Transport for London has launched two fresh bus routes following the success of Superloop. The express SL10 route between Harrow and West Finchley has begun operating, while SL1 journeys between North Finchley and Walthamstow Central will kickstart on Saturday (December 9).
Superloop bus routes were introduced to outer London after the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was expanded to cover all London boroughs. The journeys aim to connect the city's outer boroughs, after ULEZ changes put increased pressure on drivers. The SL10 runs alongside part of the 183 route between Harrow and Hendon, the busiest part of this route, and part of the 125 route between Hendon and North Finchley. The SL1 route will connect town centres in Barnet, Enfield and Waltham Forest along with other transport hubs.
TfL says these new routes follow the success of the Superloop scheme to date. The SL7 route between West Croydon and Heathrow Airport has seen its passenger numbers climb by 62 per cent between June and October, while the SL8 route connecting Uxbridge and White City has seen a 15 per cent surge over the same period.
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The full loop of the Superloop - meaning all outer boroughs are connected - will be complete by Spring 2024, as SL2, SL3 and SL5 enter service. The SL4 which runs from Canary Wharf to Grove Park will open in 2025. Plans for the proposed SL5 route from Bromley to Croydon have today been confirmed following consultation. TfL says 95 per cent of Londoners now live within 400 metres of a bus stop as Superloop hopes to add four million additional bus kilometres to the network in outer London.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "It is fantastic to see the Superloop already encouraging more people onto London’s bus network. It’s proving a real game-changer. Now people travelling in outer London are getting another boost before Christmas with two brand new routes coming into service, making it easier to see friends and family, or to visit local town centres or services. I’m delighted to see so many Londoners benefitting from the Superloop so far, and there’s much more to come."
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