Superloop route between Bromley and Croydon to see electric double-deckers
London’s only single-deck Superloop route will see double-decker buses enter service in 2025.
Electric buses will operate on the link between Bromley and Croydon offering enhanced capacity from 12th April 2025.
Route SL5 commenced with low capacity buses and complaints then followed about overcrowding. The reason for single-deckers was low hanging trees.
That issue appears to be no longer a factor with trees presumably set for a trim.
A tender award announced last week revealed the change with electric SL5 buses set to also meet forthcoming electric buses on the SL3 from Thamesmead to Bromley which will replace existing New Routemasters next year. That announcement was made back in April.
If you’re wondering why the SL3 meets SL5 in Bromley that’s because SL4 will launch next year but isn’t set to run anywhere near Bromley. It’s a new route set to head through the forthcoming Silvertown tunnel between Grove Park and Canary Wharf.
As for the operator of the newly electric SL5 service, TfL have awarded existing operator Arriva the contract.
I would pay good money for the SL2 to start on this side of the river – a decent connection to cross to East London rather than the hop-skip-jump that’s required each time. Though if the lunacy of the increased tunnel breakdowns of late continues, being on any bus will require a superhuman effort.
There are some low bridges along the route: one by shortlands train station and the other is on upper Elmers end road near to the Langley schools. So I’m trying to understand how there can be double deckers!
The route does not pass under the bridge at Shortlands: that’s the 358. The South Eden Park Road bridge is marked as 15’3″. As the 194 buses using Upper Elmers End Road pass under the 15′ of the bridge near Elmers End the SL5 route should not need changing
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@Mr Grimshaw: the double-decker buses will obviously have be diverted from the roads with low bridges.
@ Charles Calthrop I agree. We do.need more cross river bus services. As not everyone are ble to use the underground trains and DLR to get around London due to mobility issues etc
More integrated transport improvements are needed across Greater London. Making it easier to travel around London by public transport and in particular bus services.
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