Talks have been taking place between the two bus operators and the trade union, Unite, over the 2008 pay settlement.

First operates 94 bus routes across London, operating out of the following garages:

  • Alperton
  • Dagenham
  • Greenford
  • Hayes
  • Lea Interchange
  • Northumberland Park
  • Uxbridge
  • Westbourne Park
  • Willesden Junction

Metrobus operates 43 routes in south London, operating out of the following garages:

  • Croydon
  • Orpington

Transport for London (TfL) is working to keep passenger disruption to a minimum, and we would ask that passengers check their route and listen to media travel updates before they travel on Friday and Saturday.

Where possible, we would advise passengers to use alternative means of transport.

Passenger information will be provided by TfL through a number of channels, namely:

  • Countdown - a message will be displayed on Countdown signs at affected bus stops this evening (Thursday 11 September), to give passengers advance warning of tomorrow's strike, and will be displayed all day tomorrow and on Saturday
  • Publicity - signs will be displayed at bus stops, shelters and stations
  • Travel information - customers can contact our travel information team by phone on 020 7222 1234 for up-to-date information and advice on alternative means of transport. As lines are likely to be busy, we advise customers with internet access to check for real time travel information on the TfL website, tfl.gov.uk, or visit our online journeyplanner at tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner
  • Additional staff - extra staff members will be out on the network during the strikes, concentrating on the busiest stations and stops, to offer advice and guidance to passengers. Where possible, staff will be driving along bus routes with no service to offer advice to passengers


Notes to editors:

The following bus routes operated by First may be affected by the 48 hour strike action:

  • East London: 58, 67, 91, 150, 165, 179, 191, 193, 212, 215, 231, 236, 252, 259, 299, 308, 309, 323, 339, 341, 357, 365, 370D, 385, 389, 399, 476, 488, 498, 616, 646, 649, 650, 652, 656, 679, 686, 692, 699, 953, 958, D6, D7, D8, RV1, W6, W10, W11 and W12
    • Night route: N91
  • West London: 9 (Heritage route only), 10, 18, 23, 28, 31, 79, 83, 92, 95, 105, 187, 207, 223, 224, 226, 245, 282, 295, 328, 331, 414, 427, 487, 607, A10, E1, E3, E5, E7, E9, E10, PR2, U1, U2, U3, U4, U5 and U10
    • Night routes: N10, N18, N28, N31 and N207

The following bus routes operated by Metrobus may be affected by the 24 hour strike action:

  • South London: B14, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R11, T32, T33, X26, 64, 119, 127, 130, 138, 146, 161, 181, 246, 261, 284, 293, 320, 336, 352, 353, 354, 356, 358, 359, 367, 405, 464, 612,  654,  917, 931, 938, 950.