April London strike: Date, time and what lines are affected during four-day DLR strike clashing with London Marathon
Another batch of strike action is set to disrupt the DLR later this month, with the four-day walkout also coinciding with the London Marathon.
So here’s what you need to know about what’s likely to be affected and when.
Read more: A four-day DLR strike will go ahead – clashing with the London Marathon
When is the walkout happening?
A walkout has been called by the RMT for KeolisAmey Docklands members from 4am on Friday 20 April to 4am on Tuesday 24 April.
What’s the strike about?
The strike is due to a row over a number of workplace issues between the RMT and KeolisAmey Docklands, spanning what the union has called payroll and taxation failures to “attacks on rostering agreements”, it said would impede work/life balance.
Abdellah Chajai, managing director of KeolisAmey Docklands, has called the action “totally unnecessary” and the firm remained committed to “meaningful and reasonable discussion with the union to resolve the issues”.
So it doesn’t actually involve TfL?
The row concerns KeolisAmey Docklands, which operates the DLR on behalf of TfL, hence why a walkout will still affect services.
Wasn’t there a DLR strike the other week?
Yep, a 48-hour one was called last week over the dispute, with TfL warning then of wider disruption.
Will anything run?
TfL has said it will work with the operator to provide “as much of a service as possible”, but during the last action it provided a special service on part of the DLR which wrapped up at 4pm.
London’s transport body will be putting out more information shortly so customers affected can start working out how to re-plan their journeys. The TfL journey planner will also offer up routes for those needing to find a fresh way into the capital.
Isn’t the London Marathon during the walkout?
Yep. It’s more of a concern as the London Marathon is being held on Sunday 22 April – slap bang in the middle of the strike. That winds its way around the DLR area, so the strike could prove disruptive to those taking part in, or watching, the event.
TfL has warned that thousands of people could be disrupted due to the walkout, with around 40,000 people alone taking part in the marathon and many others gathering to watch.
What else is likely to be affected?
The DLR, London Underground and London Overground usually lay on extra services on the race day as there are a number of road closures (more on those here), so it’s likely the Underground and Overground will be busier as a result, with the likes of London Bridge, Waterloo, Canning Town, Canada Water and Bank likely to be very busy.
Last time round, TfL said the Jubilee, Central, District and Hammersmith & City Lines in east London and the London Overground between Highbury & Islington and Surrey Quays would be busier than usual too.
Any hope of it being called off?
Talks have been ongoing, so progress is on the cards. But the discussions held at conciliation service Acas this week didn’t yield much, so the RMT said this next walkout will go ahead.
Abdellah Chajai, KeolisAmey Docklands’ MD, said:
Despite this frustrating move, we remain committed to meaningful and reasonable discussion with the union to resolve the issues and we have agreed to meet with the RMT again at the earliest opportunity.
The announcement of strike action is totally unnecessary and unlike the union, our focus continues to be on doing all we can to avoid disruption for our passengers.
So it’s still possible that talks could resolve the issue – and we’ll post here if any updates occur.
Read more: What you need to know about next week’s 24-hour strike by Tube drivers