Transport for London has been asked to disclose how many buses were checked after the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said operators had been told to ensure cooling systems were working during the recent heatwave.
Sadiq Khan spoke to ITV News London after drivers raised concerns about extreme cab temperatures and faulty or ineffective cab cooling systems.
The Mayor said bus drivers should not risk their personal safety during periods of extreme heat, adding that drivers who believe their cab is too hot should stop and not worry about being penalised.
He also said TfL had told operators to check buses and ensure cooling systems were functioning.
THE KEY POINTS
At a glance
- Sadiq Khan said bus drivers should not risk their personal safety during extreme heat
- The Mayor said operators had been told to check buses and ensure cooling systems were working
- TfL said all driver cabs are fitted with air cooling systems and checks were taking place
- TfL has not provided figures showing how many buses were checked, how many faults were found, or how many buses were removed from service
- A Freedom of Information request has now been submitted to TfL
- Unite says more than 1,900 Arriva North London drivers are being balloted for strike action over hot working conditions
The comments followed days of concern from London bus drivers, with driver-submitted temperature readings showing cab temperatures above 40°C during the recent hot weather.
TfL was asked how many buses were inspected following the Mayor’s comments, which operators were contacted, how many cab cooling faults were identified, and how many buses were removed from service because cooling systems were not working.
In response, TfL provided a statement from Lorna Murphy, its Director of Buses.
Ms Murphy said: “Alongside bus operators, we take our bus drivers’ safety and welfare seriously and contracts rightly require operators to meet high standards. Bus drivers play an essential role in keeping the capital moving and we are working together on a range of measures to improve working conditions, health and wellbeing.
“We appreciate it has been extremely hot recently and we have been working with our bus operators to put more in place to support our drivers in addition to the comprehensive hot weather plan in place to protect all staff and customers during the warm weather.
“All driver cabs are fitted with air cooling systems and checks on these are taking place.
“If air cooling systems on a vehicle are not functioning and drivers do not feel they can carry out their duties safely, they should contact the controller to take a welfare break. Action will be taken to support them. There are no penalties or detriment for doing so.”
Ms Murphy added that drivers with concerns should contact their employer, their union or CIRAS anonymously. She said “any reports from drivers are always fully investigated” and that operators should “never take action against people raising concerns about welfare”.
Drivers report being sent home after raising cab heat concerns
Several London bus drivers have contacted London Bus Forums News claiming they were sent home after refusing to continue driving buses where cab cooling or air conditioning was not working during the heatwave.
Drivers said they were willing to continue working and drive buses with functioning cab cooling systems, but raised health and safety concerns where cab temperatures were reported to have exceeded 40°C.
Some drivers claim they were marked as “sick on duty” and had their following day’s duty treated as sickness after refusing buses they believed were unsafe.
The reports relate to concerns raised by drivers working for Go-Ahead London and Transport UK.
TfL has said there are “no penalties or detriment” where air cooling systems are not functioning and drivers do not feel they can carry out their duties safely.
Drivers have questioned why some operators appear to be treating refusal to drive buses with defective cab cooling as a sickness matter, particularly where TfL and the Mayor have said drivers should not be penalised for raising safety concerns.
London Bus Forums News has not independently verified individual duty records or sickness markings, but the concerns have been raised directly by drivers.
Some drivers have also shared screenshots with London Bus Forums News which appear to show internal company app comments about hot buses and pay.
The screenshots appear to show a senior Transport UK figure saying that if it is not safe to drive a bus for health and safety reasons, drivers should not drive.
However, the same exchange also appears to state that there is no maximum working temperature in the UK, that drivers are expected to drive in all weathers, and that there is “no written guidance” about when not to drive a hot bus.
In a further comment, the same person appears to say it is “likely” that if a driver refuses to drive a bus for any reason, they may not be paid.
Drivers who contacted London Bus Forums News said the comments have added to concern and confusion, particularly where drivers say they are willing to work but do not believe they should be required to drive buses with defective cab cooling during extreme heat.
Transport UK was approached for comment on the driver claims and the screenshots seen by London Bus Forums News. No response had been received at the time of publication.
The concerns come after Sadiq Khan told ITV News London that bus drivers should not risk their personal safety during extreme heat.
London Bus Forums News has not published the screenshots in full to protect driver sources.
Figures not provided
TfL did not provide figures showing how many buses had been inspected, how many cab cooling faults had been found, or how many vehicles had been removed from service because driver cab cooling systems were not working.
A Freedom of Information request has now been submitted seeking recorded information about cab cooling checks, communications with operators, reported faults and buses removed from service during June 2026.
The request also asks TfL to disclose any written instructions, emails, bulletins or guidance sent to London bus operators about driver cab cooling systems, hot weather arrangements, driver welfare, or whether buses should be taken into service where driver cab cooling was not functioning.
Arriva drivers balloted over hot working conditions
The issue comes as Unite confirmed that more than 1,900 Arriva North London bus drivers across 10 garages are being balloted for strike action over hot working conditions.
Unite said drivers are preparing to take action after raising concerns about working conditions on buses during hot weather.
The union said most Arriva North London buses have air cooling systems rather than air conditioning, and claimed drivers have reported that cab temperatures remain uncomfortably high during heatwaves.
Drivers involved in the dispute are based at Barking, Clapton, Dartford, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green garages.
Unite said the ballot opens on 1 July and closes on 29 July, with any strike action potentially causing disruption to bus services in North London.
Concerns about high temperatures in London bus cabs have been raised repeatedly over several years by drivers, unions, Assembly Members and campaigners.
A timeline shared with LBF News lists London Assembly questions, media reports and union statements relating to bus cab heat and air cooling concerns dating back to 2018.
In recent days, drivers have continued to report high cab temperatures, faulty or ineffective cab cooling systems and uncertainty over what happens when a bus is reported as unsafe during extreme heat.
Any response received through the Freedom of Information request will be reported in a further article.
