Transport for London

Transport for London (TfL) has announced a number of closures and service changes across the network in November, including the London Underground, London Overground and Elizabeth line

There’s set to be a month of travel chaos as Transport for London (TfL) announces a series of closures across its network for maintenance work. The disruptions will mostly take place over the weekends, with some starting from today (1 November), while others will affect late-night weekday commuters.

The Elizabeth line will face 11 disruptions throughout November, while services on the Mildmay line in East and North London will be altered. The DLR timetable will also be changed, with trains halted at various locations almost every weekend, reports My London.

Passengers are being urged to plan their journeys in advance and use the TfL journey planner to avoid confusion. Here’s the full list of planned track closures, including those set to cause disruption this weekend.

READ MORE: New Ryanair route to destination that’s 21C in NovemberREAD MORE: ‘I went skiing for the first time – one piece of advice proved to be useless’

London Underground closures

Bakerloo line

• Sunday, 9 November: No service from Stonebridge Park to Harrow & Wealdstone until 7.45am.
• Saturday, 29 November: Sunday, November 30: No service from Queen’s Park to Harrow & Wealdstone.

Metropolitan line

• Saturday, 15 November:Sunday, November 16: No service from Harrow-on-the-Hill to Uxbridge.

Northern line

• Saturday, 8 November – Sunday, 9 November: Trains will not stop at Angel station.
• Friday, 28 November – Saturday, 29 November: No service from Hampstead to Edgware during Friday Night Tube.
• Saturday, 29 November – Sunday, 30 November: No service from Golders Green to Edgware, including during Saturday Night Tube.

Piccadilly line

• Saturday, 1 November – Sunday, 2 November: No service from Acton Town to Heathrow, including during Saturday Night Tube.
• Saturday, 1 November – Sunday, 2 November: No service from Rayners Lane to Uxbridge.
• Saturday, 15 November – Sunday, 16 November: No service from Acton Town to Uxbridge.

London Overground closures

Liberty line

• Sunday, 23 November: No service from Romford to Upminster

Lioness line

• Sunday, 9 November: No service from Willesden Junction to Watford Junction until 7.45am.
• Saturday, 29 November – Sunday, 30 November: No service from Euston to Watford Junction.

Mildmay line

• Sunday, 2 November: No service from Willesden Junction to Richmond all day.
• Sunday, 2 November: No service from Willesden Junction to Clapham Junction until 9.30pm.
• Sunday, 9 November: No service Willesden Junction to Clapham Junction.
• Saturday, 15 November – Sunday, 16 November: No service from Gospel Oak to Richmond and Shepherd’s Bush.
• Sunday, 16 November: No service from Camden Road to Stratford after 10.15pm.
• Saturday, 22 November – Sunday, 23 November: No service from Gospel Oak to Richmond and Shepherd’s Bush.
• Monday, 24 November – Thursday, 27 November: No service from Stratford to Camden Road westbound after 11.45pm.
• Wednesday, 26 November – Thursday, 27 November: No service from Willesden Junction to Stratford eastbound after 11pm.

Weaver line

• Sunday, 9 November: No service from Liverpool Street to Enfield Town, Cheshunt and Chingford until 10.15am.
• Monday, 10 November – Thursday, 13 November: No service from Hackney Downs to Enfield Town and Cheshunt after 10.45pm.

Windrush line

• Monday, 3 November – Thursday, 6 November: No service from Highbury & Islington to New Cross, New Cross Gate and Clapham Junction after 9.15pm.
• Sunday, 16 November: No service from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction.
• Sunday, 16 November: No service from Highbury & Islington to Dalston Junction after 10.15pm.
• Monday, 24 November – Thursday, 27 November: No service from New Cross Gate to Crystal Palace and West Croydon after 11.30pm.
• Sunday, 30 November: No service from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction.

Elizabeth line closures

• Monday, 3 November – Wednesday, 5 November: Reduced service between Paddington and Maidenhead and at Heathrow Terminal 4 after 10pm.
• Monday, 3 November – Wednesday, 5 November: Trains will not stop at Acton Main Line, Hanwell and West Ealing after 10.30pm.
• Sunday, 9 November: Reduced service between Paddington and Maidenhead and at Heathrow Terminal 4.
• Saturday, 15 November – Sunday, 16 November: No service from Paddington to Abbey Wood and Stratford.
• Saturday, 15 November – Sunday, 16 November: No service from Hayes & Harlington to Heathrow.
• Saturday, 15 November – Sunday, 16 November: Reduced service between Paddington and Maidenhead.
• Sunday, 23 November: No service from Liverpool Street (National Rail platforms) and Whitechapel to Shenfield
• Sunday, 23 November: No service from Paddington to Ealing Broadway until 7.45am.
• Sunday, 30 November: No service from Paddington to Ealing Broadway until 7.45am.
• Sunday, 30 November: Trains will not stop at Woolwich until 10am.
• Sunday, 30 November: Reduced service between Paddington and Maidenhead and at Heathrow Terminal 4.

DLR closures

• Saturday, 1 November – Sunday, 2 November: No service from Tower Gateway to Shadwell
• Saturday, 1 November – Sunday, 2 November: No service from Canning Town to Beckton
• Saturday, 15 November – Sunday, 16 November: No service from Canning Town to Stratford International.
• Saturday, 22 November: No service from Stratford International to Woolwich Arsenal.
• Saturday, 22 November: No service from Poplar to Beckton.
• Saturday, 22 November – Sunday, 23 November: No service from Tower Gateway to Shadwell.
• Saturday, 29 November – Sunday, 30 November: No service from Bank/Tower Gateway to Canning Town/Lewisham
• Saturday, 29 November – Sunday, 30 November: No service from Canary Wharf to Stratford.

Tram closures

• Saturday, 1 November – Sunday, 2 November No service from Wimbledon to Therapia Lane

THE UK’S capital isn’t exactly short of train lines – but a completely new service is taking a step closer to getting approval.

Transport for London (TfL) is hoping that its proposed West London Orbital (WLO) line will get the green light next month.

Plans for the WLO launched back in 2017 and propose to create new connections to north and west London.

This would include the line travelling through Hounslow to Hendon and West Hampstead via Old Oak Common – the new rail hub created for HS2.

The proposed rail line promises to cut the journey time considerably between Harlesden and Brent Cross to just a few minutes.

Currently, travellers heading on this route need to make several changes.

Read more on travel inspo

TAKE THE FALL

50 half term days out and Halloween specials which are FREE or under £5

HAPPY DEAL

Disney free food deal that ‘saves THOUSANDS’ – our experts see if it’s worth it

If the plans are approved, then the WLO will be built on an old freight line that hasn’t had passengers on it since 1902.

A new station would also be built on Lionel Road, near Gunnersbury Park.

Services could run from Kew Bridge as well.

In total, the project is expected to cost around £700million.

TfL is hoping that they will receive backing from the government in its autumn budget and if the project is approved, then the line will become the seventh branch of the London Overground network.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said that the WLO could “transform the future of transport in the capital”.

He added: “As the West London Orbital route would be integrated into the London Overground network, it would be given its own line name, consistent with the principles of the individual line names I launched in 2024.

“The local communities along the line, the local heritage, history, and interchanges with other lines would all be taken into consideration to find a suitable name that showcases London’s rich diversity and makes sense for wayfinding and navigation.”

A number of other rail projects are proposed for the capital including the DLR extension and Bakerloo extension.

The Bakerloo Line extension would extend the tube line from its current terminus at Elephant & Castle, to Lewisham.

The project would involve adding a number of new stations along the route, including on Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate.

And an extension will also be carried out on the DLR to Thamesmead, veering off the current line at Gallions Reach.

This involves adding a new station at Beckton Riverside too.

Commenting on the ongoing projects in July, Sadiq Khan said: “Subject to successful funding discussions, as well as further project development, planning and public consultation, I am confident that the DLR extension could be delivered by 2032, with the Bakerloo line extension and West London Orbital following later in the 2030s.”

mae day

Molly-Mae’s new show seriously concerns me… making Bambi centre stage will backfire

SCHOOL’S OUT

London’s best free indoor attractions for families – perfect for rainy days

In other train news, a brand new £160million UK train station is set to open in days as all fares are revealed.

Plus, two huge cities north of London are tipped for direct trains to Europe.

BUS drivers in London have fumed that their vehicles are becoming riddled with cockroaches.

Shocking snaps appear to show the rodents perched in seat cushions and drink containers.

1

As a result, many drivers have flocked to London Bus Forums (LBF), a message board and campaigning organisation, to call on Transport for London to make its vehicles cleaner, The Times reports.

One video uploaded to the forum appears to show one driver get a nasty shock when he notices several cockroaches inside his drink.

“I went to take a sip from my drink and felt something in my mouth,” the driver says in the clip. 

“I spat it out and saw it was a cockroach.

“I felt sick and ended up vomiting.”

Complaints made by drivers are “growing in frequency and urgency”, according to the LBF.

Bus services are run by private companies under contract to Transport for London [TfL].

TfL said extensive daily cleaning took place across the network and the fleet was treated with the same long-term antibacterial products as were used on the Underground.

A TfL spokesman said: “We are committed to working together with operators to provide a clean environment for staff and customers. Most TfL welfare facilities are cleaned multiple times a day, and at a minimum daily, to maintain hygiene and safety standards.

“All buses are also cleaned every night before entering service, and reports such as these are rare.

“We take any report seriously and are urgently investigating the specific incidents that have been raised.

“As with any reports, we will take appropriate action as part of the investigation, which can include taking buses out of service for inspection, deep cleans and treatment with specialist equipment if necessary.

“We would like to reassure staff that our operators would never take action against people raising concerns about welfare or safety and encourage any driver with concerns to contact their employer, their union, or contact us directly.”

LBF added: “These cockroach reports are not isolated. They reflect a broader failure to maintain safe and sanitary conditions for bus drivers.

“This is a public health issue affecting both staff and passengers.

“That’s why drivers will be marching on November 5 to demand safer working conditions and the adoption of the bus drivers’ bill of rights.”

John Murphy, the regional officer for Unite, the union representing many London bus drivers, fumed that it was “completely unacceptable that London bus drivers are being forced to drive around for hours in vehicles that have cockroach infestations.”

He continued: “TfL and the bus companies need to take action now to rid all buses of infestations and Unite will hold them to account until they do.”

The Sun Online has reached out to Transport for London for comment.

Planned strikes over pay, shift patterns and fatigue management are set to disrupt the London Underground tube lines from this week, with DLR staff also taking industrial action over ‘pay and conditions’

London is bracing for travel chaos this week as planned strikes over pay, shift patterns and fatigue management are set to disrupt the Underground tube lines.

Transport for London (TfL) confirmed that from Sunday, 7 September until Thursday, 11 September, tube services will be “severely disrupted, with little to no service expected”. There will also be no DLR (Docklands Light Railway) service on Tuesday, 8 September and again on Thursday, 11 September.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, which represents tube drivers, said they were taking industrial action over “pay, fatigue management, extreme shift patterns and a reduction in the working week”. They also confirmed that DLR staff would be striking in a separate dispute “over pay and conditions”.

READ MORE: London Underground tube strikes in full with exact dates and everything to knowREAD MORE: Diehard Coldplay fan spends almost £1k to see band over London Undergound tube strikes

In addition to this, bus routes across London were disrupted due to strike action on First Bus services that took place from August 29 to 30, and again from September 1 to 2. Thousands of bus drivers, engineers and controllers at London United and London Transit, both linked to parent company First Bus London, are said to have taken action over “low pay and awful conditions”.

As strikes continue across London this week, we’ve taken a look at what London tube and bus drivers earn. Here’s everything we know…

What do TfL Underground tube drivers earn?

According to The Standard, a recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request to TfL revealed that the yearly wage for a TfL tube operator, also known as a driver, in April 2024 was £65,179, while advanced operators pocketed £75,677.

The standard hourly rate for a regular operator was £35.70, while advanced operators took home £39.20 an hour. The overtime rate per hour for a standard driver was disclosed as £44.62 and £49.00 for advanced drivers.

It was also revealed that tube drivers typically work around 35 hours a week over roughly three and a half shifts.

What do TfL bus drivers earn?

TfL bus drivers are reported to earn between £15 and £20 an hour, depending on their experience. This is estimated to earn them around £31,000 to £37,440 annually.

What do Elizabeth line drivers earn?

Drivers on the Elizabeth line are reported to earn significantly more than the average tube driver after they secured a deal in February to boost their salaries to £75,000.

Amid the upcoming planned strikes, TfL confirmed that the Elizabeth line, London Overground, and trams will continue to run as their staff belong to a different union. However, they’ve cautioned that despite the services running as usual, they are expected to be extremely busy.

It’s also crucial to note that the Elizabeth line or the Overground may not stop at certain stations if they are shut due to the industrial action. Moreover, planned engineering works are scheduled on some Overground and Elizabeth lines during the strikes.

Everyone is urged to check their journey before they travel when using any service. You can do this on the TfL website here.

READ MORE: Shop £75 Mountain Warehouse waterproof jacket that ‘keeps you dry for hours’ for £9

Have you ever been in a situation where you needed the toilet but could not go?

We’ve all been at work when all of a sudden you need the toilet. And whilst you often don’t need to panic, the situation is different if you can’t go straight away.

When nature calls, and forces us to make a speedy retreat, most of us can easily break off, unless you’re mid-presentation. But it’s a whole other story for bus drivers – at least if they want to pop to one common place to head to the loo.

For drivers of London’s public transport services, loo breaks have to be taken seriously, because opportunities for relieving oneself are few and far between. In a Reddit forum, a London bus driver happily answered questions from the public about the dos and the don’ts of the job, and one question touched upon this very subject, reports MyLondon.

A reader asked them what we’ve all often thought: “How do you handle bathroom breaks?” The answer? Go to the toilet anywhere – but not in a pub.

The driver said: “We have toilets at either end of the route usually, but if you’re caught short, you can call the controller over the radio and they know of spots across the routes for you to hop out and use – usually a bookies or McDonald’s.

“Interestingly, drivers years ago could use a boozer. However, understandably, people were getting worried when their drivers were hoping out mid route and popping in the pub for 5 minutes, so now we’re forbidden to enter a pub in any uniform.”

The driver also shared pearls of wisdom when responding to other queries from the public. One person asked, “What do you do when a stinky rider gets on?”

The driver responded: “Open the windows and carry on.” Another person asked: “Has anyone ever defecated on your buses?”

“No, however it’s usually a daily occurrence for people to chuck up their kebabs on a night shift after a heavy one,” answered the driver.

And his biggest pet peeve? Motorists attempting to undertake buses before they pull into stops.

The bus driver explained: “Seriously, it’s so dangerous to undertake any vehicle but even more so a vehicle that’s 35-40 foot long and weighs 11 tonnes. My first accident was because some boy racer tried to undertake me and got crunched against the curb whilst I was pulling into a bus stop, we have mirrors but they don’t solve the huge blind spots.

“For cyclists, I’d rather they didn’t go round me at a bus stop because it’s an absolute mission to go round them, and you just end up leapfrogging each other. However, we must share the road so do what you want I suppose.”

Transport for London has been approached for comment.