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Tube strike: When is it, how long will it last and how can I get to work?

When is the tube strike?

If the strike goes ahead, tube services will be significantly affected across three days from 6pm on Sunday, February 5 until around 11am on Wednesday, February 8.

About 3,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport are expected to walk out. 

Here's the precise timings of the two strikes.

Which zones and stations are affected? 

Many Tube stations, including most of those in Zone 1, will not open. Others may open and close at short notice.

See this handy map for a rough idea.

What are the other options for getting around London?

All other Transport for London (TfL) services including London Overground, TfL Rail, Trams, DLR and the Emirates Air Line will run as normal.

There will be extra bus and river services, but bus services especially are likely to be very busy. Road journeys will also take longer. 

TfL has warned against driving, saying on its website: "Road journeys will take much longer than usual - please only drive in central London if it's essential. If you can't avoid driving, please use the north and south circular roads and/or the M25."

If you can, walk once you get to central London.

Why is the strike happening? 

RMT members are striking in a long-running disputeover jobs and ticket office closures. Union members have warned that the loss of more than 800 jobs is affecting safety, and want London Underground to reinstate more than it is currently offering.

They claim staff are being abused by passengers facing queues at ticket machines.

What's being done to call off the strike?

Talks took place at the conciliation service Acas on Thursday in a bid to avert the action. The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) also took part in the talks, but its members are not going on strike.

London Underground chief operating officer Steve Griffiths said: "We have made a proposal to both unions in order to end this dispute and will be recruiting at least 650 new station staff this year, of which 325 will be additional new roles.

"I urge the RMT to keep talking with us and not disrupt the lives of Londoners."

Tube drivers