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Superloop
File:Superloop roundel.svg
ParentTransport for London
Founded15 July 2023
HeadquartersLondon
LocaleGreater London
Service typeExpress bus rapid transit
Routes10 (4 existing, 6 proposed)

Superloop is a proposed express bus service in London, England. It will form part of the London Buses network and is planned to connect Outer London town centres, railway stations and transport hubs.

Orbital express bus routes were proposed in 2008 by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, with further proposals by the London Assembly in 2017. The 'Superloop' concept was announced in 2023 by Sadiq Khan, consisting of rebranding and improvements to existing express bus routes in 2023, followed by the introduction of new express bus routes up until 2025. Once complete, Superloop routes will connect up to form a long distance orbital service around London. It will provide both orbital and radial express services.

History

Background

A network of Green Line limited stop orbital routes was established by the London Transport Executive from 1953.[1] Limited stop route X26 from West Croydon to Heathrow Airport is a remnant of that network.[2]

The 2008 mayoral election manifesto of Boris Johnson promised to trial orbital express bus routes in the outer suburbs.[3] This led to an increase in frequency for the already existing X26 express bus route later that year.[4] The policy had been abandoned by Johnson by March 2010, citing "plenty of good studies now which suggest to me that the big investment in orbital bus routes does not actually deliver the improvements that are sometimes claimed" and there was no further expansion of the orbital network.[5][6]

Sadiq Khan became Mayor of London in 2016. In August 2017 the London Assembly Transport Committee called for more orbital and express bus routes in Outer London.[7] The idea was included in the Mayor's Transport Strategy published in March 2018, with two new indicative express corridors in North London and one in South London:[8]

In 2018 Transport for London began a policy of reducing bus services in inner London, where there had been a drop in passenger numbers, with plans to increase services in the outer suburbs.[9] Limited stop route X140 from Harrow to Heathrow Airport was introduced in December 2019.[10] The new route was considered a success and expansion of the express bus network was included as a policy in the Bus action plan published by Transport for London in March 2022.[11]

Superloop announcements

The Superloop branded proposal for a network of express orbital bus routes was announced on 28 March 2023.[12] Transport for London noted that the proposals form part of improvements to transport in outer London in light of the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone in August 2023.[13] The proposal was praised by the Campaign for Better Transport and Heathrow Airport Holdings,[13] however Nick Rogers AM of the Conservative Party called the proposal a "superflop" drawing attention to the "repacking of existing [bus] routes".[13] Caroline Pidgeon AM of the Liberal Democrats cautiously welcomed the proposals, following her previous campaigns for orbital bus services. Public consultations on the five entirely new routes that were announced will take place by early 2024.[14]

On 28 April 2023 further details of the proposals were announced and a consultation opened for route X183.[15][16] On 9 June 2023 a consultation opened for route X34.[17][18]

On 14 July 2023 it was announced that route SL8, a renumbering of existing route 607, would be the first to operate as part of the Superloop service from the following day.[19] Nine of the ten routes are expected to be in service by the May 2024 mayoral election.[19]

Network

Superloop will be part of the London Buses network, with the same fares as regular buses. It will be introduced in stages, with an initial improvement to frequency of the X26 and rebranding of existing routes.[13][20]

Superloop routes, once adopted into the system, will have route numbers in the series SL1, SL2, SL3 up to SL10. The numbers are assigned clockwise around London from North Finchley. The numbers replace previous route identification for already existing routes and supplant the X series of route numbers that were used in the planning of proposed routes.[19]

The proposed orbital services are:[20][21]

Route Colour Terminals History Status
SL1 (X34) North Finchley to Walthamstow Public consultation 9 June–21 July 2023 Due to start 2024, subject to consultation
SL2 (X123) Walthamstow to Royal Docks Public consultation to start July 2023[19] Due to start 2024, subject to consultation
SL3 (X269) Bexleyheath to Bromley Public consultation to start July 2023[19] Due to start 2024, subject to consultation
SL5 (X119) Bromley to Croydon Public consultation to start July 2023[19] Due to start 2024, subject to consultation
SL7 (X26) West Croydon to Heathrow Airport Existing route, frequency to increase during 2023 Due to start 2023[22]
SL9 (X140) Heathrow Airport to Harrow Existing route introduced in 2019 Due to start 2023[22]
SL10 (X183) Harrow to North Finchley Public consultation 28 April–12 June 2023 Due to start 2024, subject to consultation

These routes would link with existing and previously announced limited stop radial routes:[20]

Route Colour Terminals History Status
SL4 (X239) Canary Wharf to Grove Park Proposal that predated the Superloop[23] Due to start 2025
SL6 (X68) Russell Square to West Croydon Existing route, Monday to Friday, peak direction only Due to start 2023[22]
SL8 (607) Uxbridge to White City Existing route, first operating under the Superloop brand[24][22] Due to start 15 July 2023

References

  1. ^ Beddall, David (2022). Luton's Transport. Pen & Sword.
  2. ^ Lyons, Mark (2022). The Go-Ahead Group. Key Publishing.
  3. ^ "Manifesto 2008: Boris Johnson" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Orbital express bus route to double in frequency". Transport for London. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  5. ^ Johnson, Boris; Valerie, Shawcross (17 March 2010). "Manifesto Commitments (Supplementary) [8]". Greater London Authority. Retrieved 30 March 2023. I would have to be honest with you about that and say that I have seen plenty of good studies now which suggest to me that the big investment in orbital bus routes does not actually deliver the improvements that are sometimes claimed.
  6. ^ Hill, Dave (27 January 2011). "Boris Johnson: transport promises". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  7. ^ "London's bus network" (PDF). London Assembly. Greater London Authority. August 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Mayor's Transport Strategy" (PDF). Greater London Authority. March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  9. ^ Walker, Amy (18 August 2018). "London bus cuts to hit working-class hardest, says watchdog". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  10. ^ Peracha, Qasim. "TfL launches 4 new West London bus routes with 2 going to Heathrow Airport". MyLondon. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  11. ^ Lydall, Ross (15 March 2022). "TfL plan to speed-up London buses: not stopping at bus stops and banning cars from key roads". Evening Standard. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  12. ^ Lydall, Ross (28 March 2023). "Sadiq Khan unveils 'Superloop' bus network for London suburbs". Evening Standard. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d Elgueta, Adriana (28 March 2023). "New fast bus service to link London's outer boroughs". BBC News. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  14. ^ Harris, Simon (28 March 2023). "Superloop plan by London Mayor Sadiq Khan to create outer London orbital bus network". ITV News. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  15. ^ Lydall, Ross (28 April 2023). "New details about London's Superloop bus route revealed". Evening Standard. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Proposals for a new limited stop express bus route between Harrow and North Finchley (X183 bus route), part of the Superloop". Transport for London. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Proposals for a new limited stop express bus route between North Finchley and Walthamstow (X34 bus route), part of the Superloop". Transport for London. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  18. ^ Lydall, Ross (9 June 2023). "Superloop: Details of North Finchley to Walthamstow section revealed". Evening Standard. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  19. ^ a b c d e f Lydall, Ross (14 July 2023). "All aboard! First Superloop bus route will launch on Saturday, Sadiq Khan announces". Evening Standard. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  20. ^ a b c "Superloop - proposals for a network of limited-stop express buses connecting outer London". Have Your Say Transport for London. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  21. ^ Marius, Callum (29 March 2023). "'I went on TfL's first Superloop bus and found out how it's all going to work'". MyLondon. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  22. ^ a b c d Lloyd-Scott, Sarah. "Superloop update: Bus route 607 renamed to SL8 - from 15 July". Tech Forum. Transport for London. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  23. ^ "Silvertown Tunnel Bus Network Proposals". Transport for London. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Outer London transport". Transport for London. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
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