Fresh London Bus Strike Hits Stratford and Central London – Full Routes List and Travel Disruption

London passengers are facing another difficult week on the capital’s transport network as a fresh bus strike affects key routes linking Stratford, east London and the centre of the city.

More than 300 drivers employed by East London Bus & Coach Company, which is part of Stagecoach, have started industrial action in a dispute over fatigue, shift patterns and working conditions. The walkout is scheduled to run from Wednesday until Friday, with a second round of strike action planned between June 11 and June 14.

The strike is expected to affect eight services used by commuters, night passengers, shoppers and people travelling through Stratford. The routes named in the dispute are 8, N8, 25, N25, 45, 205, N205 and 425.

These buses serve important parts of London, including Stratford, Bow, Shoreditch, Liverpool Street and central London. The disruption is likely to be felt strongly around Westfield Stratford City, where bus links are used by shoppers, staff and visitors throughout the day.

Passengers should check Transport for London’s official strike updates before travelling, as some services may run at reduced frequency while others could face delays or cancellations during the strike period.

The dispute is not only about pay or scheduling. Unite the Union says drivers are raising serious concerns about fatigue behind the wheel. According to the union, some drivers are being asked to complete journeys lasting up to 90 minutes without enough time for proper breaks.

Unite has also claimed that drivers can have as little as 10 hours of rest between shifts. The union says this is putting pressure on workers who operate large vehicles through some of London’s busiest roads, where traffic, pedestrians, cyclists and tight timetables already make the job demanding.

Another concern raised by the union is the lack of depot-based meal relief breaks. Drivers say they need suitable places to rest and recover during long shifts, rather than being left without proper facilities between journeys.

The union has also criticised arrangements around electric bus charging. Drivers are reportedly expected to use remote charging points, which Unite argues adds extra responsibility and time pressure to already demanding duties.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the drivers’ concerns over fatigue were legitimate and warned that safety issues should not be ignored. The union’s position is that tired drivers are a risk not only to themselves but also to passengers and the wider public.

The latest walkout follows a previous week-long strike in April, which caused disruption across several east London routes. That earlier action showed how quickly pressure can build across the network when regular bus services are reduced.

The timing is also difficult for Londoners because separate Tube strike action remains a concern. RMT Tube drivers are expected to stage further action in June as a dispute over a four-day working week continues. That means commuters could face overlapping pressure on both bus and Underground services.

Swikblog recently covered wider capital transport disruption in its report on London Underground strike dates and TfL travel advice.

For now, anyone travelling through Stratford, central London or east London should leave extra time, check live updates and consider alternative routes where possible. Elizabeth line, Tube, Overground and walking options may help some passengers, but these services could become busier if bus disruption continues.

The strike has turned a workplace dispute into a wider travel issue for London. Until talks make progress, passengers on the affected routes should expect uncertainty and plan journeys carefully.

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