London underground train
July 21, 2023

Transport Alternatives During London Tube and Train Strikes

Latest Update:  There aren't any rail and tube strikes this March in the UK. 

However, there are upcoming strikes planned in April and May 2024. These strikes are planned to affect both the London Underground and National Rail services. The first wave of strikes is expected on 5th, 6th and 8th April. 

 

Commuting Brits have been hit by numerous rail strikes over recent years - as part of the biggest series of walkouts from the unions over the last 30 years. Since June 2022 there has been a series of strikes impacting how many travellers, from commuters to holiday makers get around in that time. During the strikes lots of stations were deserted and limited Tube and train services running throughout, even the simplest travel plans can become complicated.

 

We’ve created a guide on alternative ways to travel, so strike or no strike - you’ll be able to navigate your way round the big city.

 

When Are the Next Strikes, And What’s Affected?

On Wednesday 20 March 2024, strike action was announced by the ASLEF Union for the following train operators on the following days:

  • Friday 5 April - Avanti West CoastCrossCountryEast Midlands RailwayLondon Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway.

  • Saturday 6 April - Chiltern RailwaysGreat Western RailwayHeathrow ExpressLNERNorthern and TransPennine Express.

  • Monday 8 April - c2cGatwick ExpressGreat NorthernGreater Anglia (including Stansted Express), South Western Railway (including Island Line), SoutheasternSouthern and Thameslink. London Underground drivers who are members of ASLEF are also set to go on strike on this day.

In addition, the above train operators will have an overtime ban from Thursday 4 April to Saturday 6 April, and from Monday 8 April to Tuesday 9 April.

 

How to Get Around London During a Train or Tube Strike

As much as Tube and train strikes can be a pain, the good news is there’s a range of alternative ways to travel around the city. So, for those wondering what to do during the next train or Tube strike, check out our list of travel alternatives below…  

London bus interior

Buses

Buses are a handy alternative to consider when Tube and train strike, well, strike! London has an extensive bus network with comprehensive coverage across the city. The adult fare for a single bus ride is £1.65, no matter where you are in the city or how long the journey is, and the maximum fare for pay-as-you-go bus-only travel across any given day is capped at £4.95. London buses are also cashless, and accept contactless payments, Oyster cards and Travelcards. 

 

TfL bus strike 2022: Buses have planned strikes in November and December on multiple days.

TfL live status: You can check status updates for London bus services on the TfL website.


Buses can be a good alternative during Tube and train strikes, but what if there’s a London bus strike in 2022? Read on to discover more top travel alternatives.

woman with a bike

City Bikes

For those wanting to avoid packed buses when a train or Tube strike hits, city bikes are also available across London. Known as Santander Cycles, or Boris Bikes, this is a public bicycle hire scheme in London. You’ll find docking stations all across London, ensuring there’s a bike close to you, no matter where you are in the city. The bikes cost £2 for an unlimited number of rides up to 30 minutes long (used within a 24-hour window). Just be sure to return your cycle within 24 hours or you might find yourself with a surplus charge.


Find out more on these city bikes and where to hire them via the TfL Santander Cycles page.

black cab

Black Cab

An iconic symbol of London, black cabs are a fantastic way to get around the city, especially during London Underground strike action. Also known as hackney carriages, black cabs offer taxi services all across the Capital. You can pre-book, hail them on the street or pick one up at a taxi rank, with fares set and regulated by TfL. Keep an eye out for a green or yellow badge, this means the cab is TfL licensed. Fun fact, these badges also show that the taxi driver has passed ‘The Knowledge of London’ – a famously tricky exam drivers must take to qualify as a London cabbie. Students typically take 3-4 years to master ‘The Knowledge', needing to memorise a list of 320 routes in a six-mile radius of Charing Cross.


Learn more about black cabs and other TfL taxi services here.

woman in a car

Uber/Bolt

You might also want to consider ride-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt during TfL rail strike action. There are a few different ways in which these modern ride-hailing alternatives can differ from the traditional black cab, users able to order a ride in-app, pay online and choose from a variety of different lifts to suit their needs (e.g., Uber Assist offers extra support to those with disabilities). There’s an ongoing debate as to whether these ride-hailing alternatives are cheaper than black cabs, the answer being - it depends! The cost for a lift with Uber, for example, can vary depending on the duration of the journey and the amount of people requesting rides in your area at the time.

Zipcar

Car Sharing

For the next train or Tube strike London faces, car sharing services could be a huge help. Whether you’re just going to and from work, or getting away for the weekend, don’t let the strikes make or break your travel plans. With car sharing, you can rent a car for as little as an hour, or for as long as a couple weeks. You can also save on costs such as parking and fuel, depending on the provider. Did you know Zipcar pays for fuel, parking, congestion charges and even your insurance? This way, you can reap all the benefits of having a car without the hassle of owning one.

 

Find out more about Zipcar’s London car sharing services.

 

Accessible Travel

A train or Tube strike in London can be difficult for anyone to navigate, let alone if you have a disability. If you’re looking for an alternative, accessible mode of travel there are a variety of tools that can help with this.

 

Wheelmap.org: an online map that helps users find places accessible for those in wheelchairs, including transport. 

 

Be My Eyes: an app connecting visually impaired users to sighted volunteers via video call. Volunteers can help read bus routes, navigate train stations and more.

 

Zipcar members with disabilities can access hand-controlled vehicles. Find out more about Zipcar’s services for members with disabilities here.

 

Find out More About the Strikes

With more strikes potentially on the horizon, it’s handy to know where to turn if, and when, they take place. Here are a few useful sites to help keep you up to date on the latest transport and strike news:  

Transport for London (TfL) Strikes: For the latest news on TfL Tube strikes, including the Tube, the Overground and buses. 

TfL Live Status: Explore TfL live status updates for the Tube, the Overground, DLR, Tram, Buses, River Bus, National Rail and more. 

National Rail Enquiries: Check train times, plan your journey and get travel updates via National Rail Enquiries.

RMT union: Find out more about the strikes launched by RMT union, including why they’re happening and when

 


If strikes are affecting your travels, it’s good to have a few alternatives to hand. You’ll find Zipcars dotted all around London, so whether you’re smack bang in the city centre or out in the suburbs, we’ve got you covered. Find the nearest Zipcar to you

 

When were the previous rail and tube strikes?

Since the summer of 2022 there has a wave of strikes across the rail network impacting travellers up and down the country. The rail strikes start in June 2022 and continued throughout and into early 2023. Here's a breakdown of those strikes broken by rail and tube.

Rail strikes

Tube strikes

  • June 2022: 6th, 7th, 21st, 22nd
  • August 2022: 18th, 20th
  • November 2022: 10th, 11th, 25th
  • March 2023: 15th, 18th