Superloop bus extending to Elizabeth line at Abbey Wood then Thamesmead

Transport for London have revealed that the Superloop express bus network will extend from Bexleyheath to Abbey Wood station then onto Thamesmead.

Parts of south east London had been conspicuous by their absence in previously revealed maps.

Now it appears Route SL3 from Bromley to Bexleyheath will extend north to serve new developments in Thamesmead. Just this month piling rigs are on site with the start of 329 homes commencing at Binsey Walk.

The Superloop network covers outer London radial routes, with TfL stating it provides a “system of limited stop express bus routes that would create an orbital link across outer London”.

Existing bus routes

Bus route 301 was introduced in 2019 linking Bexleyheath to Abbey Wood station then beyond to Thamesmead and Woolwich. It’s proposed to also extend from Woolwich to serve new homes as part of the Charlton Riverside masterplan area, where the first homes have just begun construction.

TfL state that the SL3 route will see an additional 1,450,000 kilometres per annum.

Consultation on the route should begin soon and reveal what happens to part-parallel routes such as the 301 when SL3 begins.

Superloop brings new branding and in some cases new electric buses. It is expected to speed up bus journeys which will be just as well, as Thamesmead to Bromley is a long old trip.

How it also links with any express bus from Abbey Wood to Thamesmead then Woolwich will be interesting to see. Bus fares would be the same as existing routes.