fitness on an acoustic bike.

 

[bramling]

The current state of public finances, and the pressure the government is facing from the bond markets, means that I suspect they will be holding that position indefinitely.

The country is in a position where it needs to either cut spend or increase taxes (and on the latter option, we're probably on the right hand side of the Laffer curve right now). On the former, the government can of course choose to protect (or increase) spend in certain areas. But I suspect they're not leaping to meet TU demands on the basis that (a) it may preciptate subsequent strike action in other public sector unions (b) ultimately risk further upset in the bond markets.

Part of the problem is there seems to have been a culture develop where TFL just goes to the government for more money. Shouldn’t part of the role of TFL’s leadership be to look at making efficiencies, which could perhaps release money for staff pay.

How about properly scrutinising how much overtime is paid out for certain roles as a starting point? Or looking at how they can have staff being paid six-figure salaries being unavailable for periods measured in years whilst H&B investigations take place, or long-term sickness?

TFL leadership have to do their bit in all this, and there’s little evidence of effective leadership, and of course not being held to account by successive mayors.

 

[35B]

Lime bikes are limited to 16mph and go no faster than a cyclist of average fitness on an acoustic bike.

But are heavier and (even?) more associated with running red lights and riding on pavements.

 

[markle]

But are heavier and (even?) more associated with running red lights and riding on pavements.

I was referring to the comment that rental electric bikes are "high speed". I can certainly overtake people on lime bikes with ease when riding my regular acoustic road bike.

I've got no patience for anyone riding through reds or on pavements except where signed as a shared use path, regardless of what type of bike they're on.

 

[Snow1964]

Ambassadors don’t wear uniform, there are licensed ambassadors who can make up minimum numbers at stations and whom wear orange Hi-Vis, and there are non-licensed who can cover unpaid and non-station areas just providing information who wear pink tabards.

Seeing as definition of uniform is clothing of distinctive design or colour serving as means of identification, then as they wear something to be identified then the tabards are a form of uniform.

But for balance, the way some regular staff don't exactly wear the full uniform properly, rather shows lack of quality. The whole uniform thing is bit of an irrelevance these days. A century ago might have been sent home for poor presentation, but not heard of it happening in recent years, even if presenting yourself on time and to a standard is still in employment contract.

 

[bramling]

Seeing as definition of uniform is clothing of distinctive design or colour serving as means of identification, then as they wear something to be identified then the tabards are a form of uniform.

But for balance, the way some regular staff don't exactly wear the full uniform properly, rather shows lack of quality. The whole uniform thing is bit of an irrelevance these days. A century ago might have been sent home for poor presentation, but not heard of it happening in recent years, even if presenting yourself on time and to a standard is still in employment contract.

Again, uniform is another thing TFL’s leadership have messed up. They had a perfectly good uniform until a few years ago, that everyone was happy with, and it looked start. Then inexplicably they brought a fashion designer in to completely re-do everything, and it’s been a shambles ever since. Completely avoidable.

 

[thomalex]

Again, uniform is another thing TFL’s leadership have messed up. They had a perfectly good uniform until a few years ago, that everyone was happy with, and it looked start. Then inexplicably they brought a fashion designer in to completely re-do everything, and it’s been a shambles ever since. Completely avoidable.

Bringing in fashion designers just about sums up TfLs management, far too much money goes on needless vanity projects like this. The Overground names being another example which was a needlessly long project.

 

[MichaelJWP15]

That's the whole point of a multi day strike. It's meant to be disruptive

Yes, but my point was, why not take a starting point of 1 day then escalate. They have lost the public already. It's like starting a war and going straight to using a battlefield tactical nuclear missile.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Sep 2025 ==

I was referring to the comment that rental electric bikes are "high speed". I can certainly overtake people on lime bikes with ease when riding my regular acoustic road bike.

I've got no patience for anyone riding through reds or on pavements except where signed as a shared use path, regardless of what type of bike they're on.

Really I meant high speed relatively speaking, for people who are both beginners in cycling *and* beginners in using the capitals road space and sharing it with scooters, motorcycles, cars, vans, artics etc. etc. Hopefully abiding by the Highway Code (would they even have read it??)

 

[Kay_M]

Yes, but my point was, why not take a starting point of 1 day then escalate. They have lost the public already. It's like starting a war and going straight to using a battlefield tactical nuclear missile.

Partially because some other stuff has been brewing for a while. One day wouldn't have the same effect of multiple days. It's now a case of who folds first or will it go to the end of the week.

 

[Thirteen]

Bringing in fashion designers just about sums up TfLs management, far too much money goes on needless vanity projects like this. The Overground names being another example which was a needlessly long project.

I don't know, I think the renaming of the London Overground lines have helped a lot in terms of wayfinding.

TfL aren't perfect but I don't think it needs to be dismantled.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Sep 2025 ==

Partially because some other stuff has been brewing for a while. One day wouldn't have the same effect of multiple days. It's now a case of who folds first or will it go to the end of the week.

I do think the RMT could have delayed the DLR strikes by a week, having multiple modes out of action doesn't really cause much sympathy even if the reasons are different which in the case of the DLR is pay and conditions.

 

[Snow1964]

Partially because some other stuff has been brewing for a while. One day wouldn't have the same effect of multiple days. It's now a case of who folds first or will it go to the end of the week.

And of course, if it gets to end of week and nothing has changed what happens next.

Basically options are :
1) Repeat same (unsuccessful) action again
2) Try it again but for longer period
3) Try something else (different action)
4) Tone down demands, then retry
5) Give up for now

There are variations of detail, but these are the only options. No idea what option will happen if two parties still have seriously different viewpoints.

 

[Nym]

Bringing in fashion designers just about sums up TfLs management, far too much money goes on needless vanity projects like this. The Overground names being another example which was a needlessly long project.

But without the fassion designers and other needless spend, how can TfL be “World Class”?

 

[bluegoblin7]

even if the reasons are different which in the case of the DLR is pay and conditions.

The point is that the reasons aren’t different, both are about pay and conditions.