Commuters who use GO Transit buses are being urged to make alternate plans for their ride to work or school on Monday as a looming strike could bring service to a halt.

GO Transit bus drivers are set to walk off the job Sunday at midnight as contract talks between Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1587 and Metrolinx continue ahead of a strike deadline.

If a deal is not reached, Metrolinx says all GO buses will be pulled from the road, along with weekend train service to Niagara and Barrie.

While regular GO train service will continue, officials say most trains will be crowded with commuters who normally take the bus.

A strike could affect up to 53,000 commuters.

“It’s going to have a huge impact on our customers and for that we are very sorry,” says Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins.

In Waterloo Region, riders aren’t impressed.

“It will really affect people who are going to school, going to work,” says Erika Desjardins. “I might not be able to go home as much as I would like to.”

Metrolinx is urging riders to consider taking local transit, bicycling, carpooling or working from home in the event of a strike.

“I’ll have to take the Greyhound [bus],” says Rahul Mulse. “I have to come back to [Waterloo Region] tomorrow and [GO] is kind of the only way I know how to come back.”

“Both sides are still at the table, so that’s the good news,” Aikins told CP24 on Sunday morning.

The union represents about 1,800 GO bus drivers, station attendants and staff.

Negotiations are expected to continue late into Sunday night.

-- With files from CTV Toronto