A strike by workers at one of London's largest bus companies has brought 50 routes to a standstill and left only "very limited services" running in parts of the capital today.
Around 2,500 drivers and engineers at Metroline have undertaken a 24-hour walkout in a row over pay. The industrial action, which is set to continue until 4am tomorrow morning, is affecting routes out of King's Cross, Wembley, Holloway, Perivale, Edgware and Cricklewood.
A spokeswoman for Metroline said today that only "very, very limited services" were running on several lines. Passengers were being advised to check the Transport for London website for regular updates on bus services.
Routes 4, 6, 17, 24, 32, 43, 52, 82, 84, 84X, 98, 107, 113, 134, 139, 143, 186, 189, 204, 205, 206, 214, 217, 231, 232, 234, 240, 245, 251, 260, 263, 266, 271, 274, 302, 316, 384, 390, 460, 603, 611, 626, 632, 634, 643, C2, W5, W7, W8 and W9, have been withdrawn from service. Night routes N5, N16, N20, N52 and N98 will also not run tonight.
Routes 16, 46, 90, 98, 245, 297, 274 and 390 are operating a reduced service, while a normal timetable is in force on routes 140, 182, 640 and H12. Services run by Metronet subsidiaries FE Thorpes and Armchair are unaffected and running as normal.
The Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) called the industrial action after rejecting a pay offer it said was worth 4% because it did not meet demands for a basic wage of £11 an hour.
Further strikes will be held on November 20 and 27 unless the deadlock is broken.
Regional officer Jim Buckley said: "We have done our best to resolve our differences through negotiation but the company was unwilling to put more money on the table."
The T&G said picket lines had been out at garages and depots since 4am this morning and that the strike was being solidly supported.
The union's deputy general secretary Jack Dromey said that the Metroline pay offer fell short of those from other London bus operators. "If other bus operators can find up to 6%, why can't Metroline?" he said as he visited Holloway depot in north London.
Metroline currently runs 13.5% of the capital's bus services under contract to Transport for London and carries 250 million passengers a year in London and south Hertfordshire.
In a statement today, Metroline said it had offered staff a 4% pay increase retrospective to April this year.
"Coming on the heels of a 10.9% increase in 2005, the company believes that this is still the best deal in London," the statement read.
"The company believes that the offer made by Metroline to drivers is fair and reasonable in the context of recent improvements to pay and our current financial performance. The company remains committed to resolving this dispute to avoid the disruption that will occur to our passengers tomorrow."
