Tube strikes are messy affairs, with all the people who usually take the line that's down — like the Piccadilly line today — having to find other ways to get around. A lot of that extra capacity ends up heading to the buses, and one route that comes under particular strain is the 29 from Lordship Lane down to Trafalgar Square.
To handle all these extra passengers, TfL has called in backup, and that backup comes in the form of beautiful vintage Routemasters. Take a look at the red and green stunners in use, and notice the Epping to Ongar Railway posters on one of them.
Thoroughly enjoyed riding ye olde routemaster today - @TfL pulling out all the stops to get me through the #TubeStrike today pic.twitter.com/jYKfaQqpqb
— Laura O'Brien (@LauraTheOB) September 27, 2018
A silver lining to the piccadilly line line strike! A routemaster bus on the 29 service. Feels like I slipped through time. Its the bell that is so evocative. pic.twitter.com/G3wfSslkog
— Mr Craven (@mrcravenracont) September 27, 2018
The only thing positive about the #PiccadillyLine strike, is I get to ride one of these beauty’s #routemaster #bus #youth @TfL pic.twitter.com/ZKrCuynUgo
— Rashid Ariori (@dalston_deirdre) September 27, 2018
Tube strike = extra buses and an old school trip on a Routemaster pic.twitter.com/dCxjAZFzxT
— Simon Warner (@SimonWarner2) September 26, 2018
The only good thing about a tube strike, travelling to work on an old routemaster! pic.twitter.com/l1wNZtQVdO
— Sheila Vanezis (@sheila_vanezis) September 27, 2018
A couple more pictures of the beautiful vintage routemaster on the 29 service due to the Tube strike. The bus conductress (sic) kept saying 'yes, we are real 29' as people wouldn't get on! #London pic.twitter.com/nx07BWbQyS
— Mr Craven (@mrcravenracont) September 27, 2018
Perks of the tube strike; taking a Routemaster to work this morning pic.twitter.com/TZbE0IQ9Yq
— clumsypup (@clumsypup) September 27, 2018
My bus this morning. #routemaster pic.twitter.com/WJbpr8uGhx
— Jay (@notjustanyjay) September 27, 2018
Featured image: @LauraTheOB