Bus drivers in London walked out on strike on Wednesday after talks failed to secure a breakthrough in a dispute over pay and conditions.

Members of Unite at London United will strike for 48 hours, with further industrial action scheduled on April 7 and 14.

London United, owned by French firm RATP, operates depots in south and west London.

Unite regional officer, Michelle Braveboy, said: “The strikes will inevitably cause severe disruption to thousands of bus passengers.

“Unite members are taking this action as a last resort, as they will not allow RATP to use the cover of the Covid pandemic to downgrade their pay and conditions.”

A dispute at another RATP subsidiary, London Sovereign, which operates bus services in north-west London, has ended after drivers accepted an improved pay offer.

Here is a list of the 53 routes affected: 

33, 65, 70, 71, 72, 110, 111, 116, 203, 216, 223, 224, 265, 266, 283, 371, 406, 411, 418, 419, 423, 440, 465, C1, H22, H32, H37, H98, K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, S3

School and night routes:

613, 613, 662, 665, 671, 681, 696, 697, N18, N33, N65, N72, N266

24 hour routes:

148, 220, 281, 111, 85, 94