London's transport network was again severely disrupted on the fifth consecutive day of strikes as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union staged industrial action over pay and working hours, leaving almost the entirety of the Underground suspended and commuters seeking alternatives.
Almost every Tube line was suspended during the morning rush, with only shuttle services running on parts of the District, Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines. The Elizabeth line and London Overground were operating but markedly busier than normal as passengers packed services or turned to walking, cycling, e-bikes and river boats to reach work.
The RMT said it had rejected a 3.4 percent pay offer and is campaigning for changes to members' 35-hour working week, an arrangement Transport for London (TfL) has described as unaffordable. TfL published pay figures showing station staff in training earn £35,270, rising to £44,140 for fully qualified staff; mechanical workers £52,679; track workers £57,601; and drivers £71,160. The union has indicated it could extend action to the Elizabeth line.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey urged London Mayor Sadiq Khan to engage directly with the union and convene a summit to resolve the dispute. Addressing delegates at the Trades Union Congress in Brighton, Dempsey said the mayor should stop relying on social media and instead "invite us to the meeting, let's have a discussion, because I want to know what is going on in London." He warned of further strikes if discussions do not take place.
The disruption has drawn political fire. Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden accused Chancellor Rachel Reeves of being "the real villain" of the strikes, arguing that recent government financial decisions would leave taxpayers facing higher taxes while blaming Labour for encouraging more industrial action. Holden also criticised Mayor Khan as "useless," remarks that reflect a sharp Conservative line as the capital grapples with the transport shutdown.
There were no talks scheduled to resolve the dispute, and union leaders have said the action is a response to affordability concerns in London and the cost of living. Dempsey told Times Radio that even with salaries around £72,000, some drivers cannot afford to buy a home in the capital, adding that while the pay could be considered a "good wage," members still sought improvements in working conditions and pay.
The Centre for Economics and Business Research has estimated the week's RMT strike would directly cost London's economy about £230 million, with indirect costs running higher. The hospitality sector and other city businesses have reported strain, and some firms have warned the financial pressure could lead to job losses.
Transport alternatives have seen notable shifts. Lime, the e-bike operator, reported a surge in usage during weekday peak hours, with trips up more than 50 percent on some days compared with the previous week and a 74 percent increase in one recent period. The company said journeys were longer in both distance and duration, suggesting commuters used e-bikes for whole commutes rather than just first- or last-mile travel. London cycling commissioner Will Norman said about two million bike trips were made on a recent Monday, up from a typical 1.4 million weekday total.
Taxi and cycling groups have described heightened risks and congestion on streets as different modes vie for road space. The London Taxi Drivers' Association cautioned that the increased number of hire e-bikes has led to more hazardous manoeuvres in traffic.
A planned bus workers' strike that would have affected about 60 routes in parts of London was largely called off, according to the Unite union. Meanwhile, debate has resumed over longer-term solutions such as driverless trains. Proposals for fully automated services have been supported by some politicians but face opposition from unions and are, according to TfL, likely to cost billions to implement. Estimates cited by officials put the figure at up to £20 billion for upgrades on some of the oldest lines. Mayor Khan said in December that plans to introduce driverless trains would "not be progressed any further."
As the strike continued, TfL urged passengers to plan journeys, allow extra time and use alternative travel modes where possible. Union leaders reiterated their position that the dispute reflects broader concerns about pay and conditions in an expensive city, while political leaders traded blame as pressure mounted on operators, elected officials and national figures to broker a resolution.