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Here we go again. Round two of London’s current bout of tube strikes is on the way. Following four days of industrial action in April, next week the London Underground network will be hit by two 24-hour strikes spread across four days.
The strikes are the result of a dispute between the RMT union and TfL. The main issue is a ‘compressed four-day working week’ for tube drivers, with the RMT saying that London Underground management is attempting to compress the hours of a normal working week into four days. The union has raised concerns about shift lengths, working time arrangements and the potential impact on fatigue and safety.
The April walk-outs were nowhere near as severe as the strikes back in September 2025, with TfL able to run a reduced service on most tube lines. Plus, there plenty of ways to get around the city without the tube, like buses, trams, e-bikes, National Rail trains, the Overground and the Elizabeth line.
The purple line isn’t a London Underground service, so its drivers don’t take part in tube strikes. Here’s what you need to know about using the Elizabeth line during the industrial action on May 19-22 2026.
RECOMMENDED: 🚇 How to get around London during April’s RMT industrial action.
When are the spring 2026 tube strikes?
There are four more remaining tube strike dates, spread across eight days. The two May periods of industrial action are in bold below:
- May 19-20 (12pm to 11.59am)
- May 21-22 (12pm to 11.59am)
- June 16-17 (12pm to 11.59am)
- June 18-19 (12pm to 11.59am)
There were previously strikes on April 21-22 and 23-24.
Will the Elizabeth line be affected?
The Lizzie line will not be impacted by strike action. Elizabeth line staff are not part of this round of walk-outs.
That said, there will be knock-on effects of the tube strike. The Elizabeth line will likely be much, much busier than usual during strike hours, while some stations will have reduced interchange access.
Which lines are affected by the strikes?
TfL is yet to confirm exactly which lines will be worst hit by the walk-outs. If the disruption is as it was during the April strikes, you can expect a reduced service on all lines, as well as these specific service changes:
- No trains on the Piccadilly and Circle lines
- No service on the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate
- No trains on the Central line between White City and Liverpool Street
When did strikes last hit the Elizabeth line?
The purple line was last threatened by industrial action in February and March 2025, however the strikes were called off. Before that, control room staff on the Elizabeth line walked out on New Year’s Eve 2024.
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