Tube chaos to hit commuters next week in three-day strike by 1,200 London Underground staff

Severe delays are expected to hit London’s Tube next week as around 1,200 engineering staff walk out on strike.

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Union RMT said its members were going on strike after what it called “serious and damaging cuts” to preparation and inspection schedules.

The three-day strike is expected to cause problems on all underground lines when it starts on Friday.

Talks with Transport for London (TfL) broke down “after London Underground bosses refused to give a guarantee of no victimisation of RMT members”, the union said.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “We are angry and frustrated that instead of talking seriously about the train inspection and preparation cuts the company have resorted to threats of intimidation and harassment of our members and reps.”

Peter McNaught, director of asset operations for London Underground, said: “We have plans in place to ensure we can deliver a tube service for our customers, and keep disruption to a minimum. The safety of customers and staff is our top priority and our proposals do not compromise this.

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“Train checks will continue daily, with every train thoroughly checked to guarantee safety. Our proposals are to change the frequencies of some less safety critical checks, with the regulator, the Office of Rail and Road, satisfied with our approach. We have actively consulted with the Trade Unions over this issue and we remain open for discussions on how to resolve this dispute without unnecessary industrial action."