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Last week drivers on the London Underground announced a series of strikes set to take place across March, April and May 2026. However, they aren’t the only transport workers in the capital who’re walking out.
Do you rely on buses to get out and about in east London? Watch out, this weekend you might have to navigate strike action. Seven bus routes will be impacted by a weekend-long strike.
The newly announced strikes are part of a dispute between bus drivers – represented by Unite – and the East London Bus & Coach Company, which is part of Stagecoach. A total of 300 drivers will walk out, with Unite alleging that drivers at the Bow garage are suffering from fatigue due to long-distance shifts without adequate breaks.
Worried that your local bus route will be hit by strikes? Here’s what you need to know about the industrial action, including the dates and full list of affected routes.
When are London bus drivers going on strike?
Drivers will strike from Thursday March 19 until Sunday March 22. TfL says this will impact services from 5am on March 19 to 5am on Monday March 23. Here are the full list of strike dates
- Thursday March 19
- Friday March 20
- Saturday March 21
- Sunday March 22
Which bus routes will be affected by strikes?
The following services are set to be impacted by walk-outs on Mar 19-22.
- 8
- 25
- 205
- 425
- N8
- N25
- N205
Why are bus drivers going on strike?
A total of 300 drivers will walk out, with Unite saying that the dispute is over fatigue. Drivers at the Bow bus garage are allegedly being made to cover long distances without adequate breaks, while not having sufficient time to recuperate between shifts. Unite says this can not only cause fatigue, but increases the risk of accidents.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘Stagecoach is behaving appallingly, overworking drivers, creating a huge issue of fatigue and not giving them essential breaks.
‘Fatigue is not just everyday tiredness, it is highly dangerous for both drivers and the general public. Unite will always ensure that our members receive good conditions and this dispute is no exception - the drivers at Stagecoach have our full backing.’
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