Passengers have been warned of major disruption to bus journeys today and tomorrow as drivers walk out amid a heatwave row.
Unite the union announced the drivers’ strike last week after a row over working conditions in hot weather, which has gripped the capital throughout the summer.
The union, which represents thousands of bus drivers, accused Arriva North London – a TfL contractor – of failing to act on complaints about conditions.
The strike began today at 4am and will continue until 4.30am tomorrow morning, affecting ordinary bus routes as well as night buses and Superloop services.
Additional strike dates have been announced between now and October, but which routes are affected?
Every route affected in London bus strikes
A total of 42 routes are affected by the strikes, including two Superloop routes and four night bus services running into Saturday morning.
The affected bus garages involved in the strike action include Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green.
These are all of the affected routes:
- 19 – Between Finsbury Park and Battersea Bridge
- 29 – Between Wood Green and Trafalgar Square
- 34 – Between Walthamstow and Barnet
- 41 – Between Tottenham Hale and Archway
- 66 – Between Leytonstone and Romford
- 67 – Between Wood Green and Dalston
- 76 – Between Tottenham Hale and Waterloo
- 102 – Between Edmonton Green and Brent Cross
- 121 – Between Turnpike Lane and Enfield Island Village
- 141 – Between Palmers Green and London Bridge
- 149 – Between Edmonton Green and London Bridge
- 150 – Between Chigwell and Becontree
- 158 – Between Chingford and Stratford
- 175 – Between Dagenham and North Romford
- 191 – Between Edmonton Green and Brimsdown
- 192 – Between Enfield and Tottenham Hale
- 217 – Between Waltham Cross and Turnpike Lane
- 221 – Between Edgware and Turnpike Lane
- 243 – Between Wood Green and Waterloo
- 248 – Between Cranham and Romford Market
- 254 – Between Holloway and Aldgate
- 259 – Between Edmonton Green and King’s Cross
- 279 – Between Waltham Cross and Manor House
- 307 – Between Barnet Hospital and Brimsdown
- 313 – Between Potters Bar and Chingford
- 329 – Between Enfield and Wood Green
- 341 – Between Meridian Water and Waterloo
- 349 – Between Ponders End and Stamford Hill
- 370 – Between Romford and Lakeside
- 375 – Between Romford and Passingford Bridge
- 377 – Between Oakwood and Ponders End
- 616 – Between Edmonton Green and Winchmore Hill
- 675 – Between Walthamstow and Woodford Green
- SL1 – Between Walthamstow and North Finchley
- SL2 – Between Walthamstow and North Woolwich
- W3 – Between Northumberland Park and Finsbury Park
- W4 – Between Tottenham Hale and Oakthorpe Park
- W6 – Between Edmonton Green and Southgate
- N19 – Between Finsbury Park and Clapham Junction
- N29 – Between Enfield and Trafalgar Square
- N41 – Between Tottenham Hale and Trafalgar Square
- N279 – Between Waltham Cross and Trafalgar Square
TfL has warned that ‘little or no service’ is expected on the above routes, and that other local bus routes, Tube and rail services may be busier than usual.
When are other strikes taking place?
Arriva has announced additional strikes for the next two months. They include:
Some of the walkouts will happen at the same time as planned closures on the Piccadilly line this month and in September.
The Tube line, which is facing closure to allow TfL to upgrade the line for new trains, will shut between August 18 and 20, between August 25 and 27, between September 18 and 20, and between October 16 and 18, during which bus strikes are all in action.
Why are bus drivers striking?
The dispute boils down to the conditions inside buses, many of which have reached extreme temperatures for passengers and drivers alike during back-to-back heatwaves.
Hot weather conditions can increase fatigue for drivers, some of whom have experienced heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration this summer, Unite said.
Most London buses are fitted with air cooling rather than more effective air conditioning systems.
Unite said the cooling system only reduces the temperature by a couple of degrees, and cab temperatures reached 40 degrees during the latest hot spells.
The London mayor Sadiq Khan has said drivers should not be working in conditions that are too hot or unsafe.
Speaking to LBC in June, he said: ‘Let me speak directly to bus drivers – if your cabin is too hot, I’ve given TFL permission, and told the bus operators, you must not be driving that bus.’
How has travelling in London during the hot weather been for you?
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Unbearable, the Tube and buses have been too hot
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Some days it's been a little too warm but I've managed
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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘Time and time again drivers have complained to Arriva North London about working in dangerous conditions but the company has failed to act which is completely unacceptable.
‘A profitable company such as Arriva could easily invest in improving conditions for its drivers and protecting the general public but is instead prioritising greed. We will back our members all the way in this dispute.’
Fatigued bus drivers have raised the alarm over a ‘dangerous’ epidemic behind the wheel, citing shift patterns and pressure.
What has Arriva said?
Wasim Mohammed, Arriva London managing director, told : ‘We take the welfare of our drivers seriously and understand the impact of this extreme weather on them.
‘We are working closely with Transport for London to support both our colleagues and customers during these hot spells. We’ve introduced short-term measures to protect drivers, and we’re investing in longer-term fixes, including cab air conditioning upgrades and our ongoing investment in new fleet.
‘We remain ready to sit down with Unite at any time to discuss these important issues and find a resolution that avoids both strike action and the disruption it would cause to customers.’
A spokesperson for TfL said the strike action is expected to hit local bus routes in north and some central London areas.
However, the majority of the capital’s bus network will operate as planned on the strike days, they said.
Some routes could be busier than usual and passengers should plan ahead and allow extra time for journeys.
‘We encourage both parties to find a solution to this dispute and we’re sorry for any disruption to people’s journeys,’ TfL added.
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