London’s small and medium-sized businesses are facing a punishing week of disruption as London Underground drivers prepare to make two 24-hour commutes, in a dispute over working patterns that threatens to drain millions of pounds from the already fragile hospitality and night-time economy.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will take down equipment from midday on Tuesday 21 April and again from midday on Thursday 23 April, with Transport for London (TfL) warning operators and passengers to expect “major disruption” across the network. A separate walkout of 150 Unite members who work as bus station and network traffic controllers, from 23 to 25 April, is expected to resolve the crisis.
For business owners across the capital, the timing could be worse. Workers in tourism, retail and leisure are already facing a new wave of rising energy prices, continued pressure on wages and consumer confidence. The loss of reliable overnight transport, industry leaders warn, puts vulnerable SMEs on the brink.
TfL has published a day-by-day forecast of possible disruption. Normal services are expected to resume on Tuesday 21 April until mid-afternoon, with availability reducing before midday. Any trains still running will run out early, and TfL is advising those who have to leave to finish their journey by 8pm.
On Wednesday 22 April, services will start later than normal, with no trains expected before 7.30am. Significant disruption is predicted on all lines until late afternoon, with gradual recovery in the afternoon and evening.
The pattern repeats on Thursday 23 April, with normal services until mid-afternoon and a 12pm departure causing major disruption into the evening. Friday 24 April will also see no service before 7.30am and ongoing disruption across the network.
Although a reduced timetable will apply on some routes, TfL has confirmed that there will be no service at all on the Piccadilly and Circle lines, no trains on the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate, and no service on the Central line between White City and Liverpool Street. Running trains are likely to be frequent, overcrowded and unable to accommodate all waiting passengers.
The Elizabeth Line, DLR, London Overground and tram services will operate as normal.
To add to the disruption, seven bus routes operated by Stagecoach from Bow Bus Garage in East London will be affected for 24 hours from 5am on Friday 25 April. Routes 8, 25, 205, 425, N8, N25 and N205 are all in place, although TfL expects the 25 and 425 to maintain a near normal service for most of the day. The N8 will operate a reduced route between Hainault and Liverpool Street at normal frequencies, while the remaining routes may be significantly delayed or cancelled.
The dispute centers on TfL’s proposal to introduce a four-day working week for train operators. The union has called the plan a “sham”, saying it will only shorten existing hours to a few days without bringing any real improvement.
The RMT initially called off strike action last month after TfL bosses agreed to negotiate, but blamed the operator for calling it off at the weekend.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said the union “has approached negotiations with TfL in good faith throughout the process”, adding: “Despite our best efforts, TfL appears unwilling to strike a deal in an attempt to avoid strike action. This is deeply disappointing and distressing to our negotiators. TfL’s approach is not one that will enable our members to negotiate industrial peace. A resolution to this dispute is inevitable.”
Claire Mann, chief executive of TfL, responded that the proposals were fair and flexible. “We have put forward proposals to the RMT for a four-day working week. This allows us to give train operators an extra day off, while at the same time bringing London Underground into line with the working patterns of other rail companies, improving reliability and flexibility at no extra cost. The changes will be voluntary, there will be no reduction in contract hours and those who wish to continue with the five-day pattern will be able to continue each week.”
For Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), the latest move is another hammer blow to the sector’s already struggling sector.
“Since this sector is facing an increase in energy costs and operating costs, this new wave of strikes creates more uncertainty that businesses cannot absorb,” he said. “Margins are being squeezed everywhere, and confidence is becoming increasingly fragile.”
Mr Kill questioned the wider purpose of industrial action. “The ongoing disruption of transportation services raises the question of who is really benefiting from this, because right now it is businesses, workers and the public as a whole who are paying for the negligence of a few.”
He warned that the knock-on effects are more positive than those that are lost. Without reliable nighttime transportation, workers struggle to get to work, customers don’t travel, and businesses lose critical business.
While acknowledging the workers’ right to strike, Mr Kill called for an immediate return to the negotiating table. “We respect the right to strike, but this situation cannot continue. All parties must find a solution, because continued uncertainty at a time like this will have serious, lasting consequences for the London economy at night.”
TfL is urging travelers to use its journey planner to book their routes in advance and check the status of lines in real time via their live status page. For SMEs, the message from the industry is simple: prepare for a tough week, and start demanding that both sides get compensation before the capital’s economic damage becomes permanent.
