New Superloop Buses Could Be Running by Year End
Local area included in plans for ten new express routes
TfL says rebranding of existing routes has boosted passenger numbers
January 28, 2025
A new wave of Superloop bus services could be launched as early as this year, Transport for London’s (TfL) boss has confirmed.
Following on from the original Superloop network of express bus routes launched in 2023, Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan promised in his re-election manifesto last year to launch ‘Superloop 2’.
The Mayor said this would mean effectively doubling the size of the current network by adding another ten services.
In an interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service this week, TfL commissioner Andy Lord said he hopes to see the first Superloop 2 route launched before the end of 2025 – but a round of consultation would have to take place first.
The network would include an inner ring route running along the North Circular and linking with another service between Richmond and Wimbledon via Roehampton.
One of the routes links Hendon to Ealing Broadway via Brent Cross and Hanger Lane. The map supplied by TfL appears to indicate that route would follow the A406 North Circular before turning onto the Uxbridge Road to get to Ealing Broadway Station.
This would connect with another Superloop service running from Ealing Broadway to Kingston. It is not clear whether this will involve a rebadging of the existing bus route 65 or if TfL intends to run an additional service along the North Circular to Chiswick Roundabout and then over Kew Bridge.
This part of the route will link with a service between Richmond and Wimbledon which it is assumed will run along the Upper Richmond Road before turning up Roehampton Lane.
In addition, a new Hounslow to Hammersmith service along the A4 (Great West Road) running through Brentford and Chiswick could be introduced. This would run parallel to the existing H91 route and no indication has been given about any possible impact on this service.
Other routes being proposed include a ‘Bakerloop’ bus which will follow the route of the planned Bakerloo line extension from Elephant and Castle down to Lewisham.
The original Superloop comprised seven services which joined up to form a gigantic circle through London’s suburbs – launched with the aim of providing better connections between town centres across outer London.
A further three routes were also included as part of that first wave, though one is yet to launch as it will make use of the Silvertown Tunnel, which won’t open for another two months. That route – known as SL4 – will start in Canary Wharf and pass through the new Tunnel under the Thames to reach Blackheath, Lee and Grove Park railway stations.
Asked when TfL will begin consulting on the new services, Mr Lord said: “We’ll be doing that shortly. I can’t give you any details at the minute, but we’re very excited about the next routes.
“The Superloop has seen a huge benefit in terms of the increase in ridership, increasing people’s awareness of our bus services, and we’re really excited about what the next phase can deliver for the city.”
He added: “I’m hoping that we’ll perhaps be able to get the first one launched by the end of the year. Of course, our next Superloop route will start with the Silvertown Tunnel opening in April, and then we’ll see what we can do as quickly as possible after that.”
Map of local 'Superloop 2' routes. Picture: TfL
The Conservative opposition blasted these plans during the Mayoral election saying that there was minimal investment involved and that the ‘blunderloop’ was just a repackaging of existing services. TfL claims that even when route has just been given a new number, passenger numbers have risen significantly.
The full list of proposed Superloop 2 routes is:
- Harrow to Barnet, via Edgware
- Barnet to Stratford, via Enfield and Chingford
- Leytonstone to South Havering, via Gants Hill and Romford
- North Greenwich to Thamesmead, via Woolwich
- ‘Bakerloop line’: Elephant and Castle to Lewisham, via Old Kent Road and New Cross
- Streatham to Eltham, via Tulse Hill and Lee
- Richmond to Wimbledon, via Roehampton
- Ealing Broadway to Kingston, via Great West Road and Richmond
- Hounslow to Hammersmith, via Great West Road
- Hendon to Ealing Broadway, via Brent Cross and Hanger Lane
Noah Vickers - Local Democracy Reporter
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