London bus strike: Which routes are affected and why are drivers taking action?
As many as 27,000 bus drivers as expected to take part in the strike, according the Unite
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Your support makes all the difference.Millions of commuters in London face travel chaos today, as some 27,000 bus drivers are staging a strike across the capital.
But why are they striking, and which bus routes are cancelled?
Who is involved?
The 27,000 workers are members of the Unite union at 18 companies across Greater London.
Why are they taking action?
The members hope their action will persuade Transport for London to offer a single agreement covering pay and conditions.
In turn, there are more than 80 different pay rates covering drivers doing the same job, leading to differences in hourly rates of over £3.
How will I be affected?
TfL said the strike will affect services from around 4am this morning and hit night bus services operating tonight into Wednesday morning.
The body has stressed there are contingency plans in place for commuters, with Bus & Tram Pass season tickets accepted on the Tube, DLR and London Overground services. However, there are many services commuters with bus passes will still be unable to use.
These include the MBNA Thames Clipper RB1 River Bus service (between 6am to 10am and 4.30pm to 7.30pm), and National Rail services or the Emirates Air Line will not accept bus passes.
One day bus and tram passes will also not be accepted on alternative services and refunds will not be given.
Bus services are expected to return to normal on Wednesday.
Are commuters irritated by the industrial action?
Actually, most passengers agree that bus drivers deserve to be paid the same rate.
A poll of 1,600 bus passengers for Unite showed that two thirds backed the bus drivers' campaign.
Which bus routes will be hit?
Eighteen bus companies across London will be affected by the pay strike. TfL confirmed that Abellio, Arriva, CT Plus, Go Ahead, London Sovereign, London United, Metroline, Stagecoach and Tower Transit would all be affected.
Although it has not confirmed route numbers that will definitely be affected, Tfl has given a list of bus routes which are not affected and will be running a normal service. These are:
66 - Romford Station to Leytonstone bus station
142 - Watford Junction to Brent Cross Shopping Centre
160 - Catford to Sidcup Station
258 - Watford Junction to South Harrow Station
268 - Golders Green Station to Finchley Road
288 - Queensbury to Broadfields Estate
298 - Arnos Grove to Potters Bar
303 - Edgware Station to Colindale
305 - Edgware Station to Kingsbury Circle
340 - Edgware Station to Harrow Bus Station
346 - Upminster Station to Upminster Park Estate
370 - Romford to Lakeside Shopping Centre
375 - Romford Station to Passingford Bridge
404 - Coulsdon to Caterham-on-the-Hill
406 - Kingston to Epsom
411 - Kingston to West Molsey
418 - Kingston to Epsom
428 - Erith to Bluewater Shopping Centre
463 - Coulsdon South Station to Pollards Hill
465 - Kingston to Dorking
467 - Hook to Epsom
470 - Colliers Wood Station to Epsom
492 - Sidcup Station to Bluewater Shopping Centre
499 - Gallows Corner to Heath Park Estate
626 - Finchley Central Station to Potters Bar
628 - Kingsbury to Southgate Station
631 - Golders Green Station to Henrietta Barnett School
641 - West Molesey to Teddington School
642 - West Hendon Broadway/Edgware Station to London Academy
653 - Muswell Hill Broadway to Kingsbury
683 - Friern Barnet to Kingsbury
688 - Southgate Station to Kingsbury
B12 - Erith to Joydens Wood
B13 - Bexleyheath Shopping Centre to New Eltham Station
B15 - Bexleyheath Shopping Centre to Horn Park
E10 - Northolt to Ealing Broadway Station
H2 - Golders Green Station circular (via Hampstead Garden Suburb)
H3 - Golders Green Station to East Finchley, Hilltop
H18 - Harrow Bus Station circular (via Pinner & Wealdstone)
H19 - Harrow Bus Station circular (via Wealdstone & Pinner)
K5 - Ham to Morden Station
S1 - Banstead to Lavender Fields
S3 - Sutton Hospital to Malden Manor Station
X26 - West Croydon to Heathrow Airport
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