London commuters can breathe a sigh of relief as two scheduled walk-outs on the London Underground have been called off, averting potential disruptions to transportation services

Rail, air, and London Underground services are set to face disruptions this week, causing inconvenience for many commuters, particularly those in London and the southeast, as they navigate the challenges of the first full working week of 2017.

On Monday, a 24-hour walkout by London Underground staff is expected to close tube stations in the capital’s center, leading to significant disruptions. Meanwhile, British Airways flights from Heathrow may be affected by a strike among cabin crew members on Tuesday. Additionally, commuters in London and the surrounding areas are bracing for chaos as drivers on the troubled Southern franchise commence a three-day strike.

The impact of this wave of industrial action could extend beyond the southeast region. The RMT union is considering possible strike action among its members at Arriva Rail North, which operates the Northern franchise, over a pay deal. Moreover, tensions over the role of conductors on the Merseyrail network and West Midlands franchise could escalate into confrontations with unions in the coming months and years.

The London Underground strike began at 6 pm on Sunday, with station staff from the RMT and TSSA unions closing tube stations in the capital’s center and ending many evening services prematurely. Although a limited number of routes in outer boroughs will operate on Monday, all zone one stations, as well as those on the Victoria and Waterloo and City lines, remain closed. Transport for London has arranged additional buses, but increased traffic on roads and National Rail services is anticipated, leading to delays for all commuters.

The strike stems from a dispute over the closure of ticket offices and the elimination of 900 posts as part of TfL’s modernization plans. Despite TfL acknowledging the excessive job cuts, talks broke down last week, prompting the unions to proceed with strikes. Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged TfL to continue negotiations to resolve the dispute, emphasizing that the strikes are unnecessary.

Meanwhile, commuters in London’s suburbs and the southeast are preparing for severe disruption as train drivers, primarily from the Aslef union, along with some RMT members, strike on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Southern network services, which cater to south London, Sussex, Surrey, Kent, and Hampshire, are expected to be virtually non-existent. Additionally, thousands of British Airways cabin crew members are set to strike over pay issues, although the airline has assured customers that alternative arrangements will be made to minimize disruptions.