Mayor agrees to air condition all London buses

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has told unions he will install air conditioning across all of Transport for London's bus network by 2027.

Drivers and members of Unite have been on strike about working in hot weather, complaining their cabs often exceed 40C.

Staff reported falling ill with heatstroke and narrowly avoiding crashes this summer.

Cabs will also be fitted with UV protective film to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Inadequate cooling systems in buses have left bus drivers having to endure appalling conditions this summer.

"This concession from TfL is an important win in Unite's campaign to improve conditions for bus drivers in London and beyond.

"Unite will continue to fight for all bus workers to be kept safe and to be treated with dignity and respect."

Buses that have joined the fleet recently are meeting tougher standards for ventilation and air conditioning than older vehicles, according to the mayor's office, which said the older buses were bought when extreme heat was less common.

The agreement states that every driver's cab not meeting the current standard will be retrofitted by the end of May 2027.

City Hall said the new New Routemaster bus was being tested in service and that drivers had responded positively.

It has also been examined in a laboratory to gauge how it copes in extreme heat.

Lorna Murphy, TfL's director of buses, said she recognised how challenging recent weather conditions had been for drivers and was "fully committed to maintaining momentum" both in making immediate improvements and finding longer-term solutions.

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