Tube strike set to go ahead after failed talks

London Underground drivers from the RMT union will strike beginning at 12:00 BST on Tuesday, with a second 24-hour walkout starting 12:00 on Thursday and running into Friday. Major lines affected include the Circle and Piccadilly lines, the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate, and the Central line between White City and Liverpool Street. The action follows RMT opposition to TfL’s voluntary compressed four-day week proposal, which Aslef has accepted (offering participating drivers ~35 extra days off a year). Short-term disruption to commuting, retail footfall and office attendance in London could weigh on economic activity and investor sentiment in the UK, posing a modest near-term downside risk to the UK 100 index.