London Underground workers are due to stage a 48-hour Tube strike from 9pm tonight. Tube trains will not be stopping at Hampstead or Highgate stations during the strike, but here’s a handy guide to beating the disruption...

When is the Tube strike?

Transport for London say Tubes will be affected from 9.30pm today until Friday morning. They don’t know exactly when disruption will end. The second Tube strike is due to take place from 9.30pm on Tuesday, February 11 to the morning of Friday, February 14.

Are there any Tubes running during the strike?

Yes, though with a severely reduced service, and TfL has advised passengers to check before they travel.

The lines operating are as follows:

Bakerloo Line

Trains between Queen’s Park and Elephant & Castle around every six minutes in both directions.

These trains will not stop at Edgware Road, Embankment, Kilburn Park, Lambeth North, Maida Vale, Piccadilly Circus or Regent’s Park stations.

Central Line

No service to operate through the central area.

Trains between Epping and Leytonstone around every 12 minutes in both directions.

Trains between West Ruislip and White City around every 15 minutes in both directions.

Circle Line

See District line, Hammersmith & City line and Metropolitan line below.

District Line

Trains between Upminster and Wimbledon around every eight minutes in both directions.

Trains between Ealing Broadway and High Street Kensington around every 20 minutes in both directions.

These trains will not stop at Aldgate East, Becontree, Blackfriars, Bromley-by-Bow, Dagenham East, Dagenham Heathway, East Ham, Elm Park, Gloucester Road, Hornchurch, Plaistow, Sloane Square, Stepney Green, Temple, Upminster Bridge, Upney or Upton Park stations.

Hammersmith and City Line

Trains between Hammersmith and Moorgate around every 10 minutes in both directions. These trains will not stop at Barbican, Euston Square and Great Portland Street stations.

Jubilee Line

Trains between Stanmore and Finchley Road around every five minutes in both directions.

Trains between Waterloo and Stratford around every five minutes in both directions.

These trains will not stop at Bermondsey and Southwark stations.

Metropolitan Line

Trains between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Aldgate around every 10 minutes in both directions. These trains will not stop at Barbican, Euston Square, Great Portland Street, Northwick Park and Preston Road stations.

Northern Line

Trains should run over the whole line (except to Mill Hill East), with a train around every five minutes via both the Bank and Charing Cross branches in both directions.

These trains will not stop at Borough, Chalk Farm, Clapham North, Clapham South, Colliers Wood, Embankment, Goodge Street, Hampstead, Highgate, Leicester Square, Mornington Crescent, Old Street, Oval, South Wimbledon, Tooting Bec, Tufnell Park and Warren Street stations.

Piccadilly Line

No service would operate through the central area. TfL intends to run trains between Acton Town and Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3 around every ten minutes in both directions, and between Arnos Grove and Cockfosters around every ten minutes in both directions.

These trains will not stop at Heathrow Terminal 4 or Southgate stations.

Victoria Line

Trains between Seven Sisters and Victoria around every five minutes in both directions.

These trains will not stop at Warren Street station.

Waterloo and City

No service.

What plans are in place?

More than 100 extra buses will run on key routes, and trained “ambassadors” will be on hand at stations - including bus stations - to provide travel information. River services will also be increased, particularly at peak times.

Is it just the Underground that’s affected?

Only Tube services - that is those operating under the red and blue roundel - will be disrupted, though TfL expects there to be some small problems at Overground and DLR Tube interchanges - like Stratford, for example.

Why are the strikes taking place?

Unions the RMT and the TSSA are opposed to TfL plans to close 260 ticket offices - costing potentially 1,000 jobs - as part of its modernisation project, which will also see some Tubes running throughout the night at weekends by the end of 2015.

Will the strikes definitely happen?

Almost certainly. Talks between unions and Tube bosses broke down yesterday, and a last minute climbdown by either side seems increasingly unlikely.

What the two sides say:

London Underground managing director Mike Brown: “In future, there will be more staff in ticket halls and on platforms to help customers buy the right ticket, plan their journeys and to keep them safe and secure.

“We’re committed to implement these changes without compulsory redundancies and there’ll be a job for everyone at LU who wants to work for us and be flexible.

“I urge the leaderships of the RMT and TSSA to work with us to help shape the future of the Tube, rather than threatening Londoners with unnecessary disruption.

“All a strike will achieve is lose those who take part four days’ pay.

“Should the strike go ahead, we’ll do all we can to keep our customers informed and ensure we keep London moving and open for business.”

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes: “It is now time for Boris to sit down with his staff representatives and negotiate a sensible deal which will protect the safety and security of the travelling public as well as the long term interests of our members.

“We think he is too ready to gamble with safety by abolishing permanent station supervisors in this closure plan, a plan which stands on its head his promise in 2008 to keep open every ticket office.”