The RMT union has confirmed 12 days of London Underground strike action starting 24 March, running across six separate 24-hour periods through to late May. Commuters using the District Line from Putney Bridge and East Putney will be directly affected.
The strikes fall in pairs on consecutive days: 24–25 and 26–27 March, 21–22 and 23–24 April, and 19–20 and 21–22 May. Each period runs from midday to the following morning, meaning the afternoon and evening of the first day and the morning commute of the second are both hit. In practical terms, six evening and six morning commutes across the spring are at risk.
Putney commuters using the District Line were already dealing with a troubled service before this announcement. The line was documented last week as London’s least reliable major tube line, with East Putney’s signal infrastructure identified as a persistent weak point. The strikes come on top of that, and alongside SWR Easter closures already confirmed for April. For anyone relying on either rail corridor from Putney, spring 2026 is the worst disruption season in recent memory.
Why the RMT is striking
The dispute is over TfL’s proposal to compress standard working hours into a four-day week. The RMT says the plan, imposed without agreement, raises concerns about fatigue and safety. Its members voted 91% in favour of strike action.
ASLEF, the other main drivers’ union, has accepted the proposal and is not striking. That split makes this an unusual dispute: as one ASLEF official put it, this is probably the first time in union history that workers have voted to strike against the offer of a shorter working week. TfL is already piloting the four-day arrangement voluntarily on the Bakerloo line.
Because ASLEF members are not striking, some District Line trains may still run during the affected periods. TfL has not confirmed line-by-line service levels. Expect reduced and unreliable service rather than a complete shutdown. Do not rely on a normal timetable.
The Head of the River Race clash
The most locally significant detail is the timing of the first strike pair. The second period ends Friday morning 27 March. The Head of the River Race (100th anniversary this year, with Putney Bridge as the finish line) takes place the following day, Saturday 28 March, starting at 12:15pm. Up to 400 crews take part and thousands of spectators attend, many using public transport.
The District Line should be back in service by race day, but service recovery after strikes can leave trains running irregularly. Check TfL’s status before travelling to or from the race.
What to do if your District Line journey is disrupted
SWR from Putney station is the primary alternative for District Line riders. It runs direct to Waterloo, is around 500 metres from East Putney station, and runs six trains per hour off-peak. SWR is not affected by tube strikes.
Buses on routes 22, 39, 74, 85, 93, 220 and 265 serve the Putney Bridge and Putney area. Expect them to be busier than usual during strike periods, with longer journey times.
Santander Cycles and e-bike hire are worth considering for local journeys and proved popular during the September 2025 strike.
Strike action can be called off if a settlement is reached. Check TfL’s service status page before travelling on any affected date.
Strike dates at a glance
| Period | Starts | Ends | Rush hours hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tue 24 Mar, 12pm | Wed 25 Mar morning | Wed AM commute |
| 2 | Thu 26 Mar, 12pm | Fri 27 Mar morning | Fri AM commute |
| 3 | Tue 21 Apr, 12pm | Wed 22 Apr morning | Wed AM commute |
| 4 | Thu 23 Apr, 12pm | Fri 24 Apr morning | Fri AM commute |
| 5 | Tue 19 May, 12pm | Wed 20 May morning | Wed AM commute |
| 6 | Thu 21 May, 12pm | Fri 22 May morning | Fri AM commute |
April is the hardest month. The District Line also has planned engineering closures on weekend dates in April, separate from the strikes, which fall on Tuesday-to-Wednesday and Thursday-to-Friday. The calendar clashes don’t overlap directly, but the combination means April reliability on this line will be poor throughout.
