Tube passengers were warned on Thursday evening that more than a week of strike chaos on the London Underground is expected to go ahead.
Transport for London issued a formal alert and advice to travellers shortly before 5pm on Thursday - though there remain hopes that the strike may be called off at the 11th hour.
TfL said: “If the strikes go ahead, little to no Tube service is expected Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 November, and on Tuesday 12 November.”
This includes a total shutdown of the London Underground on Thursday November 7, when Aslef drivers are expected to walk out for the first of their two 24-hour strikes.
Union leaders met on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the rolling walkouts, which are due to start on Friday.
Further talks, believed to involve Transport for London negotiators, were being held throughout Thursday as efforts increased to avert a series of strikes that would have a crippling effect on the central London economy.
TfL said it was “working hard to resolve the dispute”, with dialogue with the unions ongoing.
It said it would “operate as many services as possible”, should strikes go ahead. It urged the unions to accept the pay offer and call off the strike.
An announcement on whether the strikes are on or off had been expected by lunchtime on Thursday.
By mid-afternoon on Thursday, the situation remained unclear, with both sides making no official comment.
But TfL felt it had a duty to remind passengers that the strikes were still on - despite talks continuing.
Claire Mann, TfL's chief operating officer, said on Thursday evening: “We are disappointed that the RMT and Aslef unions have announced strike action, following our recent discussions over pay, terms and conditions.
“We are continuing to talk with all trade unions to discuss the issues and seek a resolution. Our offer is fair for our people and affordable for London.
“We urge the trade unions to call off this action, accept our offer, and avoid disruption to London. If it goes ahead customers should check before they travel as on some days during the strike there will be little to no service.”
If the strikes go ahead, the first major impact is not expected to be felt until Sunday, when passengers have been advised by TfL to complete their journeys by 5pm. Services will be stop by 7pm.
On Monday, services are expected to run as normal - but passengers should check before they travel.
TfL says the strikes – which have been called by Aslef and the RMT in their battle to win a better pay deal – will continue to have an impact until Wednesday November 13.
There is still the possibility that the strikes could be called off.
However, Finn Brennan, Aslef’s London regional organiser, said on Wednesday that there had been “no movement” from TfL in response to its demands for improved conditions for Tube drivers. “The Aslef strikes are still on,” he said.
Aslef, which represents 2,000 Tube drivers, will strike on Thursday, November 7 and Tuesday, November 12.
Aslef strikes traditionally cause the total shutdown of the Tube, now used for about four million journeys on weekdays.
Talks between TfL and the unions were held last Friday.
The RMT, which represents 10,000 station staff, signallers and some drivers, has told different members to strike on different days between November 1 to November 8, in protest at what it called a “wholly inadequate” pay offer.
TfL expects there to be “severe disruption” across the London Underground on Tuesday November 5 and Wednesday November 6, with most lines not running.
Any services that do run are likely to start later and finish earlier than normal.
On Friday November 8, “severe disruption” is expected – including on the Night Tube. Any services that do operate are likely to start later and finish earlier than normal.
On Saturday November 9, the Tube is expected to start later than normal.
On Tuesday November 12, the second of the Aslef strikes, severe disruption is forecast, with most lines not running – though a total shutdown may be more likely.
TfL said that any services that do run are likely to start later and finish earlier than normal.
The strike will not have a direct impact on the Elizabeth line, which carries about 750,000 passengers on weekdays, or the London Overground, which has about 500,000 passengers, though some shared stations could be forced to close.
TfL says the pay offer is worth an average of 4.6 per cent, with drivers receiving an increase of 4.5 per cent - reportedly taking their pay to £69,600.
This is equivalent to the 4.5 per cent increase accepted by Aslef for its train driver members on the national railways.
But the unions say the TfL offer – for the 2024 pay year - is for 3.8 per cent plus a £450 “lump sum” payment, which is designed to provide proportionately more help to the lowest-paid Tube staff.
The RPI rate of inflation for February, which is the basis for Tube pay discussions, was 4.5 per cent.
Last week, London mayor Sadiq Khan told The Standard that he was “confident” the strikes would be called off.
He said he was “hopeful” that the union demands could be negotiated “amicably” with TfL and the strikes could be called off.
But Jared Wood, the RMT’s London regional organiser, said the annual pay talks had been derailed by TfL’s “ridiculous insistence” that the traditional system of collective bargaining, which entitles all staff to the same deal, is replaced with greater pay banding, which could mean different rates for different staff.
