Select bus routes in London are currently free of charge as part of Transport for London’s (TfL) strategy to encourage greener travel, reduce congestion, and promote the use of the new Silvertown Tunnel, which opened last month.
The zero-fare routes include the newly introduced Superloop SL4, as well as upgrades to established routes.
Superloop SL4: Linking Grove Park to Canary Wharf
The Superloop SL4 is a seven-mile express service connecting Grove Park in southeast London to Canary Wharf via the Silvertown Tunnel.
The route, served by a fleet of fully electric zero-emission buses, is designed for speed and frequency — with departures every 8 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends.
The SL4, part of TfL’s broader Superloop network, is completely free to ride until at least April 2026, giving passengers an environmentally friendly, and economically friendly option along this growing corridor.
Route 129: Connecting Lewisham to London City Airport
Route 129 is also benefiting from the free travel scheme, now running from Lewisham to Great Eastern Quay and passing through key transport hubs including North Greenwich and London City Airport.
Originally a paid route, the 129 has been upgraded to electric vehicles and re-routed to support traffic through the Silvertown Tunnel.
TfL has confirmed thatthe service will also remain fare-free until at least April next year.
Route 108: Blackwall Tunnel Route
One of the capital’s most familiar cross-river services, Route 108 (Stratford to Lewisham via the Blackwall Tunnel), has also joined the fare-free programme. While the tunnel itself is notoriously congested, passengers can now skip both the traffic and the fare.
The free fare applies across the entire route — not just the part that passes through the tunnel. This expansion could benefit thousands of daily commuters across east and southeast London.
The service will remain free for at least 12 months after the Silvertown Tunnel’s opened on 7 April 2025.
Silvertown Tunnel Cycle Shuttle
The Silvertown Tunnel Cycle Shuttle offers a dedicated service through the tunnel for those on bikes — including electric bikes. Running every 12 minutes from 6:30am to 9:30pm daily, the shuttle is free to use for its first year of operation.
This move ensures cyclists can safely and conveniently cross the Thames without risking the car-heavy tunnel or taking indirect river crossings.
Riding for Free
Passengers using the free bus services must still tap in with a contactless card or Oyster card when they board the bus. All pay-as-you-go fares will register £0, so no money will be taken from the account.
Until April 2026, DLR customers using pay-as-you-go for journeys between Greenwich or Cutty Sark – Island Gardens or Woolwich Arsenal – King George V will also benefit from free travel. Although the journey will initially be debited, the fares will then be refunded.
