{"id":967568,"date":"2026-05-17T23:40:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T23:40:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/967568\/"},"modified":"2026-05-17T23:40:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T23:40:25","slug":"london-underground-strike-dates-may-2026-tube-lines-affected-as-commuters-dealt-fresh-blow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/967568\/","title":{"rendered":"London Underground strike dates May 2026: Tube lines affected as commuters dealt fresh blow"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Commuters are facing another round of disruption as the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has called for two 24-hour walkouts, with two more sets of strikes also planned in June<a class=\"AuthorLink_author-link__rg5qj\" data-tmdatatrack=\"author\" data-testid=\"byline-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/authors\/zahra-khaliq\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35 __className_184259\">Zahra Khaliq<\/strong><\/a> News Reporter, <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35 __className_184259\">Alice Scarsi<\/strong> and <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35 __className_184259\">Rebecca McCulloch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>22:52, 17 May 2026<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Commuters at a crowded London Underground station\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_Commuters-at-a-crowded-London-Underground-station.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"The London Undeground could be affected by strikes this week\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The London Undeground could be affected by strikes this week(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">London Underground drivers are preparing to walk out again this week in protest over a <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/tube-strikes-london-travel-disruption-37040466\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">proposed four-day working week<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/transport-for-london\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Transport for London (TfL) <\/a>is seeking to replace the existing 36-hour schedule spread across five days with a 35-hour week over four days, along with the removal of one paid lunch break. Union leaders argue the proposed restructuring would lead to exhaustion and disrupt shift patterns, and are instead pushing for a 32-hour working pattern across four days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In opposition to the proposal, which TfL insists would be voluntary, <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/rmt-union\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">RMT members<\/a> will stage industrial action across two 24-hour periods between May 19 and 22, mirroring the <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/tfl-tube-strikes-april-2026-37042025\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">strikes that occurred in April<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Last month, both commuters and tourists endured significant travel chaos, with certain lines grinding to a complete halt. Ahead of the fresh action, TfL is encouraging passengers to explore alternative routes and plan their journeys ahead of time.<\/p>\n<p>When are the May Tube strikes?<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"April 22, 2026, London, England, United Kingdom: Closed Covent Garden station this morning as tube drivers, represented by RMT union, go on strike over the proposal to allow train operators to shift to a compressed four-day week., Credit:ZUMAPRESS.com \/ Avalon\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1_London-Underground-Strike-Day-2.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Strikes are set to cost the London economy up to \u00a3760m\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Strikes are set to cost the London economy up to \u00a3760m(Image: ZUMAPRESS.com \/ Avalon)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Tube drivers are staging two 24-hour walkouts from 12pm on Tuesday, May 19 and 12pm on Thursday, May 21:<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Tuesday, May 19 and Thursday, May 21<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Morning &#8211; normal services expected until mid-morning<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Mid-morning &#8211; some disruption to journeys as services start to reduce ahead of strike action starting<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">After midday &#8211; disruption to journeys expected on all lines and Tube services that do run will finish early.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Wednesday, May 20 and Friday, May 22<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Morning &#8211; disruption to journeys expected on all lines. Tube services that do run will start later than normal<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">After midday &#8211; continued disruption to journeys throughout the afternoon and evening as services return to normal<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Evening &#8211; normal service.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Tube strikes have previously been called off with very little notice thanks to breakthroughs in talks at the eleventh hour. At the time of writing, however, the strikes are set to go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Which London Underground lines will be affected by the strike?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Similar to the April strikes, the majority of the Tube network is set to be impacted by the upcoming industrial action. TfL has warned that two lines may face more severe disruption owing to the greater number of RMT drivers operating on these routes.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Circle line:<\/strong> No service expected<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Piccadilly line:<\/strong> No service expected<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">No service is also expected on a stretch of the Metropolitan Line (between Baker Street and Aldgate) and Central Line (between White City and Liverpool Street), reports <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.express.co.uk\/news\/uk\/2206508\/tube-strikes-2026-london-underground-lines-affected\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">the Express<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">TfL also warned that while service is anticipated on the remaining Underground lines, &#8220;there will be disruption to journeys&#8221; and &#8220;service levels will vary throughout the week&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>Services running as usual<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A low angle view of passengers disembarking from a London Underground train at Westminster station, London, England.\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1_A-low-angle-view-of-passengers-disembarking-from-a-London-Underground-train-at-Westminster-station.jpeg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Some services will still be running\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Some services will still be running(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">While commuters and visitors will undoubtedly face disruptions, some services will still be running should the strike not be cancelled.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Similar to April, the Elizabeth Line, DLR, buses, London Trams and London Overground will operate as usual.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">These routes are likely to be busier than normal as they&#8217;ll accommodate Tube passengers looking for alternative routes, MyLondon reports.<\/p>\n<p>Are other Tube stikes planned for 2026?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Following the strikes held across April 21, 22, 23 and 24, two additional rounds of strikes are scheduled to take place over the working hours dispute.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Apart from the strikes planned for the upcoming week, commuters may anticipate further disruption on the following days in June:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Commuters are facing another round of disruption as the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has called for&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":967569,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[7757],"tags":[21074,748,393,4884,257,594,593,37122,129005,11513,16,34004,15],"class_list":["post-967568","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-london","tag-aldgate","tag-britain","tag-england","tag-great-britain","tag-london","tag-london-underground","tag-periods","tag-public-services","tag-rmt-union","tag-transport-for-london","tag-uk","tag-unions","tag-united-kingdom"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116592563177642848","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/967568","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=967568"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/967568\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/967569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=967568"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=967568"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=967568"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}