The Transport for London (TfL) Superloop network will continue its growth on 19 August when Go-Ahead London service X26 between Heathrow and West Croydon is rebranded and renumbered SL7.
It follows the debut of Superloop on 15 July with route SL8 – formerly the 607 – between Uxbridge and White City. It is operated by Metroline. Soon after that came the SL6 with Go-Ahead London. It was formerly the X68 and runs between Croydon and Russell Square during peak hours. Despite both of those being branded as Superloop, neither form part of any eventual loop that the network will create, although the SL7 does.
As part of the introduction of the SL7, it will see a doubling in frequency from the previous X26 timetable to every 15 minutes. To follow are improvements to the vehicles used that include better customer information, USB charging points, and luggage racks. The same stops will be served as before, although some will be renamed.
At least one bus from the X26’s Volvo B9TL fleet repainted into Superloop livery was used on the existing service ahead of the SL7’s launch.
TfL will also introduce additional early morning and evening buses on the SL8 Superloop service from 19 August. A week later, other enhancements will be made to the outer London bus network including the introduction of daily 24hr timetables on two routes that previously had such provision at weekends until March 2020.
£6 million of funding for Superloop is being provided by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, with TfL having described the concept as a strengthening of public transport in outer London to “maximise the benefits” of the controversial Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion.
Mr Khan describes Superloop as “a gamechanger for travel around outer London”. In a draft Annual Report and Statement of Accounts in July, TfL Chief Customer and Strategy Officer Alex Williams calls it a “jewel in the crown in our plans to strengthen alternatives to the private car ahead of the ULEZ expanding London-wide.”
It is expected that the full Superloop network will be in operation “by spring 2024,” says TfL. That is with the exception of new route SL4. It will run from Canary Wharf to Grove Park and is reliant on the opening of the new Silvertown tunnel in 2025.
The fourth Superloop route, and the second to form part of the orbital arrangement, will launch on 26 August. That will see existing service X140 between Harrow and Heathrow, operated by RATP Dev Transit London, become the SL9. TfL continues to consult on three other routes.
