Potential London Underground disruption at Heathrow on Friday

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• Alan says:

  23 Nov23 November 04:15

  Bear in mind there is a bus strike in West London on Friday, so not sure how you’ll get from Hounslow Central to Heathrow.

• Sin says:

  23 Nov23 November 05:48

  This is one of the stations where staff cuts are being introduced

• Matt says:

  23 Nov23 November 06:46

  Interestingly I’ve never managed to catch a Piccadilly line train from Euston either!

  • AJA says:

    23 Nov23 November 08:07

    😀

  • lumma says:

    23 Nov23 November 08:47

    That’s why he said “all of them, except for Victoria and Euston, are on the Piccadilly Line”

    • Rob says:

      23 Nov23 November 08:56

      I edited it – only said Victoria originally.

• Nigerian Prince says:

  23 Nov23 November 07:13

  No ballot and in short notice?

  • Paul says:

    23 Nov23 November 09:06

    Last ballot was June, currently re-balloting. This strike announce 11th November

  • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

    23 Nov23 November 09:22

    Given the legal penalties that apply to unions if they fail to comply with the law they gave the employer the requisite 14 days notice after carrying out the ballot.

• haasha says:

  23 Nov23 November 07:51

  The same TfL strikes page has been used for ages. It’s actually very convenient – I’ve bookmarked it years ago and can easily check if anything is going on when needed.

  • AJA says:

    23 Nov23 November 08:07

    I’ve done the same. I find it very useful. I look forward to the day when it has nothing to report – I may be waiting some time.

• Scumdisgustme says:

  23 Nov23 November 08:06

  It’s interesting why they haven’t full automated the trains. Swear those so called train drivers are paid to press 2 buttons if not 1

  • Paul says:

    23 Nov23 November 08:56

    Because it’s not drivers going on strike for a start

  • George K says:

    23 Nov23 November 09:05

    How about we automate your job first? Then the train drivers, who aren’t even striking.

    • Russell G says:

      23 Nov23 November 15:32

      Oh gees no! Please lets not automate disgruntled internet commenters! 😀

  • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

    23 Nov23 November 09:26

    Because it would cost billions and there would be years of disruption whilst the necessary tech it is installed across the existing tube network to facilitate it.

    The previous Mayor banged on about driverless trains but did nothing to implement them whilst he was in office because of the cost. Slogans are cheap but implementation definitely isn’t.

  • Aston100 says:

    23 Nov23 November 11:19

    To be fair, they also have to make the difficult decision about which side of the train the doors need to open.

    • TRT says:

      25 Nov25 November 11:23

      No they don’t. Tube trains have a system which should prevent doors being opened on the wrong side (selective side opening) and doors opening when the train is not berthed correctly or when end doors should not be opened due to short platforms. However drivers do have to elect to close the doors when safe to do so and to take power again when safe to do so. The driver is also there to make sure that when the automated systems don’t work (as happens surprisingly often) then the service can still run. Besides this strike is on stations, not trains.

  • KevinS says:

    23 Nov23 November 11:38

    Are you volunteering to pay for automating the trains? Or do you think it would be free?

  • Robert says:

    23 Nov23 November 11:52

    1. It’s not the drivers striking here
    2. TfL has done the Sums. The cost to upgrade to a fully automated system is much higher than paying skilled drivers to man the trains
    3. In any case, would you want to be on a train in a deep tunnel that is totally unmanned, no room for a skilled human to deal with a situation if the train hits a situation it can’t decide how to respond to, or you need to be evacuated? And if not totally unmanned, there really isn’t much of a saving form downgrading the driver role, if you still need someone with those skills. I know we have DLR self-driving, but that’s on an entirely new-build system, mostly not in tunnels, with full evacuation paths, and every train is still staffed

    • Dubious says:

      24 Nov24 November 11:24

      1. Driverless trains already operate in deep underground tunnels in other parts of the world without a problem,
      – and I am comfortable using them.

      2. Rather than upgrade, why not make the new lines automated. For example did they consider automation in the new Elizabeth line?

  • martin says:

    23 Nov23 November 12:30

    the short answer is that it’s (a) complicated and (b) insanely expensive. Here’s the longer answer: https://www.londonreconnections.com/2021/the-political-myth-of-the-driverless-tube-train/

    (also there’s a lot more than just pressing buttons involved.)

  • Northernline says:

    23 Nov23 November 14:12

    Odd comment that I assume is wholly satirical, considering the strike this article is about does not include drivers, and as others have pointed out, the cost would outweigh the benefits for at least 40 years.

• Numpty says:

  23 Nov23 November 08:21

  Elizabeth line and HEX still running though. On Friday night i need to get from T5 to T2, simple enough you’d think!

  • john says:

    23 Nov23 November 11:28

    If you are arriving in to T5 then it might be worth doing airside?

    • Numpty says:

      23 Nov23 November 13:29

      It was just to stay the night at the Hilton Garden Inn T2,then back to T5 in morning for next flight. Turns out Heathrow Express is on strike on the Saturday! I had changed my mind a few times between the Hilton T2 and Sofitel (cost v convenience), but taking a few factors into account have opted for Sofitel.

      • Chrisasaurus says:

        23 Nov23 November 20:22

        Sounds like somebody is getting an Uber…

• Paul says:

  23 Nov23 November 08:55

  Stations around Heathrow, Hounslow West and Terminal 4 likely to be closed all day, potentially T5 too. T2&3 should be open 0700-2300 atleast. Hatton Cross less predictable

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