SAEDNEWS: London faces a week of major travel disruption after RMT members across the Underground voted to walk out in early September — strike action runs from the evening of Friday 5 September through Thursday 11 September, with every Tube line affected from Sunday 7 September and the DLR closed on 9 and 11 September.
According to Saed News, commuters and travellers should expect severe disruption across the London Underground during a concentrated series of RMT-led strikes in early September that are expected to last from 5–11 September 2025, with most Tube services effectively halted on several of those days.
6pm Friday 5 September → 5:59pm Saturday 6 September — a 24-hour walkout by some staff at the Ruislip depot.
Sunday 7 → Thursday 11 September — different groups of Tube staff will strike on successive days; TfL warns of little to no Tube service on many of these days.
Tuesday 9 & Thursday 11 September — the DLR will also have no service.
(Exact timings and which staff groups strike on which days are set by the RMT; travellers should expect the worst-case scenario on the days above.)
Every London Underground line is expected to be disrupted from Sunday 7 September until Thursday 11 September — that includes Bakerloo, Central, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria and Waterloo & City. The DLR will be fully suspended on 9 and 11 September. The Elizabeth line and London Overground are not part of the industrial action, but both may be busier than usual and could have limited stops at shared stations.
Yes — buses, national rail services, the Elizabeth line and London Overground are scheduled to operate, but expect severe crowding and the possibility that some trains cannot call at all shared stations because of staff shortages. TfL advises completing journeys by 18:00 on heavy-impact days and warns that some services that normally stop at Tube stations might skip them. For airport access: use the Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express for Heathrow (the Piccadilly line will be out); Gatwick remains reachable by Gatwick Express or Thameslink; Stansted and Luton options run via mainline rail links and coaches. Plan extra time.
Walk or cycle for short trips where possible — Santander Cycles and walking will be faster than crowded trains.
Use overground and Elizabeth line links where they remain available, but expect heavy loads and possible skipped stops.
Allow many extra minutes for airport journeys and arrive earlier than usual. Use Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express, Thameslink or coach services as alternatives to the Piccadilly line.
Check live travel updates before travelling (TfL status pages, National Rail, airport sites) and consider changing plans on strike days (remote working, rescheduling non-essential journeys).
The RMT says members voted overwhelmingly for action over pay, “fatigue management”, extreme shift patterns and a demand for a shorter working week; the union argues long shifts and safety concerns remain unaddressed. TfL responds that it has made offers — including pay proposals and other changes — and warns that some demands (like reducing the contractual 35-hour week) are not practical or affordable. Negotiations continue but, for now, the RMT says planned action will proceed.
Organisers have already moved or warned about major events — for example, Coldplay rescheduled Wembley dates because of the disruption — and businesses in hospitality and retail warn of substantial losses if the strikes go ahead. Expect packed alternative services, longer taxi and coach queues, and pressure on transport staff who remain on duty.
A prolonged, network-wide Tube action is unusual and will affect commuting, airports links and large events across the city. Even services not directly striking will feel the knock-on effects. Travellers should re-check routes, buy flexible tickets where possible, consider alternate transport modes and build in generous extra time for any journey during 5–11 September
