Major bus services in east London will face disruption due to a four-day strike from June 11 to 14, 2026, as part of an ongoing dispute between bus drivers and the East London Bus & Coach Company, a Stagecoach subsidiary. The industrial action involves 300 drivers represented by the Unite union, who allege fatigue caused by long-distance shifts without adequate breaks.
Strike Dates
Drivers are striking on two separate occasions: May 27-29 and June 11-14. The June strike is expected to cause significant disruption to eight bus routes.
Affected Bus Routes
The following services will be impacted by the walk-outs: 8, 25, 205, 425, N8, N25, and N205. However, Transport for London (TfL) anticipates that routes 25 and 425 will run a near-normal service throughout most strike days. Route 8 will operate a reduced 12-minute service between Bow Church and Shoreditch, while the 205 will run a reduced 20-minute service between Bow Church and Liverpool Street. The N8 is expected to maintain usual frequency between Hainault and Liverpool Street, and the N25 is expected to run as normal.
Why Are Bus Drivers Striking?
Unite claims that drivers at the Bow bus garage are being forced to cover long distances without sufficient breaks and lack adequate time to recuperate between shifts. The union argues that this not only causes fatigue but also increases the risk of accidents. The strikes follow previous walk-outs in March, April, and May.
Reactions
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham stated: 'Our members are raising legitimate concerns with Stagecoach about fatigue, which is not only putting them at risk but the general public too – yet they are being ignored. It is high time Stagecoach treats this problem with the seriousness it deserves, rather than pushing forward with these dangerous rotas. Our members at Stagecoach have our full support.'
A Stagecoach spokesperson responded: 'We remain willing to continue discussions with union representatives. Fatigue is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors, of which hours of work are only one element. We are industry leaders in having a fatigue policy and action plan in place to safeguard our people. There is no reason for any driver to work while fatigued - they are encouraged to speak up if they are not safe to drive, both before and during duties, and are not financially penalised for doing so. Safety remains our priority.'
A TfL spokesperson added: 'We encourage both parties to find a solution to this dispute and we're sorry for any disruption to people's journeys.'
Passengers are advised to check TfL's website for real-time updates and plan alternative travel where possible.
