High-temperature characterization of oxygen-deficient Sr-rich (La1-xSrx)(2)NiO4-delta (x = 0.5-0.8) solid solutions under mildly reducing conditions with p(O-2) approximate to 5x10(-5) atm was performed by employing structural and thermal analysis, TEM, and electrical conductivity measurements. Oxygen losses from the crystal lattice on reduction were found to result in a reversible transition from the tetragonal (I4/mmm) to the orthorhombic (Immm) structure and shrinkage of the crystal lattice for the compositions with x > 0.5. TEM and thermogravimetric analysis evidenced slow kinetics of the structural transition. The increase in oxygen deficiency under reducing conditions is accompanied by localization of the electronic charge carriers, a drop of the p-type electronic conductivity, and a transition from metallic-like to semiconducting behavior. The extent of changes in oxygen nonstoichiometry, unit--cell dimensions, average Ni oxidation state, electron-hole concentration, and electronic conductivity on reduction is interrelated with the strontium content. The results suggest that the electrical conductivity of (La1-xSrx)(2)NiO4-delta ceramics depends mainly on the average Ni oxidation state.