TfL staff are being forced to work in ‘cockroach infested buses’ and use ‘faulty equipment’, whistleblower claims

Transport for London staff are being forced to work in ‘cockroach infested buses’ and use ‘faulty equipment’, a whistleblower has claimed. 

A bus driver who claimed to work for Arriva – a TfL bus operator – shared images with The Telegraph, showing insects allegedly found on one of their vehicles. 

Other footage from another bus also reportedly run by Arriva appeared to have an indicator stalk that had snapped.

The driver also claimed that they were the fourth person that day to drive that particular bus and said that Arriva had told staff to continue using the faulty equipment. 

Another photograph showed a cockroach allegedly roaming around a driver’s compartment on a GoAhead bus, another TfL operator. 

Former bus driver Kevin Mustafa, who campaigns for other workers, told the outlet that buses are not being cleaned properly.

He added that ‘at least once a week’ he hears a report of ‘a bus that’s infested with cockroaches and bugs’.

Neil Garratt AM, leader of City Hall Conservatives, also told the outlet: ‘I have raised bus safety problems with TfL and the Mayor many times, from cab temperatures and rosters to unsafe practice and speeding.’

He said that they ‘hide behind the bus companies’, adding that Sadiq Khan needed to ‘get a grip.’

Tom Cunnington, TfL’s Head of Buses Business Development, said: ‘Bus drivers play an essential role in keeping the capital moving and their welfare is a top priority for us. 

‘We committed to working together with operators to improve conditions and while we are unaware of these allegations, we would encourage any driver with concerns about welfare or safety to contact their union, or contact us directly, if they believe their concerns are not being listened to.’

This comes as officials launched an investigation after one of Sadiq Khan’s electric buses exploded during rush hour on Thursday.

A huge blast ripped off the back of an Optare Metrodecker 1050 bus travelling from Mitcham to Raynes Park in South West London at 7.20am.

It came nearly two years after all Metrodeckers were temporarily taken out of service for safety checks in May 2022 when two were involved in a fire at Potters Bar bus garage in Hertfordshire – before being returned to service days later. 

Amy Foster, who works opposite the bus stop for data consultancy firm Rockborne, told MailOnline: ‘The response was very fast by the emergency services. The fire crew started to tackle the blaze at the back of the bus where the fire was burning very aggressively – it blew out the back of the bus at the bottom and top.

‘It took a long time for them to get it under control with flames flying out the back of the bus that often had a blue hue to them. The smoke was really thick and blew down the high street.

‘The fire crews put out the flames but continued to soak the battery at the back of the bus for another hour or so due to it overheating and regularly were using a heat gun to check its temperature. Very glad no one was hurt.’

More than 80 Metrodecker buses operate on eight London routes around the capital – the others being the numbers 23, 28, 134, 295, 317, 626 and N28.

Now, the City Hall Conservatives have called on Mayor Sadiq Khan to withdraw all the buses until the cause of the Wimbledon blaze is known.

But Transport for London (TfL), which has about 1,000 electric buses across its network, said it will not withdraw any Metrodeckers and has insisted they are safe.

A TfL spokeswoman told MailOnline: ‘London’s bus network remains safe to use and other buses in the fleet remain in service. TfL and bus operators will not hesitate to take action if required to ensure the network remains safe.’

While firefighters continue to investigate the cause, fire expert Neil Pederson said it was most likely due to an electrical fault and not linked to lithium batteries.

Go-Ahead and Arriva London Bus have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.