Tube drivers walked out at midnight in a dispute about the introduction of a voluntary four-day working week
Services will be disrupted throughout the day with no trains running on some lines, and delays and part suspensions on others
Business owners fear "there's going to be no one in London", as commuters describe long queues to take multiple buses into work
Buses, London Overground, DLR and tram services are running, and there's good service on the Elizabeth Line after earlier delays due to a points failure
You can find live status updates for the Tube network on Transport for London's website, external
A second 24-hour strike is set to take place on Thursday. Find out more about what is happening and why here
The Northern line, which had been running a more regular service, is now experiencing severe delays due to the ongoing strike.
Services are now operating approximately every 15 minutes, TfL says.
Image source, Getty ImagesSadiq Khan has just appeared on BBC Radio London, where he was asked about today's strikes.
The London mayor admits the strikes are "a sign of failure" and urges RMT and TfL to "get round the table" to resolve the issue.
"The workers on strike lose a day's salary, TfL loses revenues, businesses are losing their customers, people have hospital appointments they can't get to. This is a massive inconvenience," he explains.
Pushed on what steps he's taking to prevent a planned second day of industrial action on Thursday, Khan says TfL are "available" today and tomorrow to talk to RMT.
Image source, ReutersToday's Tube strike is the first of two set to disrupt London this week
Today's strike is not the first to hit the capital this year and will be followed by another walkout on Thursday.
The main reason for the strikes in 2026 is the proposed introduction of a 35-hour, four-day week for Tube drivers.
Image source, EPA/ShutterstockPassengers have been left waiting for Tube trains as severe delays hit lines across the capital
Image source, Dan Kitwood/Getty ImagesGates have remained shut to some lines in usually packed central stations - like Oxford Circus pictured here
Image source, Guy Smallman/Getty ImagesRMT union workers are striking in protest against plans for a voluntary four-day working week for Tube drivers
Image source, Getty ImagesCommuters have turned to buses with disruption widespread along the Tube network
As commuters head for lunch, we're about halfway through the first of two 24 hours walkouts from tube drivers on Tuesday and Thursday.
Here's a reminder of all the warnings issued by Transport for London amid this week's disruption:
There will be no service on the Circle and Piccadilly lines. Trains will be operating on the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate and on the Central line between White City and Liverpool Street.
Where services are running, TfL has warned of disruption to journeys, with passengers told to plan ahead and use alternative routes.
Service levels will vary across the tube network and will start late and finish early on Tuesday and Thursday.
It adds there will be limited services before 06:30 and advises customers to finish their journeys before 21:00 on both days.
Meanwhile, there will be normal services across all tube lines on Wednesday 3 June and Friday 5 June, when there are no strikes planned.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Elizabeth line is now operating a good service after earlier delays due to a points failure at Slough.
Before the disruption, commuters had been able to use the service, which runs from east to west, as an alternative to the Tube as its drivers aren't on strike.
It led to large crowds gathering at an interchange at Liverpool Street station - as our reporter captured in pictures earlier on.
Image source, Getty ImagesLondon Mayor Sadiq Khan is urging the RMT and TfL to find a resolution to the dispute.
“Nobody wants to see strike action - which has a serious impact on Londoners, businesses and commuters," the mayor's spokesperson says.
"The mayor continues to urge the RMT and TfL to get around the table to resolve this matter, so we can avoid further disruption and keep London moving.”
As we reported earlier, RMT union Tube drivers are striking over safety concerns about proposals for a voluntary four-day working week; TfL insists the strike is unhelpful.
Khan is expected to appear live on BBC Radio London shortly after 13:00 BST today to discuss social media policy, and we'll bring you anything he has to say on today's industrial action.
The Lioness line is the latest TfL service to experience delays and is part suspended between Watford Junction and Willesden Junction.
This is due to a faulty train at South Kenton and not a result of the ongoing Tube strike.
Elsewhere, issues on the Mildmay line have now been resolved and the Overground line is operating a good service.
Image source, Bloomberg via Getty ImagesFewer people than usual are travelling into some of London's busiest areas during today's Tube strike, according to data from Virgin Media O2.
The company's anonymised mobile phone data shows footfall in the City is down 16% compared with a typical Tuesday morning.
Other areas are also seeing lower numbers of people, with Westminster down 11%, King's Cross down 8% and the West End down 6%.
A Virgin Media O2 spokesperson says the figures provide a "real-time snapshot" of how London responds to major transport disruption.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Jubilee line has been operating a good service since rush hour
Despite today's walkout by the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union, three Tube lines are now operating close to normal.
The Northern line is experiencing minor delays, with TfL reporting services every six minutes. This is a longer gap than normal but indicates a regular service.
Similarly, the Victoria line is experiencing minor delays, with services operating every four minutes.
Meanwhile, the Jubilee line is operating a good service with no reported delays.
After earlier severe delays, there are now only minor delays on the Elizabeth line because of an earlier points failure at Slough.
It is worth remembering there is still severe disruption - as well as some suspensions - on the rest of the TfL network.
Gem O'Reilly
Reporting from Victoria station
I’ve just spoken to a couple who say they have to hire an Uber, as the taxi line at Victoria station is too long to wait in.
The couple explain that they are heading to their biggest work conference of the year, and seem very anxious about whether they’d make their train.
One of them, a woman, tells me she doesn't think it's "fair" that the public is paying for the dispute between TfL and the RMT union.
“It’s really frustrating and we are cutting it really fine to get our train from Euston to Birmingham," she says.
When strikes took place last month, people were enjoying cycling, walking and other forms of transport because of good weather.
This morning that’s not exactly the feeling as the rain has been pouring and queues for both buses and taxes have been getting longer.
Harry Low
BBC London News
Meanwhile on the taxi rank at King’s Cross, London’s black cabs are doing brisk business.
One of the drivers, Adrian, describes it as a “good day to be a taxi driver especially when the Tubes are gone”.
Another, Paul, says it’s a “pain in the backside”.
He adds: “The traffic’s a nightmare, people get in the cabs who don’t really want to get a cab and people who get cabs moan that they can’t get a cab.
“If they are striking over feeling it’s dangerous to work extra time, I’m in support of it. There are more important things in life than money.”
Commuters are continuing to pour out of King's Cross station, where rain showers have been adding to the misery of a disrupted commute this morning.
It's a similar sight across much of the capital, with thundery showers and a gentle breeze expected throughout the day, despite cool temperatures of around 18C.
People seek shelter as the wet weather continues at King's Cross
A colourful array of umbrellas on show as people queue for the bus
There's a long wait for those seeking alternative transport
Suspended and part suspended
The Bakerloo, Piccadilly and Central lines are part suspended, while the Circle and Waterloo & City lines are suspended entirely.
Severe delays
There are severe delays on the District, Hammersmith & City, and Victoria lines, as well as on the Bakerloo line.
There are also severe delays on Mildmay, which runs on the London Overground, and the Elizabeth line. These issues are separate from the ongoing Tube strike.
Minor delays
There are minor delays on the Northern line, with services operating approximately every six minutes.
Good service
The only Tube line operating a good service is the Jubilee, with no issues reported. The rest of the Overground and DLR are also operating a normal service.
Image source, ReutersOur reporters are deployed at stations across London, where they have been speaking to commuters caught up in today's strike action. Here's a round-up of what they've told us:
We want to hear how you have been affected. Details of how to get in contact with us can be found in this post.
Amy Clarke
BBC London News
I found my journey into the office this morning to be quieter and easier than normal.
I took a South Western train into Vauxhall and then the Victoria line, which seemed to be running more or less as usual.
I managed to get a seat on both legs of the journey (which is usually unheard of) and didn’t have to wait more than a few minutes for the tube.
Quite often on a Tuesday I get delayed at Vauxhall station due to issues on the Victoria line and the sheer number of people trying to use the station.
This can lead to staff pausing the barriers to prevent overcrowding on the platform, which slows things down significantly.
It is quite refreshing that this didn’t happen today but it looks like the strikes have discouraged people from travelling in.
The Elizabeth line is the latest to be hit by severe delays - not because of strike action but due to a points failure at Slough.
There are severe delays between Paddington, Reading, and Heathrow Terminals 4&5, with a good service on the rest of the line, TfL says.
Plenty of commuters - including our reporters - have been able to use the Elizabeth line as an alternative to the Tube this morning as its drivers aren't on strike.
We'll keep an eye on how this news affects the morning's disruption.
Sameena Misbahuddin
Reporting from Liverpool Street
As I continue my journey from Stratford into central London, there is a mass exit of the Central line westbound train at Liverpool Street station where it terminates.
Passengers are being advised to take the Elizabeth line as an alternative through central London, so huge crowds are heading towards the platform.
And if an escalator stops working for a short amount of time the crowd becomes even bigger.
Tom Edwards
Transport correspondent, BBC London
Image source, ReutersThis dispute is about the introduction of a trial of a 35-hour, four-day week.
Two of those hours would be paid meal breaks and would result in an extra 35 days off a year.
The problem is while TfL say it is voluntary, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union doesn’t think it will be and has concerns over fatigue and also what it will do to other agreed conditions.
TfL says the dispute can be resolved in more talks, but the RMT Union wants that detail now.
What has made this different is Aslef - the other train drivers union - want the deal and have been critical of the RMT.
Aslef thinks this is the kind of deal every trade union should be fighting for. How it will be resolved is tricky.
Earlier we heard from TfL's Nick Dent, who says that negotiations have primarily centred on "operational details" rather than on issues of safety.
But the RMT's statement following yesterday's failed talks stresses safety concerns among its members is still their core complaint.
"TfL have failed to provide assurances on our members deeply held concerns around fatigue, reduced flexibility, shift lengths and the impact these proposals could have in a safety-critical role like tube driving," the union's representative says.
The RMT isn't just at odds with TfL over accepting the voluntary four-day week, but also its fellow drivers' union, Aslef.
That union, which represents a bit more than half of Tube drivers, previously said it was "surprised that the RMT has decided to take this action".
