Londoners reminded to check before they travel ahead of nationwide rail disruption

26 July 2022
On Wednesday 27 July, the RMT union is planning 24 hours of strike action across the national rail network
"Planned strike action on the national rail network on Wednesday will mean disruption for some of our customers, with the London Overground, Elizabeth line, and London Underground services being affected"
Andy Lord
Chief Operating Officer, TfL
  • Strike action is taking place on national rail services and will impact London Overground and Elizabeth line services as well as some of the London Underground 
  • Further strike action on Saturday 30 July by train drivers who are part of the ASLEF union, with no service expected on the entire London Overground network. All other TfL services expected to operate normally 

Transport for London (TfL) is reminding customers that while they will still be able to travel during planned national rail industrial action on Wednesday, they should check before they travel. The RMT union is planning to take industrial action on Wednesday 27 July which will impact some TfL services. Full information is available at tfl.gov.uk/rail-strike.

Network Rail is introducing a reduced timetable as a result of the industrial action being carried out by members of the RMT who work for Network Rail. 

While the industrial action doesn't involve TfL staff, varying degrees of disruption are expected on the District and Bakerloo lines, London Overground, and the Elizabeth line, which all share some sections of track with Network Rail. The majority of TfL's other services will run on Wednesday as usual.

Passengers should also expect some disruption on the morning of Thursday 28 July with a later start to services as signalling staff return to work.

Andy Lord, TfL's Chief Operating Officer, said:

'Planned strike action on the national rail network on Wednesday will mean disruption for some of our customers, with the London Overground, Elizabeth line, and London Underground services being affected. I advise all customers to check before they travel.'

On Saturday 30 July, ASLEF strike action at seven train operators across the country will significantly disrupt some routes. This includes the London Overground network, where there will be no service due to strike action from members of the ASLEF union who work for Arriva Rail London. There will also be no Night Overground services on the evening of 30 July and the early hours of 31 July. Customers who use London Overground services should use alternative routes to complete their journeys, with all other TfL services expected to operate normally.

Additionally, there will be no Elizabeth line services between Paddington and Abbey Wood on Saturday 30 July and Sunday 31 July due to planned engineering works to undertake required software upgrades to trains and signalling. These software upgrades were planned months ago and will ensure the delivery of through-services from Reading, Heathrow, and Shenfield directly into central London later this year.

All other TfL modes of transport will run as normal but are expected to be much busier than normal as customers seek alternative routes.

Customers travelling on the morning of Sunday 31 July are advised a good service is expected on the London Overground by midday. If travelling before midday, customers are advised to plan ahead, check before they travel, and leave more time for their journey.

For the latest information on how TfL services are operating, customers should use TfL's real-time travel tools, including status updates, Journey Planner and TfL Go. People may find it quicker or easier to walk or cycle some journeys. The TfL website has information on cycling in London including Santander Cycle Hire bikes, cycleway routes and walking options especially for journeys in Zone 1. Rental e-scooters are available for hire in a number of London boroughs. Information on where they are available and how to hire can be found on the TfL website.
For the latest information on national rail strikes and the impacts to mainline services, customers are advised to check nationalrailenquiries.co.uk

Notes to editors

  • More information on the national rail strikes is available here: tfl.gov.uk/rail-strike
  • The seven operators affected by the ASLEF strike on 30 July are Arriva Rail London (who operate London Overground), Greater Anglia, Great Western, Hull Trains, LNER, Southeastern and West Midlands Trains
  • Further strikes by RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association are also planned for Thursday 18 and Saturday 20 August that will affect the national rail network
  • Network Rail is working on a special limited timetable with rail services starting later and finishing much earlier than usual, and with only about 20 per cent of services operating