Analise

Is a strike like this limited to 24 hours or is it likely the employees could decide to stay off the job longer than a 24 hour period?

NWIFlyer

Under UK law it would be illegal to strike beyond the notified period, so workers could not arbitrarily decide simply to stay away longer. However, the reality is that trains will probably be in the wrong place when the strike ends, so there may be a few hours more partial disruption whilst the system recovers. This would manifest as an extension of journey times rather than entire tube lines remaining closed.

stut

A lot of the LU strikes have been resolved before they've happened recently, as well, so keep an eye on the news, and don't necessarily fear the worst!

Mizter T

Not just recently - that's been the modus operandi for years!

Whilst it's worth taking note of a threatened Tube strike, I'd say it's generally not taken all that seriously (by Londoners at least) until a few days beforehand.

Analise

Thanks. Typically how long does it take for the system to recover to normal and get the trains back in place? My flight arrives in the early afternoon from GIB and I was hoping to the take the Piccadilly line.

That's good to know. If the strike were cancelled, how soon could the next scheduled 24 hour strike be if they decided once again to walk off the job?

NWIFlyer

You'd have no issue with that - I doubt you'd notice any reduction in service. We're talking about 2-3 hours most likely from startup, so the only real affected time is morning rush hour depending on exactly when the strike times are.

Under UK law, the union must give 14 days notice of any strike. There's no minimum period between strikes, so the union could give notice today for 4th October, and another notice tomorrow for 5th.

Stoppages are also not necessarily 24 hours - they could be more or less, and to a certain extent it's more problematical to London Underground to have staff walk out for a few hours in the middle of the day.

gingerlucy

Bear in mind that even though it's a "24 hour" strike they don't usually strike from midnight to midnight. It is often something like 6pm on day 1 to 6pm on day 2.

In effect that means it will last longer because a striking driver can't just abandon their train full of passengers at 6pm on the dot. They will most likely terminate their train at the end of the line/depot access siding when passing it before 6pm on day 1.

On day 2, assuming drivers turn up at 6pm the trains are now sitting in depots and getting them out and running takes a while, so you won't see those trains in central London for some time. Some lines won't bother re-starting a full service that evening because they'll have missed rush hour anyway. So all in all this can mean the effect of a strike is from T-2ish hours on day 1 right through to close of traffic on day 2.

That said, strikes are often called off and even the ones that go ahead don't always cause the complete shut-down of lines as not all drivers will strike (some not in a union, some in a different union, some strike-breakers). If there are enough to run a service they will do so. Check a couple of days before and see if it is still on and what the expected disruption is likely to be.

Analise

Nobody else has said this. So the 24 hour strike could begin at 6pm on October 5 and go INTO October 6 up to 6pm. Is that correct?

What time did the union specify that it will go on strike on October 5?

Those of you in London locally, please keep us up to date.

NWIFlyer

Yes, correct, as I hinted at and gingerlucy spelt out.

That is actually the more usual format of strike action from Underground staff, because it ensures the most disruption for the same loss in wages.

gingerlucy

Indeed so. They haven't specified timings yet but it is highly unlikely it will be one "clean" day because as NWIFlyer says that doesn't maximise disruption. The particularly big one back in January was 6pm to 6pm which is very effective as it takes out the service for evening rush hour on both days. They have also had/planned 9pm and 10pm starts this year. They will announce the specifics with a few days' notice.

If you're flying into LHR and need to get somewhere in central London you should look into pre-booking a minicab. Do not try to get the Heathrow Express into London and then a cab or bus because in previous strikes the queues for both of those at Paddington are truly something to behold. No need to book yet but at least research your options so you have a plan if you need it.

big_mac

The BBC reported it as one day (midnight-midnight)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-41309988

gingerlucy

It's possible they'll do that to mix things up, though ASLEF themselves haven't announced any times so I don't know where the BBC got that from. As they say at the bottom, the January one was from 6pm.

Graciecatt

We will be landing Saturday Oct 7 at 7 am at LHR then taking a car service to Windsor Castle. After touring the castle, we're heading into London to our hotel.

This strike, were it to go into Saturday, will not affect us taking the rail service into Paddington from Windsor Eton, correct?

We would just have to find a different way to get from Paddington to our hotel at St Pancras?

WorldLux

Given that it isn't tube, you won't be affected on that part of the journey. I would even go as far as say that it's unlikely that they'll be striking on that day.

Analise

Clearly I missed it. Yet the BBC link says the strike will begin at 00:01 on October 5. Yet as was said above, no one knows where the BBC got that info.

So my flight is due at 1:45pm on October 6. Does it look like I'll need to find another way into London besides the Piccadilly? Should I book Heathrow Connect online? I'll be going to Ealing Broadway.