Two more sections of the Superloop bus service will go live next Spring, Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed.
The two new routes that recently underwent public consultation are the SL2, which will connect Walthamstow Central and North Woolwich, and the SL3, which will connect Thamesmead and Bromley.
The routes that make up the Superloop are:
(bold are operating now)
- Route SL1 – North Finchley to Walthamstow (later this year)
- Route SL2 – Walthamstow Central to North Woolwich (Spring 2024)
- Route SL3 – Thamesmead to Bromley (Spring 2024)
- Route SL4 – Canary Wharf to Grove Park (2025)
- Route SL5 – Bromley to Croydon (expected in 2024)
- Route SL6 – Russell Square to West Croydon (peak services only)
- Route SL7 – Croydon to Heathrow Airport
- Route SL8 – Uxbridge to White City
- Route SL9 – Heathrow Airport to Harrow
- Route SL10 – Harrow to North Finchley (later this year)
Current Superloop status – grey shows future sections
Predicted Superloop end of 2023 – grey shows future sections
Predicted Superloop end of 2024 – grey shows future section
Superloop SL2
The new express route, SL2, will run between Walthamstow Central and North Woolwich via Ilford and Barking as proposed in the public consultation. Additional stops will be reintroduced at the A1020 junction with Armada Way near Gallion’s Reach Shopping Centre in Beckton at existing bus laybys immediately south of the existing pedestrian/cycle crossing. This is following feedback for better connections around North Woolwich, Beckton and Gallions Reach.
The SL2 will run every 12 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 15 minutes on evenings and Sundays running alongside part of 123 bus route between Walthamstow and Ilford.
Superloop SL3
The new express route SL3 will run between Thamesmead and Bromley via Sidcup as proposed and will run alongside the 301 bus route between Thamesmead and Bexleyheath, and the 269 bus route between Bexleyheath and Bromley, providing new links across these key locations and providing extra capacity on this route.
The SL3 will run every 12 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 15 minutes on evenings and Sundays.
Geoff Hobbs, TfL’s Director of Public Transport Service Planning, said: “The two new Superloop services will provide significantly quicker journeys between busy transport hubs, town centres, hospitals and schools across outer London, as well as offering more travel options connecting to numerous other bus routes. The SL2 and SL3 will join the current Superloop services with a new look and feel of the buses, as well as providing cleaner, cost-effective and sustainable options for customers. The SL1 and SL10 express bus services will also be launching later this year, and we are busy working with operators and other partners behind the scenes to introduce these new routes as quickly as possible, so that our customers can make the most of our ever-improving bus network.”
Should they not have removed the BR logo from Bexleyheath like they did on the zoomed in view of the SL3 route? If the route follows the 301 it will not go to Bexleyheath station
SL3 won’t follow the 301 route exactly, it will operate via Pickford Lane so will serve Bexleyheath Station. It makes sense to do so, as part of the aim of Superloop is to maximise connections with other services wherever possible.
Talking about the All New Superloop Buses for the future. I would like to make a Suggestion. I Think There Should be a Brand New Superloop Bus Service from Enfield Town to Gatwick Airport in the future. To Help people get out of their Cars and unto Public Transport. Especially on the A110, A10, M25, M23, A20, A21, A23, M1, M2, M3, M4, M11, A1, A2, A3, A4, A12, A13 and A406 etc.
All the Super Loops completely avoid London Borough of Havering. Why?
Would like answer to this question.
Dear TfL ….
The demand from Romford is strongly radial, and this is already catered for by rail and frequent bus links. There isn’t much that can be served orbitally from Havering as a map will show you ….
Also, there is a route heading south where you might expect an orbital to go that far out. Overground and c2c to Lakeside, Grays and Tilbury and 370 to Lakeside, both with onward travel options for crossing the river.
I presume the Freedom Pass is valid on these routes?
Yes. For fares purposes they are just like any other TfL bus routes.
SL7 route. So they’re bringing back the old 726 route the one they dropped because “it wasn’t being used”. Is this the same for any other routes on the superloop.
SL7 is the same as the X26 (which was previously the 726 when it started in Bromley instead of Croydon) but with 4 per hour instead of 2. TfL barely acknowledge the existence of Sutton and Kingston usually but at least they’ve given us a few extra buses to the airport.
What will be the stops between Bromley and Croydon? I hope that Sandilands Tram Stop will be one so that connections can be made with all the other routes avoiding the crowds at East Croydon Station
There are pages on the TFL website with all that information on them!
There was a survey and bizarrely they had the bus going from east Croydon to Shirley library, then another stop on the Wickham road, then bethlem. Total madness to not stop at sandilands. Hope they see sense when they finalise it.
there was a consultation and survey which I completed and included the fact that Sandilands should be included. The proposed route is pointless and won’t benefit those living in Croydon. 119 bus route is better than the proposed route.
So you have chosen to ignore welling train station and add ànòther 10 buses (5 each way) making 40 plus buses an hour in a residential road which is of no value. Do you ever listen..a whole area of the Borough completely ignored.
I am more curious as to why you think I work for TfL.
Serving Welling Station would mean a longer journey time as it is on a less direct route to Thamesmead. The SL3 serves Bexleyheath Station – would there really be enough demand to justify it serving Welling instead?
Does anyone know what they thinking is behind Canary Wharf to Grove Park which doesn’t interconnect with the rest of the superloop?
By designating it a Superloop route, passengers are less likely to see it as just a “regular” bus route. Or at least that’s what TfL are hoping for (in addition to passenger usage that would justify the additional publicity).
I wonder if there’s any plans to have a bus service from North Woolwich to Thamesmead. Alternatively, extending the SL2 or SL3 route to complete the loop.
Agree with this there’s a lot of demand to cross the river, not joining up is understandable but frustrating.
Start the SL3 at Woolwich ferry then the SL2 would stop at the ferry (north pier) simple walk under Woolwich foot tunnel or use the ferry and we have a link up
Believe they are also looking at extending 301 to Charlton so that could serve as the link up
Tried to use my freedom pass from Kent on London buses wasn’t allowed I had to pay, think this is disgusting as I thought it was allowed all over England
What time of day was this?
But really this is an issue for your local council who issued your pass and not this website.
I thought Kent issued National Concessionary Passes. Freedom passes are a TfL product.
National Concession passes are valid on TfL buses, but not on trains.
Will the SL2 be ‘On a Ragga tip’?
Gareth Southgate Badger: I say I say I say.
Tamsin Outhwaite Badger: What do you say Gareth?
GSB: I’m about to go from Walthamstow to North Woolwich.
TOB: On a bus?
GSB: No, on a ragga tip!
TOB: Wowzer!
SL3 route
The route will follow the 269 bus route but does not stop near Bexley village /station or the bus stop on route near Albany Park station. So again trying to get to the Lizzy line from Bexley will be lengthy – bus to Sidcup Station to pick up the SL3 / or the 229 to Thamesmead which takes forever. Train from Bexley station to Abbey Wood / Lizzy line also requires changing. Please please can we have a stop near either of these stations (Bexley or Albany Park) so we can easily access the tube system.
There are no mention of Belvedere station at all on any of plans. We need services too. Please add us on to your plan.
I don’t plan the buses – I write about what TfL does with them.