Express bus routes linking the suburbs to the centre of London can be an absolute godsend for those who live in the outer zones.
Take the old 607 route, for example. It provides one (slightly long but) handy express route between Uxbridge (Zone 6) and White City (Zone 2), which then opens up a host of easy routes into CENTRAL central London. And that super convenient bus route has just relaunched with a brand new name, last Saturday (July 15), as the Superloop services start to roll out throughout 2023. The 607 route has been rebranded, with a snazzy new retro colour-way to boot, as the SL8 service.
The plans were first unveiled in March, and the first four of the proposed ten routes are now in action. The SL8 was joined by the other rebranded routes–the SL6 (linking West Croydon and Russel Square), SL7 (Croydon to Heathrow Airport), and the SL9 (Harrow to Heathrow Airport).
Now, it’s been revealed that in Spring 2024, the four routes will joined by a further two in the form of the SL2 and SL3, which will venture into the east of the city. The former will run between Walthamstow Central and North Woolwich, with the former linking the areas of Thamsmead and Bromley.
Wait, so what does this ‘Superloop’ entail?
Basically, a more expansive network of express buses in London after a new round of £6 million in funding from City Hall.
It also means more frequent services for these lengthy bus routes. The old X26 route (now the SL7), which is the longest bus route in London, used to run two buses per hour, and will now serve passengers every 15 minutes.
For example, the longest bus route in London—the X26, which runs 24 miles between Croydon and Heathrow—is set to offer a service every 15 minutes, instead of two-per-hour, later this year.
The ten routes of the Superloop will encompass seven routes that ring around London and three that move from the ring inwards and connect to Central London.
You can read more details on the Superloop here.