TfL is doing everything it can to reduce the impact of the strike action and is running as many bus services as possible, however customers are advised to check before they travel and leave extra time for their journeys. TfL urges Unite and bus operators to work together to find a solution to the two disputes.Bus drivers at some garages operated by Metroline plan to strike on seven days in December, with the first action starting on Thursday 1 December and the last day of action on Saturday 17 December. This is expected to affect around 70 routes, mainly in north, northwest and west London, with most days of the planned strike action coinciding with ongoing strike action affecting Abellio services in west and south London. Transport for London (TfL) is advising customers in the affected areas to check before they travel and leave more time for their journeys.Bus routes operated by Metroline will be affected for periods of two or three days in December, totalling seven days of planned strike action. Services will be affected through to around 06:00 the morning following the final day of a period of strike action, which means night buses will be affected the night after a strike action. Night buses will run as normal into the morning of the start of a period of strike action.
A full list of the affected routes is on the TfL website. TfL will ensure as many bus services as possible run in the affected areas, but they will be busier than usual. Routes in other areas will be run as normal. If customers need to travel, they are advised to check before they do so and leave extra time for their journeys. To ensure these services run as smoothly as possible, TfL advises customers to have their cards at the ready to avoid delays and to make space for wheelchair users.
Louise Cheeseman, Director of Buses at TfL, said: "We apologise for any disruption caused to Londoners, especially for people in west London who may be affected by both sets of strike action. There still will be options for people to travel in the affected areas, but other routes may be busier than normal. We're encouraging everyone in these areas to plan ahead, check before they travel and leave more time for their journeys. Our free TfL Go app and website are really easy ways to check your travel.”
Where possible, customers should consider alternative transport such as trams, national rail services or walking and cycling, with Santander Cycles available as far north as Camden Town and as far west as Hammersmith. E-scooters can be hired in some London boroughs, including Camden, Westminster and Lambeth. Customers who need to use buses in the areas affected should also try to travel at quieter times as during the busiest times it may not be possible to board the first bus.
London Underground, London Overground and Elizabeth line services can also be used as an alternative. When planning alternatives, customers are advised that the RMT’s Network Rail strike action will affect parts of these services from Tuesday 13 December to Wednesday 14 December, and from Friday 16 December to Saturday 17 December. Some of this strike action will coincide with days when Metroline and Abellio staff plans to strike.
For more details on the industrial action and tools to plan their journey, passengers should go to: tfl.gov.uk/strikes
TfL is carrying out a comprehensive targeted communications campaign to ensure customers are aware of the strike and can prepare in advance. Customers on the routes affected are being contacted, bus stops served by affected buses will display information posters and announcements will be made in bus stations.
Unite strike action will impact some Metroline services from Thursday 1 December-Monday 4 December; Thursday 8 December-Saturday 10 December; Thursday 15 December-Saturday 17 December
The following bus routes operated by Metroline will be impacted by Unite strike action:
4,6,7,16,17,30,32,43,46,52,81,83,90,91,98,107,112,113,120,134,139,140,143 ,168, 182,186,189,190,204,210,231,234,237,240,245,260,263,268,271,274,292,297,302,306,307*,316, 317,324,328,332,382,384,390,393,460,483,491, 631,632,634,643,C11,E2,E8,H2,H3,W7,W8,N7, N16,N20,N31,N83,N91,N98,N113,N140, *Route 307 will switch to a different operator in December and so will not be affected by strike action on 10, 16 and 17 December
The routes affected by both strikes are on the TfL website at: tfl.gov.uk/strikes
For more information about Santander Cycles and docking stations visit https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/santander-cycles