Exactly where new Superloop 2 London buses could go and when they could start

Londoners have been riding new speedier bus services that miss out stops called at along regular routes in outer boroughs of late. The first Superloop route – the SL8 between Uxbridge and White City – was rolled out in the summer.

It used to be known as the 607, but was rebranded as part of the new network. The SL7 route (between Heathrow and West Croydon) was also pre-existing, and saw a 56 per cent increase in ridership between June and November following its incorporation into the Superloop, as well as an increase in frequency.

In addition, journeys on buses between East Croydon and Bromley South, on the SL5, have been cut by ‘around 35 per cent’. In December, TfL said that, although the SL6 and SL9 – between Croydon and Russell Square and Heathrow and Harrow respectively – had unchanged service levels, there was a 16 per cent change in ridership for the former, and a three per cent change for latter.

READ MORE: London buses ‘more crowded’ but TfL insists there’s ‘no need’ for extra services after cut

The routes proposed by Mr Khan would be subject to public consultation by TfL. Public feedback over initial Superloop routes began on March 28, 2023.

The first service was launched on July 14. Superloop 2 would only be introduced, Labour’s City Hall incumbent says, if he won the London mayoral election on May 2.

It is not known when public feedback would be sought by TfL, nor when the first new speedy services would be rolled out. But, the launch of the initial scheme suggests that it could be done in less than three months.

Where would services serve?

The new map released by the mayor’s campaign team suggests that Harrow, already a major bus interchange, would provide more express services in West London. It already Superloop buses – the SL9 and SL1 – calling there.

The Superloop 2 would also boost coverage north of the initial speedy routes in North London. The 107, 384, 606 currently run between Edgware and Barnet.

If Mr Khan’s new proposal goes ahead, a new Superloop service would also transport residents between those two areas. These would begin or terminate at Harrow.

In addition, quicker buses would travel between Barnet and Chingford, before heading down to Startford. Speedier services would also travel between Leytonstone, Gants Hill – where SL2 buses already call – Romford and South Havering.

In the Southeast, Superloop services would travel between Thamesmead and North Greenwich. Further, a separate route – more central than existing buses to and from Croydon – express buses would travel from Eltham to Streatham, calling at Tulse Hill and Lee.

SL4 buses – the route due to open next year after the Silvertown Tunnel is completed – are also due to call at Lee when travelling between Grove Park and Canary Wharf. The new Superloop 2 map seems to suggest that quicker buses would terminate at Streatham and start again from Wimbledon station.

They would then travel through Roehampton and on to Richmond. Another gap appears as services start again at Richmond before travelling to Ealing Broadway, passing through Great West Road. Otherwise, it seems that customers would be able to catch speedier services between Kingston and Ealing Broadway.

Crossing that section of the network would be buses travelling between Hammersmith and Hounslow.

This is not forgetting the proposed ‘Bakerloop’ leg, which would mirror the planned London Underground Bakerloo line extension. Buses would travel between Elephant and Castle and Lewisham, calling at New Cross and Old Kent Road.

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