London Underground Strike Brings Rush-Hour Chaos

TDT | Manama

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London commuters faced major disruptions on Monday as staff on the London Underground went on a five-day strike, closing stations and forcing many to work from home or seek alternative transport.

Thousands queued for overcrowded buses, while others walked or cycled long distances to reach work.

Transport for London (TfL), which operates the Underground, warned that services would be limited or completely unavailable between Monday and Thursday. This is the first major strike affecting the Tube in more than two years.

Lauren, 53, an administrative worker in the construction sector, said she had to walk several kilometres to her office in central London instead of taking her usual Tube train. “It’s a real inconvenience. I’m not sympathetic to the train drivers. They should get back to work,” she said.

The strike, organized by the RMT trade union, involves Tube drivers, signalling, and maintenance staff. The union is demanding better pay and improved working conditions after rejecting TfL’s offer of a 3.4% pay increase. Workers are also seeking a reduction in their hours.

A spokesperson for the RMT said, “We are not going on strike to disrupt small businesses or the public. This strike is necessary because TfL management refuses to even consider a small reduction in the working week.”