Commuters at Mile End station were left surprised this week when a long yellow maintenance train carrying loose material passed through the station as Tube services were already severely disrupted by strike action.
A video posted on TikTok by a user named Amelia showed a train of open wagons appearing to be filled with coal and drew more than 900,000 views as users compared the sight to "Victorian times." The clip was recorded on a day of limited Central line services ahead of a wider round of industrial action.
Rail enthusiasts and Transport for London (TfL) officials said the train was likely a ballast train used for maintenance, not a coal service. Ballast — crushed stone or gravel — supports sleepers and rails, helps hold track in place and provides drainage, TfL said, and the Underground maintains a stock of trains and open wagons to distribute it across the network.
The sight came as thousands of members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union walked out in a dispute over pay and working hours, leaving large parts of the London Underground network halted and forcing commuters to switch to buses, overground services, cycle or travel by other means. The strikes affected Tube drivers, station staff and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) workers in separate actions.
The industrial action prompted overcrowding at remaining services, with the Elizabeth line reporting a surge of passengers and a TfL alert flagging "severe delays". The Northern line returned to service with "minor delays," while the Piccadilly line ran only on limited sections. Major interchange stations, including Clapham Junction, saw heavy demand as passengers sought alternatives.
Downing Street acknowledged the disruption. The prime minister's official spokesman said Londoners would "rightly be fed up" and urged both the RMT and TfL to return to negotiations. He added that the government's approach to public services was to adopt technology to improve service delivery and cut costs, while stopping short of endorsing specific measures such as further automation of the Tube.
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said there had been a "total collapse of industrial relations on London Underground" and called on Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan to intervene. Dempsey told reporters the union sought recognition of the impact of shift work on members and described ongoing discussions about working hours that began in 2018. He said the union would attend a meeting if invited by the mayor.
TfL said there were no plans to close ticket offices, responding to claims circulated by the union. The dispute also stretches beyond frontline staff pay and hours, with potential disagreements over the roles and conditions of cleaners and the future of ticket offices on some lines.
Media reporting has highlighted additional demands the union has sought in related negotiations, including proposals for a discounted travel card that would provide reduced fares and leisure discounts. A Telegraph report cited details of the so-called "Priv" travel card, which would offer concessionary rates for some attractions and off-peak travel; Conservative City Hall transport spokesman Keith Prince criticised the proposal, saying Londoners would not accept the capital being "brought to its knees" over such benefits. A union source told the newspaper that travel concessions vary and that trips to specific attractions do not form part of negotiations.
Commuters and business groups warned of the economic and practical impact of continuing disruption. TfL and the RMT gave no immediate indication that the dispute would be resolved in the short term, while passengers were advised to expect ongoing delays and to check alternative routes before travelling.
The Mile End video illustrated an unusual sight for many Londoners — maintenance equipment more commonly kept out of public view — and underscored the wider strain on the city’s transport infrastructure while the industrial dispute continues.