Talks are due to take place on Wednesday between the RMT union and London Underground to resolve the dispute that triggered last week’s Tube strike. RMT members walked out, bringing most services to a standstill for several days and leaving millions of commuters, visitors and others to seek alternative travel by bike, bus or taxi.

The dispute centres on working hours after the union signalled acceptance of a 3.4% pay offer. The RMT is pressing for a 32‑hour working week, arguing fatigue from shift patterns and staff reductions. General secretary Eddie Dempsey said the union is prepared to negotiate a timetable for cutting hours rather than delivering an immediate reduction, adding that industrial relations on the Underground had \”totally collapsed\”. LU has said that cutting hours is unaffordable and denies that there are fewer staff. A cost estimate put last week’s strikes at £230 million for the economy, with the hospitality sector badly affected as bars and restaurants closed early because of a drop in customers.