A London Underground driver who posts snippets of her shifts on TikTok has offered a behind‑the‑scenes account of life on the Bakerloo line as strike action by Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) members entered a third day, leaving large parts of the capital facing severe disruption.
Sarah Russell, 33, said she began posting to show "an insight into the role that not many people get to see," and now has about 33,000 followers. Russell, who said she worked at a McDonald’s before joining Transport for London (TfL) more than 11 years ago, told followers the job offer "changed my life for the better." She has posted day‑in‑the‑life videos in which she describes shift patterns, workplace rules and aspects of driver training.
Russell said she films only when she is off duty or not in the driver's cab and only on days when services are running smoothly. She described preferring the later shift, which she said begins at about 4:30 p.m. and finishes with the last train dropped off at around 1 a.m. During a typical late shift she said she may complete two "rounders" — journeys from one end of the line to the other, between Elephant & Castle and Queen's Park on the Bakerloo.
The driver‑operated Bakerloo line, Russell noted, requires staff to be strategic about basic needs because drivers cannot stop except in emergencies. "Refilled my water bottle because I'm trying to get my two litres in, which is quite hard needing to pee all the time when you're a driver but we move," she said in a video. She also described using noise‑cancelling ear defenders when walking through carriages to clear trains at the end of a shift, shunting a unit back to London Road depot and taking a pre‑booked staff cab home.
Russell has detailed recruitment and training on the platform, saying TfL often promotes from within and that driver training lasts about six months. She defended the Bakerloo when a follower pointed to graffiti on carriages, saying the problem "is getting better," and told followers she loves her job. She said she had no university education and that the role offered long‑term prospects she did not expect when working in fast food.
The posts come as thousands of RMT members stage industrial action in a dispute over pay and hours. The union said industrial relations on London Underground had "totally collapsed," and picket lines and walkouts have left many Tube services suspended. Commuters have faced overcrowded buses and delays on alternative services as people seek other ways to reach work. Some central government figures acknowledged frustration among Londoners; Downing Street said people would "rightly be fed up" but declined to take a position on whether more automation of the network should be pursued to reduce vulnerability to strikes.
Russell has not used her TikTok account to comment on the strikes. Her videos focus on the daily realities of the role: completing end‑to‑end runs, clearing trains, wearing protective gear, and routines after finishing a shift, including washing hands and unwinding before sleep. She has advised followers interested in driving roles to monitor customer service vacancies at TfL as potential entry points.
The RMT action has highlighted tensions over pay and working practices across the transport network as unions press for improved terms and Londoners contend with reduced Tube services. Russell's account offers a personal perspective on one of the occupations at the centre of the dispute, showing the operational constraints and workplace rhythms that underlie the capital's rail services.