Tube services in London were again severely disrupted on Wednesday as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) continued a six-day strike, with the union general secretary saying drivers are taking action in part because they cannot afford to buy a home in the capital despite earning about £72,000 a year.
Eddie Dempsey, the RMT general secretary, told Times Radio that "you can't afford to buy a house in London, even on £72,000," and said the dispute is about allowing workers to live in the city and improving conditions. The walkout, which began on Sunday and runs through Friday, has left the majority of the Underground network suspended and caused major disruption to commuting patterns and central London footfall.
Transport for London (TfL) said only limited services were running on a small number of lines. Shuttle services operated on parts of the Central, Metropolitan, Northern and District lines, while the Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, Piccadilly, Victoria and Waterloo & City lines were among those fully suspended. The RMT has also warned that industrial action could extend to the Elizabeth line and the Docklands Light Railway in related disputes.
TfL has offered a 3.4% pay rise to staff, while the union's principal demand is for a reduction in working hours and recognition of the impact of shift work. The RMT says talks have not been scheduled and has called on Mayor Sadiq Khan, who chairs TfL, to convene a summit to resolve the dispute. Mr. Dempsey told delegates at the TUC Congress that Khan should "stop going on social media" and invite the union to a meeting.
Downing Street urged both sides to return to the negotiating table. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the government wants the RMT and TfL to "work together in good faith to resolve this situation in the interests of passengers," noting the disruption's effects on families, workers and those needing access to hospitals and schools.
Political opponents have seized on the disruption. City Hall Conservatives said the mayor had been "notably absent" from public discourse and accused him of failing to prevent a transport crisis they described as among the worst in years. Mayor Khan's office said he shared passengers' frustrations and urged the RMT to meet with TfL to seek a resolution, while reminding Londoners to check TfL's travel information before they set out.
Commuters adapted by turning to buses, river services, cycling and hire e-bikes. Lime, which operates rental e-bikes and e-scooters in the city, reported a 58% increase in trips during Monday's morning peak compared with the same period a week earlier; trips were longer in both duration and distance, the company said. Another operator, Forest, reported a 300% rise in rides during one morning rush hour, while Uber Boat by Thames Clippers added extra sailings on busy routes. Virgin Media O2 data showed central London footfall down 16% at 1 p.m. compared with the previous Tuesday, with steeper declines in business districts: Canary Wharf down 31%, London Bridge and the City down 21%, and Westminster down 19%.
Economic analysts estimate the strike's direct impact on the London economy could be sizable. The Centre for Economics and Business Research forecasted a direct hit of around £230 million, with additional indirect costs likely to follow as businesses and workers rearrange travel and work patterns.
The strike has reignited debate about automation and driverless trains. Some commentators and politicians urged faster deployment of driverless technology to reduce the potential for future industrial disruption. Supporters point to the Docklands Light Railway, which opened in 1987 and operates without drivers, and to driverless metro systems in cities such as Paris, Tokyo and Barcelona.
TfL and other analysts caution that converting the Tube to fully driverless operation would be complex and costly. TfL has estimated that modernising just three of the oldest lines would cost in the order of £20 billion, and officials say a full roll-out across the entire network would require substantial time and funding. Mayor Khan told reporters last December that work to introduce driverless trains would not be progressed further at that time.
Rail unions have opposed full automation on safety and jobs grounds. Aslef, the train drivers' union, has said in the past it would strongly resist plans to remove drivers from the London Underground. RMT leaders say automation would not address the core issues being raised by members, including shift patterns and the physical and mental effects of long, irregular hours.
The dispute has also touched on other staffing issues at TfL. The RMT said it was preparing disputes over cleaners' pay and the future of ticket offices on the Elizabeth line; TfL has denied plans to close ticket offices. Mr. Dempsey said the union was seeking "progress towards recognition about the impact of shift work" and insisted members were not seeking an immediate dramatic cut in weekly hours but a negotiated improvement in conditions.
The strike's human impact has been evident across the city. Many commuters reported much longer journeys by bike or on foot, while some workplaces saw staff stay home or work remotely. E-bike operators said they increased maintenance and rebalancing efforts to meet demand, and the City of London Corporation said it was monitoring concerns about hire bikes being left in unsuitable places.
The RMT action is part of a wider wave of industrial disputes across UK transport and other sectors in recent years, with unions citing pay and conditions squeezed by inflation and changing work patterns. TfL and city authorities say any long-term changes to the Tube—whether in pay deals or technology—will require negotiations, capital investment and comprehensive safety assessments.
As the six-day walkout continues, officials, unions and politicians face pressure to reach talks that could restore services and address the questions raised about pay, working conditions and the future shape of London's transport network.