You’ll have seen the fleet of Superloop buses running rampant around London. They’re looking pretty proud of themselves in their shiny new artwork outfits right now, but there could eventually be a new sheriff loop in town.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has promised to deliver another express bus route (the best kind) if he is reelected next month. Should this come to fruition, it will provide a far simpler and faster route between Elephant & Castle and Lewisham. Hopping on the Bakerloop will mean following the proposed Tube route of the potentially-incoming Bakerloo line extension to Lewisham, which is not yet with us (and won’t be for some time by the sounds of things!)
What is the ‘Bakerloop’?
Coined in a tweet by the London Mayor this morning (April 2), the ‘Bakerloop’ would be a brand new express route running through South London. The map that has been posted online features a number of stops:
- Elephant & Castle
- Burgess Park
- Old Kent Road
- New Cross Gate
- Lewisham
It is being introduced to ‘mirror’ the upcoming Tube extension, which plans to see Bakerloo line trains going further south. This extension could not be fully functioning until 2040, but a handy express bus route will make things easier in the meantime. The buses would also use the Bakerloo line colour scheme for the design nd seats
The London mayoral elections take place on May 2, and Sadiq Khan is hoping to become the first Mayor of London to be elected three times.
Speaking on the proposal, Sadiq Khan said: “The new Superloop services have been a huge success in outer London so far, and if I’m re-elected the new Bakerloop express will help Londoners get between Elephant and Castle, Old Kent Road, New Cross and Lewisham much quicker and more easily.
“I continue to make the case as strongly as ever that we need the Bakerloo line Tube extension to get underway as soon as possible, and TfL are lobbying ministers about the funding the project needs. In the meantime I’m determined that we do all we can to provide the very best service across south London.”