London bus strikes Aug 18–21: 42 routes affected, heat protests continue
Arriva London North drivers strike over dangerous working conditions with in-cab temperatures exceeding 40°C. Eleven scheduled walkouts will affect 42 bus routes across north, east, central London and Essex through late August.
London faces significant bus service disruption from Tuesday 18 to Friday 21 August as drivers from the Arriva London North operator walk out over unsafe working conditions. In-cab temperatures soar beyond 40°C during hot weather, and the dispute involves 150+ bus station controllers and network traffic controllers whose rosters will increase weekend working and require travel to unfamiliar sites.
Drivers are based at eight garages across north, east and central London, plus Essex, with eleven walk-outs planned across 26 dates impacting 40 routes—including night buses, school services and Superloops. TfL warns that 'little or no service is expected on affected routes' on strike dates.
Getting around during strikes
- Use the TfL Journey Planner to find alternative routes before travelling
- Consider the Elizabeth Line, London Overground, or the Docklands Light Railway
- Walk or cycle if possible; e-scooter and cycle-hire journeys surged during recent strikes
- Check TfL's live updates for real-time service changes
If you commute by bus in north or east London, plan to arrive at work 30–45 minutes earlier and have a backup route ready. The strikes are ongoing through late August, so check TfL.gov.uk before each journey.
Sources
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