London’s Superloop 2 bus network could launch this year: here are the 10 potential routes

Love London’s Superloop? Wait ’til you hear about the sequel, Superloop 2. That’s right, the capital’s limited-stopping rapid bus service is getting a bunch more routes, effectively doubling the size of its network. Better yet, the first of those routes could launch as soon as this year.

The Superloop, for those not in-the-know, is a rapid bus service that mostly serves London’s outer boroughs – thereby saving Londoners from travelling all the way into the centre of town by train or tube just to come out again.

The first SL routes launched in 2023 and the network became an actual ‘loop’ in March 2024. The next Superloop service to start up will be the SL4, which will go through the Silvertown tunnel and be free-to-use for its first 12 months.

The Superloop 2 was promised in Sadiq Khan’s mayoral election manifesto last year, and this week there’s been an update. Transport for London commissioner Andy Lord has said he hopes the first Superloop 2 services will launch before the end of the year.

When asked about Superloop 2 services, Lord said: ‘We’ll be doing that shortly. I can’t give you any details at the minute, but we’re very excited about the next routes.

‘The Superloop has seen a huge benefit in terms of the increase in ridership, increasing people’s awareness of our bus services, and we’re really excited about what the next phase can deliver for the city.’

‘I’m hoping that we’ll perhaps be able to get the first one launched by the end of the year.’

Before any new routes begin service, they face a round of consultation. A total of 10 new Superloop services are planned, and they go all over the city. Plans also include the ‘Bakerloop’, which is designed to improve transport in southeast London before the Bakerloo line extension.

We don’t know which Superloop 2 routes will be first to launch or when, but here’s the full list of proposed services.

Proposed routes for the Superloop 2

Harrow to Barnet, via Edgware

Barnet to Stratford, via Enfield and Chingford

Leytonstone to South Havering, via Gants Hill and Romford

North Greenwich to Thamesmead, via Woolwich

Elephant and Castle to Lewisham, via Old Kent Road and New Cross (‘Bakerloop’)

Streatham to Eltham, via Tulse Hill and Lee

Richmond to Wimbledon, via Roehampton

Ealing Broadway to Kingston, via Great West Road and Richmond

Hounslow to Hammersmith, via Great West Road

Hendon to Ealing Broadway, via Brent Cross and Hanger Lane

Riding the Superloop with Time Out

Where can you get a Superloop bus in London? Before SL4 launches in April, here are all the current SL routes in London.

SL1 (North Finchley to Walthamstow Central)

SL2 (Walthamstow Central to North Woolwich)

SL3 (Thamesmead to Bromley North)

SL5 (Bromley North to Croydon Town Centre)

SL6 (West Croydon to Russell Square), SL7 (West Croydon to Heathrow Airport)

SL8 (Uxbridge to White City), SL9 (Heathrow Airport to Harrow)

SL10 (Harrow to North Finchley)

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