London Tube and Train Strikes | Transport alternatives
Latest Update: There are planned strikes, scheduled to take place in November. These strikes are due to take place from 3rd to 12th November.
Commuting Brits have been hit by numerous rail strikes over recent years - as part of the biggest series of walkouts from the unions over the last 30 years. Since June 2022 there has been a series of strikes impacting how many travellers, from commuters to holiday makers get around in that time. During the strikes lots of stations were deserted and limited Tube and train services running throughout, even the simplest travel plans can become complicated.
We’ve created a guide on alternative ways to travel, so strike or no strike - you’ll be able to navigate your way round the big city.
When Are the Next Strikes, And What’s Affected?
From Sunday 3rd November 2024, strike action was announced by the Union for the following train operators on the following days:
- Sunday 3 November: London Underground services will finish earlier than normal. Complete your journey by 17:00
- Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 November: Severe disruption is expected on London Underground services. Any services that do run are likely to start later and finish earlier than normal
- Thursday 7 November: No London Underground services are expected to run
- Friday 8 November: Severe disruption is expected on London Underground services, including Night Tube. Any services that do operate are likely to start later and finish earlier than normal
- Saturday 9 November: London Underground services are expected to start later than normal
- Tuesday 12 November: Severe disruption is expected on London Underground services. Any services that do run are likely to start later and finish earlier than normal.
For more information on how the industrial action may affect your journey National Rail website here.
How to Get Around London During a Train or Tube Strike
As much as Tube and train strikes can be a pain, the good news is there’s a range of alternative ways to travel around the city. So, for those wondering what to do during the next train or Tube strike, check out our list of travel alternatives below:
Buses
Buses are a handy alternative to consider when Tube and train strike, well, strike! London has an extensive bus network with comprehensive coverage across the city. The adult fare for a single bus ride is £1.65, no matter where you are in the city or how long the journey is, and the maximum fare for pay-as-you-go bus-only travel across any given day is capped at £4.95. London buses are also cashless, and accept contactless payments, Oyster cards and Travelcards.
TfL live status: You can check status updates for London bus services on the TfL website.
City Bikes
For those wanting to avoid packed buses when a train or Tube strike hits, city bikes are also available across London. Known as Santander Cycles, or Boris Bikes, this is a public bicycle hire scheme in London. You’ll find docking stations all across London, ensuring there’s a bike close to you, no matter where you are in the city. The bikes cost £2 for an unlimited number of rides up to 30 minutes long (used within a 24-hour window). Just be sure to return your cycle within 24 hours or you might find yourself with a surplus charge.
Find out more on these city bikes and where to hire them via the TfL Santander Cycles page.
Black Cab
An iconic symbol of London, black cabs are a fantastic way to get around the city, especially during London Underground strike action. Also known as hackney carriages, black cabs offer taxi services all across the Capital. You can pre-book, hail them on the street or pick one up at a taxi rank, with fares set and regulated by TfL. Keep an eye out for a green or yellow badge, this means the cab is TfL licensed. Fun fact, these badges also show that the taxi driver has passed ‘The Knowledge of London’ – a famously tricky exam drivers must take to qualify as a London cabbie. Students typically take 3-4 years to master ‘The Knowledge', needing to memorise a list of 320 routes in a six-mile radius of Charing Cross.
Learn more about black cabs and other TfL taxi services here.
Uber/Bolt
You might also want to consider ride-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt during TfL rail strike action. There are a few different ways in which these modern ride-hailing alternatives can differ from the traditional black cab, users able to order a ride in-app, pay online and choose from a variety of different lifts to suit their needs (e.g., Uber Assist offers extra support to those with disabilities). There’s an ongoing debate as to whether these ride-hailing alternatives are cheaper than black cabs, the answer being - it depends! The cost for a lift with Uber, for example, can vary depending on the duration of the journey and the amount of people requesting rides in your area at the time.
Car Sharing
For the next train or Tube strike London faces, car sharing services could be a huge help. Whether you’re just going to and from work, or getting away for the weekend, don’t let the strikes make or break your travel plans. With car sharing, you can rent a car for as little as an hour, or for as long as a couple weeks. You can also save on costs such as parking and fuel, depending on the provider. Did you know Zipcar pays for fuel, parking, and even your insurance? This way, you can reap all the benefits of having a car without the hassle of owning one.
Find out more about Zipcar’s London car sharing services.
Accessible Travel
A train or Tube strike in London can be difficult for anyone to navigate, let alone if you have a disability. If you’re looking for an alternative, accessible mode of travel there are a variety of tools that can help with this.
Wheelmap.org: an online map that helps users find places accessible for those in wheelchairs, including transport.
Be My Eyes: an app connecting visually impaired users to sighted volunteers via video call. Volunteers can help read bus routes, navigate train stations and more.
Zipcar members with disabilities can access hand-controlled vehicles. Find out more about Zipcar’s services for members with disabilities here.
Find out More About the Strikes
With more strikes potentially on the horizon, it’s handy to know where to turn if, and when, they take place. Here are a few useful sites to help keep you up to date on the latest transport and strike news:
Transport for London (TfL) Strikes: For the latest news on TfL Tube strikes, including the Tube, the Overground and buses.
TfL Live Status: Explore TfL live status updates for the Tube, the Overground, DLR, Tram, Buses, River Bus, National Rail and more.
National Rail Enquiries: Check train times, plan your journey and get travel updates via National Rail Enquiries.
RMT union: Find out more about the strikes launched by RMT union, including why they’re happening and when
If strikes are affecting your travels, it’s good to have a few alternatives to hand. You’ll find Zipcars dotted all around London, so whether you’re smack bang in the city centre or out in the suburbs, we’ve got you covered. Find the nearest Zipcar to you
When were the previous rail and tube strikes?
Since the summer of 2022 there has a wave of strikes across the rail network impacting travellers up and down the country. The rail strikes start in June 2022 and continued throughout and into early 2023. Here's a breakdown of those strikes broken by rail and tube.
Rail strikes
- June 2022: 21st, 23rd, 25th, and 27th
- July 2022: 30th
- August 2022: 13th, 18th, and 20th
- December 2022: 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th 24th, 27th
- January 2023: 3rd, 4th, 5th , 6th, 7th
- February 2023: 1st, 3rd
- March 2023: 30th
- April 2023: 1st
- May 2023: 12th, 13th, 31st
- June 2023: 2nd, 3rd
- July 2023: 20th, 22nd, 29th, 31st
- August 2023: 5th, 7th-12th, 26th
- September 2023: 1st, 2nd, 30th
- October 2023: 4th
- December 2023: 2nd, 3rd, 6th
Tube strikes
- June 2022: 6th, 7th, 21st, 22nd
- August 2022: 18th, 20th
- November 2022: 10th, 11th, 25th
- March 2023: 15th, 18th
- May 2024: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th
