A brand new Superloop bus route is set to revolutionize travel in south-east London, offering a faster and more direct connection between Abbey Wood and North Greenwich. The SL11 service, launching on Saturday, will provide a limited-stop journey via Thamesmead and Woolwich, significantly reducing travel times and enhancing connections to the Elizabeth line, DLR, and London Underground. During its inaugural week, passengers can enjoy free travel, touching in with an Oyster or contactless card. This route replaces the daytime service on route 472, with more frequent bus services every six minutes during the day on weekdays and Saturdays. Additionally, a new night service, N472, will operate overnight every 30 minutes. The introduction of the SL11 aligns with regeneration plans in Thamesmead and proposals to extend the DLR from Gallions Reach to Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead, which received government funding in the Autumn Budget. The launch follows a public consultation that received strong support, with over half of respondents expressing that the new route would be more convenient, and nearly two-thirds believing it would result in quicker journeys. The SL11 is the latest addition to the Superloop network of express bus services around outer London, which has carried around 60 million passengers since its introduction. With the new route, the network will cover a total distance of 135 miles (218km). London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan praised the service for providing faster and more direct connections in an area that has historically lacked public transport. The director of buses at Transport for London (TfL), Lorna Murphy, encouraged passengers to take advantage of the free travel offer during its first week. A spokesperson for London TravelWatch, the statutory transport watchdog for London, hailed the new SL11 bus route as a 'gamechanger' for south London residents who might be 'underserved by public transport at present'. However, they emphasized the need for TfL to ensure that new routes do not compromise existing ones, and they will continue to advocate for a robust bus service across the capital. Passengers who previously used stops on route 472 not served by the SL11 may need to change buses, but TfL assures that these stops will continue to be served by other frequent routes, and passengers can use the Hopper fare to make unlimited bus journeys within an hour for £1.75. Further Superloop routes are in the planning stages, including proposed services in east, west, and south London, with consultations either recently closed or under review. London TravelWatch praised the existing Superloop network of buses for enhancing services in areas that most need better local transport, and they look forward to its continued positive impact on Londoners.
