SAEDNEWS: Londoners woke to severe disruption on Sunday as planned strike action across the London Underground began today, with limited services running and the Bakerloo line closed for the day.
Strike action affecting the London Underground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) began on Sunday, September 7, 2025, with disruption expected across the Tube network and limited services operating on some lines. TfL says further, more severe disruption — including days with little to no Underground service — is expected through Thursday, September 11. The Bakerloo line is closed for the day on Sunday.
Transport for London and major outlets say the action will escalate after Sunday: limited services today, with a full walkout or “little to no service” anticipated on Monday to Thursday. The DLR will also be affected on specific days (notably Tuesday and Thursday), increasing pressure on buses, Overground and surface rail links. TfL has urged passengers to assume severe disruption and plan alternatives.
The strikes are part of an industrial dispute between unions — principally the RMT — and Transport for London over pay, working conditions and rostering arrangements. Negotiations have continued but, as of publication, have not produced a deal that unions say addresses fatigue, shift patterns and pay fairness. TfL says it has made offers and continues to engage; unions maintain the action is necessary to press key safety and fairness demands.
• Complete journeys by early evening on Sunday. TfL has advised journeys should be finished by around 18:00 BST to avoid being stranded as services wind down.• Expect heavy crowding on Overground, Elizabeth line and mainline services. These lines are not part of the Underground strikes and will run, but many will be busier than usual.• Use buses, Overground, Elizabeth line, trams and National Rail where possible, and allow much longer travel time. Taxis and ride-hailing apps will be in higher demand and surge-priced.• If you’re travelling to airports, check alternatives now. Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express and Thameslink services provide routes to Heathrow, Gatwick and other airports; Time Out and TfL have airport routing guides for strike days.
Heathrow remains relatively straightforward to reach via the Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express; Gatwick and Stansted are best reached by respective rail services (Gatwick Express, Thameslink, Stansted Express) rather than relying on disrupted Tube connections. Travellers should factor in longer journeys to reach those departure stations and book taxis early where necessary.
Employers are likely to see staff shortages where public-transport commutes are the norm; schools and events may alter start times or encourage home working. City businesses and hospitality venues should expect fewer customers reliant on the Tube and should check TfL live updates before finalising schedules for staff and deliveries. (Source: aggregated live reporting.)
The dispute sits at the junction of inflation-era pay pressures, longstanding concerns about rostering and staff fatigue, and TfL’s financial constraints. Both sides say they are open to talks; however, with disruption already under way, political and public pressure is likely to intensify on both unions and TfL to reach a short-term agreement or arrange interim measures.
Date | Expected impact |
|---|---|
Sun 7 Sep 2025 | Disruption across Tube; limited services on some lines; Bakerloo closed all day. Complete journeys by ~18:00. |
Mon 8 Sep — Thu 11 Sep 2025 | Severe disruption expected; “little to no service” on much of the Underground; DLR no service on Tue 9 & Thu 11. Elizabeth line, Overground and Croydon Tramlink likely to run but will be very busy. |
Fri 12 Sep 2025 (mid-morning) | Services expected to resume more normally by late morning (check TfL updates). |
Check the TfL strikes page and the TfL Go app for live updates on closures and stations, and monitor National Rail and individual train operators for substitutions or crowding updates. Local news outlets (Sky, FT, Independent, Time Out) are updating live coverage with affected lines and practical routing options.
