Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that free bus travel on the SL4, 108 and 129 routes will be extended for a further seven weeks – moving planned end dates from 7 April to Tuesday 26 May 2026.
Initially introduced upon the launch of the new Silvertown Tunnel in east London; the free-fare scheme was envisaged to last for one year, but has been extended whilst tube and rail fares are set to increase from 1 March 2026.
Currently, more than 32,000 bus journeys are made per day on the SL4, 108 and 129 routes, and it is estimated that 10,400 journeys are now made cross-river each day using these buses, compared to 2,700 prior to the Silvertown Tunnel opening.
The associated cycle shuttle service, which enables cyclists to transport their bike from Royal Docks to Millenium Way in North Greenwich through the Silvertown Tunnel, will also remain free for the foreseeable future.
Additionally, cross-river journeys on the DLR between Greenwich/Cutty Sark and Island Island Gardens, and from Woolwich Arsenal to King George V will also be refunded until the end of Tuesday 26 May 2026.
Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at TfL, said:We are committed to ensuring that London's public transport remains affordable and accessible for all, with revenue raised via fares reinvested into improving services across London.
As an emergency cost-of-living measure, the Mayor has decided to use City Hall budgets to help Londoners by freezing bus and tram fares until 5 July 2026, meaning that only fares on Tube and TfL rail services will increase from 1 March 2026.
Furthermore, we have now agreed to extend free travel on the SL4, 108 and 129 until the end of Tuesday 26 May 2026, which will also help encourage more cross-river trips by public transport in east London.
