Bus passengers across parts of London are being warned of significant disruption next month as more than 300 drivers prepare to take part in strike action affecting several key routes operated from Bow Bus Garage.
The industrial action, organised by Unite the Union, will impact a number of bus services run by Stagecoach Group under contract with Transport for London. According to the union, the dispute centres on concerns over working conditions, including excessively long shifts without adequate breaks, limited recovery time between shifts, and increased weekend scheduling pressures.
Union representatives say the walkout involves over 300 drivers who are raising concerns about workload and fatigue, arguing that current scheduling practices are unsustainable and could impact both staff wellbeing and passenger safety.
A range of busy routes across east and central London are expected to be affected. These include Route 8 between Bow Church and Tottenham Court Road, Route 25 from Redbridge to Holborn, and Route 205 running between Bow Church and Selfridges. Other impacted services include Route 425 from Redbridge to Clapton, along with night and express services such as N8, N25, and N205, which connect outer London areas including Hainault, Ilford, and Leyton with central destinations such as Oxford Circus and Paddington.
The disruption window is scheduled to begin at 3am on Thursday 11 June and continue until 3am on Monday 15 June. Services are expected to gradually return to normal operations by around 5am on Monday morning, in time for the weekday rush hour. However, passengers have been warned that delays, cancellations, and overcrowding are likely both during and immediately after the strike period.
Transport for London has confirmed that while the affected routes will face disruption, all other bus services across the capital, as well as Tube and rail networks, are expected to operate normally. Despite this, officials have warned that alternative services may experience higher passenger volumes than usual as commuters seek different travel options.
The strike action comes as part of an ongoing dispute between drivers and operators over what Unite describes as increasingly demanding working patterns. The union has raised concerns that extended shifts without sufficient breaks and reduced recovery time between duties could lead to exhaustion among drivers, particularly on high-frequency urban routes.
Passengers who rely on the affected routes are being advised to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and consider alternative transport options where possible during the four-day strike period. Commuters travelling during peak hours may be particularly impacted, especially on routes connecting residential areas in East London with central business districts.
While discussions between union representatives and operators are ongoing, no resolution has yet been reached. The scale of the planned action means it is expected to have a noticeable impact on daily travel patterns across multiple boroughs in London.
Authorities and transport officials continue to encourage passengers to check updates before travelling and remain aware of potential last-minute changes to service availability throughout the strike period.
