Significant disruption to bus services across London
"I am very sorry that the leadership of Unite have chosen to disrupt the journeys of bus passengers, especially given that only 16 per cent of the bus drivers voted for strike action"
Mike Weston
Director of Buses, TfL
  • 30 per cent of buses currently running
  • Passengers should check before travelling at www.tfl.gov.uk/buses
  • Customers with a Bus & Tram Pass season ticket will be able to use it on the Underground, DLR, London Overground and London Tramlink*
  • Affected passengers urged to use other transport services, walk or cycle where possible

Transport for London (TfL) is warning bus passengers that their journeys will be significantly disrupted today (Tuesday 13 January) due to strike action called by the leadership of the Unite union.

Around a third of the buses which normally operate at this time are currently running and bus customers are being encouraged to check before they travel at www.tfl.gov.uk/buses.

Customers will be kept informed throughout the day through regular website updates and the usual electronic signs at around 2,500 bus stops. It is very difficult to predict in advance the level of service that will operate today on London's 700 specific bus routes, so customers are advised to check the TfL website regularly for updates.

Mike Weston, TfL's Director of Buses, said: "I am very sorry that the leadership of Unite have chosen to disrupt the journeys of bus passengers, especially given that only 16 per cent of the bus drivers voted for strike action.

"As the bus companies who employ the drivers have said, it makes no sense to pay all drivers precisely the same amount. As in all professions, bus drivers have different skills and experience and it is only right that this can be reflected in pay. If all drivers are paid the average then by definition half of all bus drivers will need to take a pay cut. Any 'levelling up' of pay to the highest rates would lead to a cut in bus services, an increase in fares, or both.

"London has one of the best and most extensive bus networks anywhere in the world. It would be much better if the leadership of Unite actually worked with the bus companies to ensure that it remains that way rather than disrupting bus passengers."

The strike is affecting services from around 4am this morning and will affect night bus services operating tonight into Wednesday morning. Bus services during the day on Wednesday 14 January should operate as normal.

The strike is over a dispute between Unite and a number of private bus companies over bus driver pay and conditions. Less that 16 per cent of the bus drivers in London voted in favour of industrial action.

Customers will be kept informed of the status of their bus services in a range of ways, including:

  • Up-to-date information on bus services by route can be found at www.tfl.gov.uk/buses
  • Check for bus arrival times using the Countdown next bus arrival service online, on their mobile devices or via our SMS text service;
  • A range of easily available Apps for handheld devices use TfL's live bus information;
  • Travel alerts will be provided through Twitter on @TfL and @TfLBusAlerts - look out for #BusStrike;
  • TfL will also be providing information to radio and television broadcasts for use in news bulletins;
  • TfL will also have a number of additional staff across the network and at key locations to provide advice to passengers.

All other TfL services are operating as normal this morning and Bus and Tram Pass season tickets will be accepted on other TfL services via reasonable routes. The average bus journey is around 2.2 miles so some journeys could be completed by walking or cycling. Our staff will be on hand to help customers with onward journeys and walking maps at larger stations. As always, if customers have the flexibility to do so, they are advised to consider timing their journey outside of the busiest times.

To help people get around TfL are:

  • Operating a good service across the Tube, Docklands Light Railway, London Tramlink and London Overground networks;
  • Barclays Cycle Hire, with 10,000 bikes at over 700 docking stations, will continue to be available although demand is likely to be high - additional staff will be in place to re-distribute cycles to where they are needed most;
  • Londoners who own a bike are encouraged to cycle to work, and a Cycle Journey Planner is provided at www.tfl.gov.uk/cycling
  • Taxi Marshals will be deployed at the following key taxi ranks to assist passengers and encourage taxi sharing:
  • Charing Cross Station
  • Euston
  • King's Cross
  • Liverpool Street
  • London Bridge
  • North Greenwich
  • Stratford
  • Victoria
  • Waterloo
  • MBNA Thames Clipper will operate additional services on RB1 River Bus services, that operate between Woolwich and Embankment pier, during the morning peak 06:00-10:00 and evening peak 16:30-19:30;
  • TfL has also emailed registered bus users, who regularly travel on affected routes, advising them of the likely disruption and urging them to check before they travel.

 

* The following ticket acceptance arrangements will apply:

  • Bus & Tram Pass season ticket, 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard or 16+ Zip Oyster photocard with free bus & tram travel will be accepted on Tube, DLR and London Overground services on reasonable routes only. Passengers should show their Oyster card to a member of staff and ask to be let through the gates. Customers should not touch in or out as they will be charged a PAYG fare, which will not be refunded.
  • Bus & Tram Pass season tickets will also be accepted on MBNA Thames Clipper RB1 River Bus service between 0600-1000 and 1630-1930.
  • Bus & Tram Pass season ticket will not be accepted on National Rail services or the Emirates Air Line.
  • One Day Bus & Tram Passes will not be accepted on any alternative services and refunds will not be given.
  • PAYG and contactless users will be charged the appropriate fare for the journey for the service(s) and zones used and these fares will not be refunded. Find out pay as you go fares

A number of bus routes are not affected by today's strike action and will run a normal service:

  • 66 - Romford Station to Leytonstone bus station
  • 142 - Watford Junction to Brent Cross Shopping Centre
  • 160 - Catford to Sidcup Station
  • 258 - Watford Junction to South Harrow Station
  • 268 - Golders Green Station to Finchley Road
  • 288 - Queensbury to Broadfields Estate
  • 298 - Arnos Grove to Potters Bar
  • 303 - Edgware Station to Colindale
  • 305 - Edgware Station to Kingsbury Circle
  • 340 - Edgware Station to Harrow Bus Station
  • 346 - Upminster Station to Upminster Park Estate
  • 370 - Romford to Lakeside Shopping Centre
  • 375 - Romford Station to Passingford Bridge
  • 404 - Coulsdon to Caterham-on-the-Hill
  • 406 - Kingston to Epsom
  • 411 - Kingston to West Molsey
  • 418 - Kingston to Epsom
  • 428 - Erith to Bluewater Shopping Centre
  • 463 - Coulsdon South Station to Pollards Hill
  • 465 - Kingston to Dorking
  • 467 - Hook to Epsom
  • 470 - Colliers Wood Station to Epsom
  • 492 - Sidcup Station to Bluewater Shopping Centre
  • 499 - Gallows Corner to Heath Park Estate
  • 626 - Finchley Central Station to Potters Bar
  • 628 - Kingsbury to Southgate Station
  • 631 - Golders Green Station to Henrietta Barnett School
  • 641 - West Molesey to Teddington School
  • 642 - West Hendon Broadway/Edgware Station to London Academy
  • 653 - Muswell Hill Broadway to Kingsbury
  • 683 - Friern Barnet to Kingsbury
  • 688 - Southgate Station to Kingsbury
  • B12 - Erith to Joydens Wood
  • B13 - Bexleyheath Shopping Centre to New Eltham Station
  • B15 - Bexleyheath Shopping Centre to Horn Park
  • E10 - Northolt to Ealing Broadway Station
  • H2 - Golders Green Station circular (via Hampstead Garden Suburb)
  • H3 - Golders Green Station to East Finchley, Hilltop
  • H18 - Harrow Bus Station circular (via Pinner & Wealdstone)
  • H19 - Harrow Bus Station circular (via Wealdstone & Pinner)
  • K5 - Ham to Morden Station
  • S1 - Banstead to Lavender Fields
  • S3 - Sutton Hospital to Malden Manor Station
  • X26 - West Croydon to Heathrow Airport