Drivers have claimed that cockroach infestations plague London buses, with photo evidence appearing to show insects on seats.
Visual evidence captured by drivers reveals the scale of the problem, with footage and photographs showing cockroaches present throughout vehicles and driver rest facilities.
Drivers describe encountering the insects regularly during their shifts, with the problem extending beyond isolated incidents to what they characterise as widespread contamination.
The situation has prompted calls from the London Bus Forum for immediate intervention from transport authorities.
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A particularly disturbing episode occurred when a Route 159 driver found a cockroach in their beverage during a rest break.
"I went to take a sip from my drink and felt something in my mouth," the driver recounted in a video filmed inside the contaminated vehicle. "I spat it out and saw it was a cockroach. I felt sick and ended up vomiting."
Additional footage from October 8 captured cockroaches crawling through a driver's food container at a rest facility.
The insects have been documented infiltrating areas where staff eat and take breaks, creating unsanitary conditions for workers throughout their shifts.
London bus drivers have called for action to mitigate the issue
|PA/LONDON BUS FORUMS
Comprehensive sanitation measures are being demanded by campaigners from the London Bus Forum to address the infestation crisis.
Proposals include regular deep cleaning of all vehicles, application of insecticidal treatments, deployment of heat treatments, enhanced vacuuming procedures and installation of sealed barriers at identified problem areas.
Kevin Mustafa, a bus safety campaigner, stated: "The current state is untenable for drivers who already face demanding working conditions.
"Swift, transparent and decisive action will go a long way toward restoring trust, ensuring safety, and maintaining public confidence in London's bus services."
TfL said it had launched an urgent investigation into the matter
|LONDON BUS FORUMS
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The London Bus Forums group characterised the cockroach reports as indicative of broader maintenance failures. "This is a public health issue affecting both staff and passengers," the group declared.
Bus drivers have organised a demonstration for November 5 to press for improved working conditions and implementation of the Bus Drivers Bill of Rights.
The march represents an escalation in their campaign against what they describe as unsafe and unhygienic working environments.
Transport for London has acknowledged the complaints, stating that cockroach occurrences are uncommon and announcing an immediate inquiry into the allegations.
TfL said it takes any reports very seriously to protect staff and passengers
|LONDON BUS FORUMS
A spokesperson for TfL said: "We are committed to working together with operators to provide a clean environment for staff and customers.
"Most TfL welfare facilities are cleaned multiple times a day, and at a minimum daily, to maintain hygiene and safety standards. All buses are also cleaned every night before entering service and reports such as these are rare.
"As with any reports, we will take appropriate action as part of the investigation, which can include taking buses out of service for inspection, deep cleans and treatment with specialist equipment if necessary.
"We would like to reassure staff that our operators would never take action against people raising concerns about welfare or safety and encourage any driver with concerns to contact their employer, their union, or contact us directly."