travel by tube

London Underground 101: A guide to getting the Tube in London

A guide to getting the Tube, seriously?

Yes. Though you might not have initially thought so, there's a lot more to it than just getting to a station, getting on a train and then getting off again.

The Cheapest way

First of all, let's make sure the price is right.

There are many ways you can pay to travel around London and get on and off the Tube. But in a nutshell, using a debit, credit or Oyster card to tap in and out at the barriers of your start and end station is likely to be the most convenient and best value for money for most people. The same goes for using contactless on your phone. By traveling this way, the amount you'll be charged per day is capped depending on which of the nine zones you're traveling in.

For full details and to work out exactly which is the right method of payment for you, check out the TfL website .

According to the dictionary, etiquette is defined as "The customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group". And believe it or not, the Tube has its code of polite behavior. It can pretty much be simplified into three main rules:

1. Escalator etiquette

Perhaps the most important thing to adhere to is the "stand on the right" rule on the escalators. This allows for those in a rush to glide down the escalators in a flash to avoid having to wait an extra minute for the next train.

2. Mindful Tubing

Everyone getting the Tube has somewhere to be, and likely in a hurry. So, by letting all passengers get off your carriage before boarding will enable a smoother, quicker and more pleasant journey for everyone.

Related: How to spend a Sunday in London

Many choose to pass the time on the Tube by burying our heads in our phones (on rare occasions maybe even an actual book or a newspaper). That's great, but lifting your head once in a while to check if there's anyone in need of your seat will go a long way to making someone's journey better, if not their entire day.

This applies mainly to busy commutes: Squishing as tightly as possible into the area closest to the doors benefits nobody. Why are we so averse to simply moving down the carriage? It makes for a more comfortable, less sweaty journey for everyone.

3. Queueing

In general, queueing is somewhat of a national sport for Brits. We do it anywhere and everywhere, and anyone who fails to queue correctly will receive passive-aggressive eye rolls and tuts from all who witness it. This also strictly applies to the Tube — whether it's waiting to get through the barriers, waiting to get on or waiting for the stairs/escalators/lift to leave the station. Save yourself from the glares and cranky tuts of fellow passengers by simply falling into line.

The quickest route might not be the obvious one

If you're not used to London , you might think that you have to take the Tube to get anywhere . For longer journeys in and out of the city, the Tube is likely to be your best bet. However, for shorter journeys in central London, it will likely be quicker for you to just walk.

When planning your journeys, the TfL website even has a handy box to help you work out which routes are quicker to walk.

Read more : The Royal Treatment: 8 royal places to visit in London

Not only will it be a quicker journey, but you'll breathe in less thick soupy air and swap it for the (slightly) fresher air of the city. The views are guaranteed to be an improvement, too.

Tubing to Heathrow

Depending on where you're traveling from, the likelihood is that getting the Tube will be your cheapest and most direct route to Heathrow (LHR) .

Related: The best ways to get from Heathrow Airport to London

While there's extra space on the Piccadilly Line for suitcases, trains on other lines aren't always as accommodating. Either way, traveling with multiple cases at peak times can make for a stressful and awkward journey for you and those around you.

It's not always possible to get to Heathrow without getting on the Tube during peak times, but, if possible, try to leave earlier to avoid the morning or afternoon rush -- you're likely to have a far more comfortable journey.

COVID-19 era

COVID-19 has changed the way we live, work and — more than ever — travel. This also applies to getting the Tube.

There are signs everywhere to remind us all that wearing masks is mandatory and that social distancing rules apply where possible.

Read more : 8 ways to spend a rainy day in London

If you can avoid getting the Tube at all, then it's advisable to do so. If it's your only feasible means of transport, then traveling at off-peak times is advised.

The only way a mask is beneficial is if it is worn over both the mouth and nose. If your nose is poking out or you're wearing it as a chin strap, you may as well not be wearing one at all.

Bottom line

Love it or hate it, without the Tube, London would likely come to a standstill. So whether it's your first time in the capital or you're a seasoned Londoner, the above tips will serve you well — remember, above all else, stand to the right!

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Getting Around

To the uninitiated, getting around in London can seem daunting. What’s the difference between the train and the Overground? How do I know which bus stop to wait at? What on earth is was the Emirates Air Line? All reasonable questions. This guide aims to equip you with all the knowledge you need to confidently and efficiently navigate the city.

The basics of getting around in London

Oyster cards & contactless.

Just arrived or moved to London? Welcome. To get around town you can either use an Oyster card which you can pick up from any station and most newsagents will sell them too. You have to pay a £5 deposit which you can get back along with any remaining credit .

If you’re going to be returning to the city or staying for a while, then it’s worth registering your card online so you can keep your card topped up easily at any time.

Alternatively, you can use a contactless payment with a bank card or mobile payment instead – just tap your card on the reader at the gate. London transport accepts contactless mobile payment from Apple Pay, Google Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay, bPay, and Samsung Pay. If you’re visiting from abroad you may be charged overseas transaction fees, if so, getting an Oyster card makes more sense.

For people moving to or commuting to London, your employer may run a discounted travel card scheme to allow you to get a season ticket which is deducted from your wages each month, which also means using an Oyster card rather than contactless.

Daily fare caps

Whether you use an Oyster or contactless, there are daily pay as you go fare caps at play, which limit the amount you pay no matter how many journeys you take on a given day.

For example: a zones 1-2 fare cap is set at £ 7.70 (from 1st March 2022), meaning you can take as many bus, Tube and Overground journeys within zones 1 and 2 in any given day and you will not be charged more than £ 7.70 .

Daily caps are calculated from 4:30 am until 4:29 am the next day. Unless you’re on a real late one, you can often get home from a night out for free if you’ve already maxed out your Oyster. Weekly Caps are calculated from Monday to Sunday.

Table of Daily and Weekly TFL Fare Caps

Prices below valid from 1st March 2022.

But what are these zones you speak of? The London transport map is divided into different zones, which roughly equate to how central a location is. For example, Oxford Circus in the middle of town is located in zone 1, while Richmond is 9 miles away from Waterloo and falls under zone 4.

Ticket fares are based on how many zones you travel through. So, travel within zone 3 will be cheaper than travelling from zone 3 into zone 1. Some stations, such as Stratford zones 2/3, sit on the border of two different zones. This means your journey will be charged at the cheaper rate depending on your direction of travel. If you travel into the city, your journey will be classed as starting in zone 2. If you travel further out of town, your journey will be classed as starting in zone 3. Each station and bus stop will tell you which zone you’re in, and they’re also clearly marked out on transport maps.

Buses Are The Cheapest Public Transport In London

Zones do not apply to bus fares, meaning you can travel anywhere in London for the same fare of £1.65 Additionally, the Hopper fare allows you to bus hop for one hour with no additional charges. Yes, that’s right you can make unlimited bus journeys within one hour of touching in with your Oyster or contactless. As long as you scan the same card on each journey you will not be charged again within an hour. Daily caps on buses are £4.95, and if you have the time, travelling by bus is easily one of the best and cheapest ways to see some of London’s landmarks .

Planning your journey

Even if you’ve travelled around London on a daily basis for a good few years, you’ll probably need to use an app to help plan your journeys. Apps can alert you to service updates, signal issues or changes to bus routes. TfL is great for basic journeys , live updates, station facilities and ticket types.

But CityMapper is your best bet for speed and efficiency. It has a sophisticated algorithm that takes into account how often different trains or buses depart, distance between stops and time of day to provide you with a selection of different route options. And it even lets you know which carriage of the Tube to get on for a swift exit. It also shows you how much your journey will cost you, so you can work out a cheaper alternative if you plan ahead.

Failing that, Google Maps can be useful, especially if you’re walking. You can also download the map to your phone when you have wifi to avoid using your data (or if you’re here without a UK SIM )

The Tube (the London Underground network)

The London Underground network serves 5 million passengers each day, covering 270 different stations. It’s the oldest underground transport system in the world, and has been transporting people around the capital since 1863. Fortunately it’s had a few improvements since then. Most people call it the tube, and the majority of the central stops are underground. But as you get further away from the middle of town the network leaves its subterranean roots. In fact, 55% of the network is actually located above ground.

The Tube is a fast, efficient way to travel. Trains leave most platforms between two and 5 minutes (this is fairly standard, but they can be further apart, especially on Sundays), and take around two minutes to arrive at the next station, depending on the line you’re on.

The different lines each have a name and a distinct colour to help you trace your journey. Make sure you know whether your destination is northbound or southbound, or eastbound or westbound, as that will help you get to the correct platform and watch out for lines like the district and northern lines which have two different branches, although the branch name should be on the front of the train carriage as well on the platform screen and train announcements.

You can travel on most lines from 5 am until 1 am the next day. While at the weekend you can catch a reduced Night Tube service on a number of lines throughout the night. The downside is the Tube can get hot and sweaty during busy periods and especially in the summer (although some upgraded lines now have air con). If you can help it, try to avoid the morning rush between 7:30-10 am and the afternoon rush between 4.30-7 pm. If you’re travelling around central London, it can often be easier and more enjoyable to walk between destinations, rather than taking the Underground and changing lines.

London buses

London buses are brilliant at connecting the dots between train lines and other parts of the city. They are mostly double-deckers, meaning you can get a great view of the city streets as you travel. However, they are generally slower than the Tube and are susceptible to traffic.

Certain journeys can take two-to-three times as long during rush hour. When planning your bus journey, pay special attention to the route number and specific bus stop name and code. For example, if you needed to get the 45 bus heading north from Brixton, you’d need to look out for Route 45, Brixton Stop N.

There are 673 routes, 19,000 stops and 8,500 buses in London, meaning it’s easy to get confused if you’re not careful. If you get the right bus number, but wrong bus stop, you could end up travelling in the wrong direction.

Many bus routes also run 24 hours a day, so you can easily get home once the underground and trains have stopped running.

Travelling out of London

London’s major train lines connect the capital to the suburbs, the coast and even several European cities , So whether you’re looking for an easy day trip , a weekend hike or a city break, there are plenty of high speed trains to get you there. Flying in from abroad? Check out our guide to the cheapest ways into the city centre from London’s six airports .

London Overground

The Overground is a great way to travel, and mostly covers zone 2 and beyond. You can travel east to west or north to south easily without having to go through central London or taking suburban railways – great for getting to places like Kew Gardens .

It’s a bit less frequent than the tube, but you get views of the city, air-conditioning and wider trains. On busy days, these little luxuries really mean a lot. Look out for the orange symbol, some stations like Highbury & Islington have both Overground and Underground stations in the same place, so it makes for a fast and easy transfer.

The Elizabeth Line

It may have been delayed several times, but the much anticipated new line opened in May 2022. Or at least, the first phase of it opened. It’s on the tube map and runs partly underground, but isn’t technically part of the London Underground. Confused? Here’s the quick explanation: originally called Crossrail, the whole line will eventually cover 73 miles connecting the suburbs with the city centre and Heathrow Airport. Eventually it will run all the way from Shenfield in Essex and Abbey Wood in South East London to Reading, Berkshire and Heathrow to the west of London. At the moment, the western tunnels aren’t connected to the central ones, but are expected to be in Autumn 2022.

Contactless and pay-as-you-go Oyster payments can be made on most of the central parts of the Elizabeth Line, and the fares are the same too. The line has slashed the travel time across several journeys (For example Liverpool Street to Woolwich is now halved to 15 minutes) and the new stations are much more spacious and accessible than a lot of underground stations too.

Passengers should eventually be able to travel the full length of the line from May 23, but in the meantime, if you get the chance to use it to travel through the central parts of the line, it should be a more pleasant experience than getting the tube.

Other Train Networks in and around London

Thames Clipper (ferry boats)

The Thames Clipper ferry network is an exhilarating way to travel. Connecting Putney in the west to Woolwich in the east, the boat zips along the River Thames, taking in some of London’s top landmarks along the way. You can use contactless and oyster on the Thames Clipper, but the river is divided into different zones from the underground and the prices are different too.

River services operate in three zones: west, central and east, and a single central zone journey is £8.70.

The Former Emirates Air Line (cable car)

The Emirates Air Line was the name of the cable car that takes passengers on ‘flights’ across the Thames from “Emirates” Greenwich Peninsula on the south of the river to “Emirates” Royal Docks on the north. It’s quite a niche mode of transport, only serving two stops, but it’s great fun nonetheless.

As of June 2022, the branding contract with Emirates has ended, so at the moment we’re not sure what the future of this cable car line holds!

Bikes in London

Cycling is often as fast (or sometimes faster) than getting the tube, and is a great way to see more of London and really get your bearings. There are dedicated bike routes all over the city, which will show up on CityMapper but are probably best accessed via Google Maps.

There are few places to hire bikes on the go around London, the biggest scheme is Santander Cycle which has over 800 docking stations across London (mostly in zones 1 and 2, and a limited number in outer London). You can just turn up and rent a bike for £2 a day (plus an additional £2 for each hour after that) and you can just drop it off at another docking station one you’re done.

One nice bonus is that journeys under 30 minutes are free. This means you can cycle for 29 minutes and dock the bike at a station, then get another bike out and do the same throughout the day to avoid additional charges.

If you find yourself doing a lot of cycling and want to get a bike of your own, see our article on where to buy a bike in London .

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on/by/in Underground

• Thread starter olga69
• Start date Jun 7, 2012

Senior Member

• Jun 7, 2012

what are the possible ways to say about using the Underground/Tube? Can I say I go by The Tube or on it? Or just take and travel? and what are the correct prepositions for the verbs? Thanks in advance  

I took the Tube to Knightsbridge. (Underground is possible but less common) I travelled on the Tube to Knightsbridge. (Underground is possible but less common) I went on the Tube to Knightsbridge. (Underground is possible but not common) I went by Tube to Knightsbridge. (NB No article) (Underground is possible but not common) I went via the Tube to Knightsbridge. (Underground is possible but not common) In is not used other than to state your place. "I am in a Tube train" "I am in the Tube at Knightsbridge." = "I am at Knightsbridge Underground station."  

Oh! Thank you kindly ))  

EdisonBhola

• Sep 28, 2020

PaulQ said: I took the Tube to Knightsbridge. (Underground is possible but less common) I travelled on the Tube to Knightsbridge. (Underground is possible but less common) I went on the Tube to Knightsbridge. (Underground is possible but not common) I went by Tube to Knightsbridge. (NB No article) (Underground is possible but not common) I went via the Tube to Knightsbridge. (Underground is possible but not common) In is not used other than to state your place. "I am in a Tube train" "I am in the Tube at Knightsbridge." = "I am at Knightsbridge Underground station." Click to expand...

EdisonBhola said: I've heard that The Tube is restricted to London only. Outside London, it's the underground. Is this right? Click to expand...

Moderato con anima (English Only)

I agree with Paul above, only the fifth example using 'via' sounds a little strange to me. Yes, the Tube is for London. Newcastle has the Metro, and Glasgow has the Subway. Is your question about whether you can say Tube outside of central London? You can say Tube for the whole area covered by TfL (Transport for London).  

How to Get From Heathrow to Gatwick: The Complete Guide

 TripSavvy / Evan Polenghi

If you're traveling to London, you'll likely pass through either Heathrow or Gatwick airport at some point during your trip. If you need to travel between the two airports (you may be using London as a jumping-off point to explore more of Europe , or you might have scored a long-haul bargain by booking split tickets via different airlines), we've put together a handy guide to make your transfer as easy as possible, including a budget option that'll set you back less than 5 pounds.

Heathrow to Gatwick: The Basics

Located 15 miles west of London, Heathrow (LHR) is one of the world's busiest international airports. All five terminals are connected to central London via the London Underground. Gatwick Airport (LGW) is around 30 miles to the south of London and is the U.K.'s second largest airport. An efficient monorail service links the two terminals (north and south), and the airport is connected to central London by train. 

The airports are around 38 miles apart. There is no direct rail service that connects Heathrow and Gatwick. To travel by train, you need to go via central London. 

If you're booking connecting flights that arrive at Heathrow and depart from Gatwick (or vice versa), you'll need to remember that they're the U.K.'s biggest and busiest airports. As such, you'll need to factor in sufficient time to allow for potential delays regarding security checks, check-in, customs, and baggage collection, in addition to the transfer journey time itself. Always play it safe when booking flight connections by allowing more time than you think you'll need or consider an overnight stay, especially when booking separate flights via different airlines (neither the airline nor the transfer operator is responsible for a missed connection, and you may be required to secure a new ticket if you miss a flight). Note that if you're booking connecting flights via the same airline, you're covered if you fail to make a connection and will be booked onto the next available flight. 

Heathrow to Gatwick by Taxi

Black Taxi Cabs are available in taxi ranks outside all Heathrow terminals and will transport passengers to Gatwick. The journey should take around 45 minutes (depending on traffic). Note you may need to wait in line for a long time at peak times. The fare is likely to be more than 100 pounds one way. Black cabs can carry up to five passengers but don't forget to take luggage into account. When booking through Black Cab London , you can quickly request a wheelchair-accessible cab by checking the "Yes" box under "Wheelchair Access" and providing the dimensions of your wheelchair or mobility aid.

Heathrow to Gatwick by Bus

The only direct route via public transport is by bus. The National Express Coach Service takes around 75 minutes (depending on traffic) and runs up to five times an hour around the clock. Fares start at 20 pounds one way if you book tickets in advance for a specific departure time. Coaches are wheelchair accessible, and comprehensive details on all available accommodations can be found on their website . While not required, National Express Coach Service does recommend contacting them 36 hours in advance to confirm the availability of all accessible travel arrangements. You can pay extra to board any available coach up to 12 hours before or after your original departure time. The luggage allowance is two 20-kilogram suitcases and an item of hand luggage per person. Note that you'll need to factor in a 15-minute walk to the bus station from Heathrow Terminals 1 and 3. Megabus also operates between Gatwick South Terminal and Heathrow Terminal 5. Traveling between the airports takes an hour and 15 minutes, and there is free Wi-Fi, a 20-kilogram luggage allowance, and charging points. Tickets start at 15.75 pounds. While coaches are wheelchair accessible but not accessible for mobility scooter users unless you can climb a few stairs to board the coach and will be okay with having your mobility device stored with luggage below. Megabus requests travelers contact them before purchasing any tickets to confirm the availability of any necessary accommodations first.

Low-cost carrier easyJet operates a  bus service  from Heathrow and Gatwick to central London (not between the airports, though, unfortunately). The cheapest and easiest way to use this service is to take the tube from Heathrow (any terminal) to Earls Court (the journey takes around 35 minutes) and then connect to the easyBus from Earls Court to Gatwick Airport North Terminal (the journey takes about 65 minutes). The trip could set you back as little as 3.50 pounds (based on a 2 pound easyBus advance fare and a 1.50 pound off-peak Oyster fare).

Heathrow to Gatwick by Train

There's no direct train service between the airports, but you can travel via rail and tube through central London. 

You can travel by Heathrow Express to Paddington (a 15-minute journey from terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5). From Paddington, you can board the Circle Line to Victoria Station (a 15-minute trip) and connect to Gatwick via the Gatwick Express (a 30-minute journey). The whole journey costs around 40 pounds one way. 

Or you can travel by tube from Heathrow (all terminals) to Green Park (a 45-minute journey) and then from Green Park to Victoria (a two-minute trip). From Victoria, you can connect to Gatwick via the Gatwick Express (a 30-minute journey). The whole journey costs around 20 pounds one way. Sometimes the Gatwick Express isn't running (such as on Boxing Day), so you will have to find alternative transportation.

Both routes offer step-free access—something to consider if you have mobility issues, a lot of luggage, or are traveling with children. 

Heathrow to Gatwick by Private Car Service

You could consider pre-booking a private car service to avoid waiting in line for a Black Cab at the airport. Most companies also offer a discount if you make a booking in advance. The journey should take around 45 minutes (depending on traffic) and cost about 55 pounds one way.

Heathrow and Gatwick are around 38 miles apart from each other. No direct rail service connects the two, which means that travelers must connect via central London.

A taxi takes around 45 minutes, while the National Express Coach Service takes around 75 minutes, depending on traffic.

A taxi trip from Gatwick to Heathrow is a pricy one, likely to cost more than 100 pounds depending on traffic and time of day.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

• M25 shut by crash while faulty train causes severe delays on London Underground

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The M25 in Surrey has been closed anticlockwise while emergency services work at the scene of a serious single-car crash.

Traffic has been building on the London orbital road since earlier this morning following the closure of the section between Junction 5 at Godstone and Junction 6, which links to the M26.

National Highways has said drivers should expect delays of 30 minutes or more and suggested a diversion along the A22 and A25.

Surrey Police said the incident involved a single black Vauxhall Corsa, adding: ‘We will open lanes for traffic to flow as soon as it is operationally safe and possible to do so.’

The driver of the car is receiving medical treatment from an air ambulance crew.

Commuters have also been facing severe delays on London public transport as they head into work.

A faulty train has impacted service on the Circle and District lines, while a power supply failure has closed sections of the Bakerloo line and the Overground.

The District line is affected between Tower Hill, Ealing Broadway and Richmond westbound, while the Circle line is delayed anti-clockwise with a good service clockwise.

There is no service on the Bakerloo line between Stonebridge Park and Harrow and Wealdstone, nor the London Overground between Willesden Junction and Watford Junction – on what will soon be known as the Lioness line .

The #M25 in #Surrey is now closed anti-clockwise between J6 ( #Godstone ) and J5 ( #M26 link) following a single vehicle collision. #TrafficOfficers and emergency services remain at the scene. For further info please see: https://t.co/znksmkfA4k pic.twitter.com/mEmzLj0KGf — National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) April 4, 2024

Meanwhile, rail travellers are facing separate disruption from industrial action that will continue over the next three days.

An overtime ban is in place for 19 rail operators across England ahead of strike action on April 5, 6 and 8.

Which train operators are striking and when?

• Friday April 5  – Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway
• Saturday April 6  – Chiltern Railways, Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express, LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express
• Monday April 8  – c2c, Gatwick Express, Greater Anglia (including Stansted Express), Great Northern, Southeastern, Southern, South Western Railway (including Island Line) and Thameslink

Latest London news

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To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro.co.uk's London news hub .

Another overtime ban for English train operators will be in effect on Monday and Tuesday, which may significantly affect timetables.

An additional drivers’ strike on the London Underground on Monday is expected to deepen the pandemonium for commuters and other travellers on that day.

While the Elizabeth Line, London Overground and DLR are not directly affected by the strike, it is expected that they will be much busier as a result.

A further Tube drivers’ strike is expected to take place on May 4.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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Full list of East and West Midlands rail operators affected by ASLEF strikes

• rail strikes
• East Midlands
• West Midlands
• Friday 5 April 2024 at 12:21pm

Rail passengers are being warned of disruption as strikes take place.

ASLEF members at 16 different rail companies will take part in various one-day walk outs from the 5th to the 8th of April, alongside a six-day overtime ban.

Operators are warning that this could mean the possibility of short notice cancellations and alterations to the normal timetable.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “ASLEF is the only rail union continuing to strike, targeting passengers and preventing their own members from voting on the pay offer that remains on the table.

"Having resolved disputes with all other rail unions, the Transport Secretary and Rail Minister have ensured that a pay offer is on the table - taking train drivers’ average salaries from £60,000 up to £65,000.”

Operators affected include:

Friday 5 April - Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway.

Saturday 6 April - Chiltern Railways, Great Western Railway, LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express.

Monday 8 April - Great Northern, Greater Anglia.

Here are ITV News Central we have created a full list of our train operators and how they are affected.

East Midlands Railway

East Midlands Railway will not operate services on any of its routes on Friday 5 April.

There will be short notice cancellations and alterations due to an overtime ban between Thursday 4 and Saturday 6 April and between Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 April.

Customers are advised to check their full journey, including first and last trains, before travelling due to strike action impacting multiple train operators on different days.

EMR also advises people to check and the day after strike action for any service alterations.

CrossCountry Trains

Check your journey in advance and on the day as services are expected to be extremely busy or subject to short-notice cancellations.

There will be no CrossCountry service on Friday 5 April.

CrossCountry services are expected to be extremely busy on Saturday 6 April, please only travel if essential.

There will be changes to CrossCountry timetables between Thursday 4 April and Tuesday 9 April, please check your journey in advance and on the day.

Revised timetables are correct in journey planners for Thursday 4, Saturday 6, Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 April.

If you are due to travel the day after industrial action, continue to check your journey as services may be impacted.

LNER services for Saturday 6 April are back on sale.

Industrial action will affect the wider network between Monday Friday 5 April and Monday 8 April with different train operators impacted on separate dates during this period.

An overtime ban by drivers is also in place between Thursday 4 April until Tuesday 9 April which could lead to short-notice changes and cancellations.

West Midlands Railway

There will be a planned reduction in services on Thursday, April 4, Saturday 6, Monday 8 and Tuesday 9.

There will be no service on Friday, April 5.

Normal service is expected on Sunday, April 7.

Avanti West Coast

Avanti West Coast says do not attempt to travel with the company on Friday 5 April as they will not be running any services on their routes.

Avanti West Coast services on the days either side of the strike will also be affected, along with industrial action impacting other train companies throughout the week.

They recommend you check your entire journey before you travel.

Where they share routes with other operators, their trains will be busier than usual on the dates other train companies are on strike.

Online journey planners are now all updated to show no Avanti West Coast trains on Friday 5 April and the resulting amended timetables for 4, 6, 8 and 9 April.

ASLEF has also announced that their members will withdraw from working any overtime between Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 April and from Monday 8 to Tuesday 9 April, along with the strikes at other train companies on Saturday 6 April and Monday 8 April.

During this period Avanti recommends you check before you travel, as the overtime ban’s impact will vary from route to route, and your entire journey across multiple train operators may be affected - including potentially the first and last trains of the day.

Chiltern Railways

Passengers are warned to check before they travel on Thursday, April 4, Monday 8 and Tuesday 9.

Essential travel only on Friday, April 5

No Chiltern Railways will run on Saturday, April 6.

Great Western Railway

Wednesday, April 3 - action short of a strike

A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there may be some short-notice alterations and cancellations to services late at night.

Thursday, April 4 - action short of a strike

A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there will be some short-notice alterations and cancellations.

Friday, April 5 - action short of a strike

Saturday, April 6 - strike day

An extremely limited service will operate. There will be a reduced operating window; services will start at 0700 and must be completed by around 1900. If you intend to travel where trains are operating, please do check both outward and return journeys.

Sunday, April 7 - non-strike day

Trains will run as planned with some changes to service start-up and some planned cancellations. Please check before you travel.

Monday, April 8 - action short of a strike

Tuesday, April 9 - action short of a strike

Check before you travel:

You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner , subject to the exceptions listed below . Please take note of any Service Updates that may be showing with a warning triangle on your displayed journeys.

For Chiltern Railways services on 8 and 9 April, please check back after Tuesday 2 April for the amended industrial action timetables.