Tower Transit services from their Lea Interchange, Atlas Road, near Willesden Junction, and Westbourne Park garages - representing less than 5% of the bus network - are subject to moderate disruption

As 0700 hours today, TfL is advising that strike action by members of the Unite union, who work for Tower Transit, is causing moderate/extensive disruption to bus services in east and central London.

Overall, almost 32% of normal bus services are operating across the affected routes. Of the 20 affected day bus routes, a reduced service is operating on 17 routes - 23, 25, 28, 30, 58, 69, 70, 212, 236, 266, 308, 339, 425, 444,488, W14 and W15.

Some routes will run a shortened service, such as the 25 which will run from Aldgate to Stratford rather than from Ilford to Oxford Circus, due to the action and reduced operating capacity.

The strike action began at 00.01 this morning and will continue until 23.59 tonight - affecting night time bus services well into the early hours on Saturday (27th August) morning.

Day bus services on Saturday and Sunday will operate as normal, but another strike is currently scheduled for Monday affecting the same routes.

The strike is over a dispute between Unite and Tower Transit over bus driver employment conditions. TfL is calling for Unite and Tower Transit to swiftly resolve the dispute so that passengers are not disrupted.

Tower Transit operates less than 5% of London's bus services from the three garages affected. Services operated by other companies across the Capital are unaffected and will operate a normal service.

We would encourage bus passengers in east and central London to check before they travel at www.tfl.gov.uk. Passengers will also be kept informed of the status of their services in a range of ways, including:

  • Up-to-date information on bus services by route can be found at tfl.gov.uk/buses
  • Passengers can also check for bus arrival times using the Countdown next bus arrival service online or via our SMS text service (texts cost 12p, plus standard network rate)
  • A range of easily available Apps for handheld devices now 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

Where services are disrupted TfL urges passengers to use other transport options, or to walk or cycle where possible. The average bus journey is around 2.2 miles so many of these journeys could be made in this way.

To help people get around TfL will be:

  • Operating a good service across the Tube network
  • Full services are also operating on the Docklands Light Railway, London Tramlink and London Overground networks
  • TfL is also emailing registered bus users, who regularly travel on affected routes, advising them of the likely disruption and urging them to check before they travel

 

Notes to Editors:

Routes that are likely to be affected by the strike action are

23 - Liverpool Street to Westbourne Park
25 - Ilford to Oxford Circus
28 - Kensal Rise to Wandsworth
30 - Hackney Wick to Marble Arch
31 - Camden Town to White City
58 - East Ham to Walthamstow Central
69 - Walthamstow Central to Canning Town
70 - Chiswick Business Park to South Kensington
212 - Walthamstow St James Street Station to Chingford
236 - Finsbury Park to Hackney Wick
266 - Brent Cross to Hammersmith
308 - Wanstead to Clapton Pond
328 - Golders Green to Chelsea
339 - Leytonstone to Shadwell
425 - Clapton to Stratford
444 - Turnpike Lane to Chingford
488 - Bromley-by-Bow to Dalston Junction
RV1 - Covent Garden to Tower Gateway
W14 - Leyton to Woodford Bridge
W15 - Cogan Avenue Estate to Hackney Town Hall
N28 - Camden Town to Wandsworth
N31 - Camden Town to Clapham Junction
N97 - Trafalgar Square to Hammersmith
N550 - Trafalgar Square to Canning Town
N551 - Trafalgar Square to Gallions Reac