London bus drivers continue to face refusal when requesting toilet access at Transport for London (TfL) railway stations, despite Mayor Sadiq Khan's commitment to guarantee such access. A route 330 driver recently claimed on TikTok that staff at Wanstead Park station denied him use of the facilities located behind the ticket barriers. This incident occurred even though Khan told the London Assembly in December 2022 that TfL would ensure access to station toilets wherever available.
Widespread shortage of facilities
According to TfL data, approximately 25 per cent of London bus routes have only a single toilet available at one end of the route. The route 330, which operates between Wanstead Park and the Thames Barrier, falls into this category. This shortage has been a significant factor in driver unrest, contributing to 1,500 bus drivers striking this summer to protest against what they described as "inhumane" working conditions.
Investigations have highlighted the severity of the problem. ITV News London found six bus routes with no toilet facilities at all, while a further probe by London Bus Forums and other campaigners identified nine routes without any access. During this summer's heatwave, when temperatures reached 37C, some drivers deliberately avoided drinking water to reduce the need for toilet breaks. Others, unable to reach a facility, resorted to urinating into plastic bottles.
TfL response and new measures
In response to MyLondon's 'Back Our Bus Drivers' campaign, TfL agreed to increase spending to build 53 new toilet blocks across London over the next few years. The transport authority also confirmed it would add facilities to six routes currently without access and ensure toilets are available on 10 routes where they are not open for all hours drivers are on shift.
A TfL spokesperson told MyLondon: "We take bus driver welfare seriously and it's vital that they are able to access toilet facilities while working. We are committed to improving access to welfare facilities for bus drivers across the network and are following up on this incident." The spokesperson added: "There is ongoing work on a range of measures to improve health and wellbeing for bus drivers, as well as providing safe and usable welfare facilities for our staff to use during their breaks."
TfL insisted that toilet access on the 330 route was adequate, noting that a round journey takes approximately 80 minutes. The spokesperson said: "We recently announced additional funding to enable the building of 53 more new toilet buildings across the capital over the next three years, as well as installing facilities on six remaining London bus routes. In the past eight years, 154 locations have either been refurbished or had a brand new toilet building location added. The vast majority of routes have suitable toilet facilities at their termini and we are determined to improve provision where possible."
Ongoing challenges for drivers
The incident at Wanstead Park highlights the gap between policy and practice. Despite the mayor's pledge and TfL's assurances, individual station staff decisions can still block driver access. The summer strikes, driven by concerns over facilities and other welfare issues, underscore the urgency of the situation.
TfL has committed to following up on this specific incident, but drivers and campaigners continue to push for more consistent enforcement of toilet access policies across the network. The planned new facilities and route additions represent progress, but the full implementation of these measures will be critical to ensuring drivers can work without the fear of being denied basic amenities.
