Transport for London (TfL) has launched a consultation on the proposed SL11 Superloop express bus route, which would operate between Abbey Wood and North Greenwich via Thamesmead and Woolwich.
The initiative is part of a wider effort to expand express bus services in outer London, improving connectivity and supporting regeneration in the Thamesmead area.
The SL11 route proposal includes the renumbering of the existing route 472 and converting it into an express service. This would enhance journey times and improve links between key transport hubs, including the Elizabeth line, DLR, London Underground, and National Rail. The route would also connect with the existing Superloop network, facilitating easier interchange at Abbey Wood and Thamesmead with the SL3 route.
The consultation on SL11 will be open from 3 March 2025 until 13 April 2025, allowing Londoners to provide feedback on the proposals.
Geoff Hobbs, TfL's Director of Public Transport Service Planning, said:Buses are still the most affordable and green way to travel around the capital, and we know local communities will rely on new public transport to better connect the area to the rest of London. We are committed to working closely with the relevant boroughs to ensure these express bus routes work for all communities, as well as complementing the growth plans of these local authorities. Feedback is important to us and I would urge everyone to respond to the consultation.
The Superloop network, launched in 2023, aims to provide faster and more direct bus connections to town centres, hospitals, schools, and transport interchanges across outer London. Since its inception, the network has expanded, with nine routes currently in operation. The next planned route, SL4, will run between Canary Wharf and Grove Park from 7 April 2025, coinciding with the opening of the Silvertown Tunnel.
In addition to SL11, consultation is ongoing for the proposed Bakerloop express service (BL1), which would connect Waterloo, Elephant & Castle, and Lewisham along the proposed Bakerloo Tube line extension corridor. This consultation remains open until 14 March 2025, with potential passenger services starting in autumn 2025.
A further expansion of the Superloop network is also planned, with the SL12 route proposed to run between Rainham, Ferry Lane, and Gants Hill via Romford. The consultation for SL12 is expected to open next month.
