You’ve heard the whispers: “They just don’t want automated trains!” And you’re half right. Strikes often flare up when the union smells a plot to replace humans with computers. But here’s the thing: most Tube lines already run on automatic pilot for the driving part.
The real fight is about who opens the doors. Who checks for people stuck in the gap? Who tells that confused tourist the train doesn’t go to Wimbledon? A computer can’t do that with a smile (or a grunt). So the “robot panic” is mostly a red herring—or a handy negotiating tactic. Don’t swallow it whole.
The union vs. the government: a soap opera
Meet the main characters. On one side: the RMT union, who walk around with a megaphone and a list of demands. On the other: TfL and the government, who say, “We have no money, sorry!” They’re like an old married couple arguing over the thermostat.
Tube strikes July 2026: When is the next London Underground strike
Every strike is a new episode. The union calls it a “fight for your rights.” The government calls it “unreasonable and disruptive.” And you, the commuter? You’re stuck in the middle, sweating into a crowded bus. Classic.
