From Friday, 5 September at 18:00 until Thursday, 11 September 2025, London will face one of the most severe transport crises in decades. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are staging six consecutive days of industrial action on the London Underground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR), disrupting millions of journeys for commuters, tourists and businesses across the capital.
According to The WP Times, citing The Guardian, London is set to endure six days of Tube and DLR strikes between 5 and 11 September 2025, as the RMT union escalates its action over excessive workload, staff fatigue and broken agreements, leaving Transport for London (TfL) struggling to maintain essential services.
Friday, 5 September 2025 – First Signs of Tube Disruption
- Who strikes: Operational control managers at the Ruislip depot (from 18:00, 24 hours).
- Effect: Limited, but the Central line (West Ruislip branch) and parts of the Piccadilly line will face evening cancellations.
- Passenger impact: Heathrow-bound travellers may encounter last-minute cancellations; evening rush-hour commuters risk extended delays.
- Alternatives: Heathrow Express, Elizabeth line from Paddington, National Express coaches.
Saturday, 6 September 2025 – Early Ripples on the Underground
- Who strikes: Continuation of depot stoppage.
- Effect: Minimal Tube disruption, but compounded by Northern line engineering works (Camden Town – High Barnet).
- Passenger impact: North London journeys to Camden, Hampstead and Alexandra Palace diverted to replacement buses.
- Alternatives: Thameslink services from St Pancras for northbound travel.
Sunday, 7 September 2025 – Full London Underground Shutdown
- Who strikes: Track access staff, power controllers, Emergency Response Units.
- Effect: Complete suspension of Tube services. Without power and signalling, no trains will run.
- Stations closed: Oxford Circus, King’s Cross, Victoria, Waterloo, Liverpool Street, Paddington.
- Passenger impact: Central London gridlocked; buses and Overground overwhelmed; journey times could triple.
- Alternatives: Elizabeth line (still operating), Santander Cycles, walking corridors (Euston–King’s Cross, Waterloo–London Bridge).
Monday, 8 September 2025 – Train Drivers and Station Staff Walk Out
- Who strikes: Train drivers, station staff, fleet crews.
- Effect: Most London Underground lines suspended.
- Passenger impact:
- No Piccadilly line: Heathrow isolated.
- No Jubilee line: Canary Wharf disconnected.
- No Northern or Victoria lines: North–South travel across London blocked.
- Alternatives: Elizabeth line (Paddington–Canary Wharf), Thames Clippers river buses.
Tuesday, 9 September 2025 – Tube and DLR Strike
- Who strikes: Signallers, service controllers, ERU staff.
- Effect: London Underground completely closed + DLR suspended.
- Passenger impact:
- London City Airport inaccessible (DLR shut).
- East London hubs (Stratford, Greenwich, Woolwich) cut off.
- Tower Gateway and Bank interchanges closed.
- Alternatives: Elizabeth line to Custom House, bus routes 473, 474, 300, Thameslink for cross-London travel.
Wednesday, 10 September 2025 – Continued Tube Suspension
- Who strikes: Fleet, Engineering, Stations and Train crews.
- Effect: All Underground lines remain closed.
- Passenger impact:
- Tourist hotspots (Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus) closed.
- Wembley Stadium inaccessible (Metropolitan and Jubilee lines suspended).
- South London commuters cut off from the City.
- Alternatives: London Overground (Clapham Junction–Shoreditch High Street), bus services via Elephant & Castle.
Thursday, 11 September 2025 – Final Day of Tube and DLR Shutdown
- Who strikes: Signallers, service controllers and DLR staff.
- Effect: Tube and DLR both closed.
- Passenger impact:
- Heathrow, Gatwick and City Airport journeys severely disrupted.
- Canary Wharf business district and Bank interchange inaccessible.
- East London residents left without rapid transit options.
- Alternatives: Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express, National Express and Megabus long-distance coaches.
Wider Consequences
- Business losses: Retail, hospitality and tourism sectors expected to lose tens of millions.
- Environmental impact: Surge in road congestion and air pollution as commuters switch to cars.
- Political fallout: Renewed calls for minimum service laws in essential transport sectors.
Quick Reference Table
| Date | Tube status | DLR status | Key consequences |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Sept 2025 | Minor delays | Open | Heathrow evening disruption |
| 6 Sept 2025 | Limited + works | Open | North London delays |
| 7 Sept 2025 | Closed | Open | Zone 1 paralysed |
| 8 Sept 2025 | Closed | Open | Canary Wharf, Heathrow isolated |
| 9 Sept 2025 | Closed | Closed | City Airport blocked |
| 10 Sept 2025 | Closed | Open | Wembley, South London disconnected |
| 11 Sept 2025 | Closed | Closed | Airports, Canary Wharf isolated |
From 5 to 11 September 2025, London will see the most extensive Tube and DLR shutdown in recent memory. With central hubs, airports and business districts cut off, the strikes will paralyse daily life, force commuters onto limited alternatives and reignite debate over funding, safety and the future of Britain’s public transport.
Read about the life of Westminster and Pimlico district, London and the world. 24/7 news with fresh and useful updates on culture, business, technology and city life: London Underground, Overground, Elizabeth Line and DLR: Full September 2025 Closure Calendar
