Over 300 London bus drivers will walk out next week in a dispute over working conditions, with a five-day strike set to cripple seven routes across the east of the capital.
Five-day walkout from Thursday
The industrial action, organised by Unite the Union, is scheduled to begin at 3am on Thursday 11th June and run until 3am on Monday 15th June 2026. Services on affected routes are expected to return to normal by 5am that Monday, in time for the morning rush hour.
All routes affected are operated by Stagecoach from its Bow Bus Garage. Transport for London (TfL) has warned that services will be severely delayed and that buses may be cancelled. The strike follows earlier walkouts by the same drivers in March, April and May of 2026, indicating an escalating dispute.
Unite has accused Stagecoach of engaging in “strike-breaking activity” by bringing in drivers from other parts of the UK to mitigate the impact of the walkouts. Stagecoach, however, maintains that schedules, driver duties and rotas are compiled strictly within the law and agreed limits. The company claims to have held months of detailed discussions with Unite representatives and made changes in response to concerns, although it deemed some requests impractical. Stagecoach also says it has a fatigue policy and action plan in place and encourages drivers to speak up if they are not safe to drive, without penalty.
Drivers cite fatigue and safety concerns
The core of the dispute centres on driver fatigue, with Unite pointing to long shifts without adequate breaks, insufficient rest time between shifts, and increased weekend work. Drivers report completing journeys of up to 90 minutes without proper breaks and having as little as ten hours’ rest between shifts. The union also claims that Stagecoach has refused to schedule meal relief breaks at depots, forcing drivers to take breaks on the roadside.
Some drivers have reported “near misses” while driving due to fatigue. A Unite survey of bus drivers across London found that more than a third experience sleepiness while driving two to three times a week, and 48 per cent have had a “close call” due to fatigue in the past 12 months. The union emphasises that driver fatigue is dangerous and increases the risk of accidents, potentially endangering passengers and the public.
The dispute is set against a backdrop of wider concerns about safety in the capital’s bus network. Unite has noted recent tragic incidents, including a fatal attack on a bus driver in Battersea and another driver being stabbed, which have heightened concerns about working conditions. Stagecoach itself has faced numerous strikes across the UK in recent years – including in Cambridge, West Scotland, Yorkshire and Mansfield/Worksop – often involving Unite over pay and conditions.
Affected routes and travel advice
The following seven bus routes will be impacted:
- Route 8: Bow Church to Tottenham Court Road
- Route 25: Redbridge to Holborn
- Route 205: Bow Church to Selfridges
- Route 425: Redbridge to Clapton
- Route N8: Hainault to Oxford Circus
- Route N25: Ilford to Oxford Circus
- Route N205: Leyton to Paddington
Services will run as normal on Wednesday 10th June, including night services. All other bus routes, Tube and rail services are expected to operate as planned, although TfL says other local services may be busier than usual due to passengers seeking alternatives. TfL is urging both parties to find a solution and advising passengers to check travel updates and plan ahead. The wider London transport network has also faced industrial action in other sectors, including ongoing disputes involving London Underground drivers over working patterns and the introduction of a four-day week, which could add to cumulative travel disruption across the capital.
