Superloop route changes to serve Bexley proposed by MP

A Tory MP has launched a petition calling for Superloop route SL3 to stop at Bexley Village.

The route currently passes nearby, though that’s only supposed to be a short term measure and wasn’t the original plan for the route.

Long-term roadworks between Bexleyheath and Sidcup when the route launched and the type of buses used (New Routemasters) necessitated the diversion. The New Routemaster’s long wheel base often sees it clipping kerbs and unable to make tight turns.

My first journey on one when SL3 begun saw more than a few clippings of the kerb. My most recent still sees them almost a year later as have numerous in between. The buses just don’t seem suitable.

One particularly troublesome spot for turning is the junction of Arbuthnot Road and Bridgen Road.

Changes

Issue with junctions could change next year when new electric double deckers are introduced possibly enabling the original, faster route is used meaning it won’t go near Bexley Village.

However Tory MP Louie French stated: “There’s no logical reason why a stop can’t be added on this route, and I will continue to press TfL for this alongside local councillors and residents” except heading near Bexley village was never the plan and slows down the journey.

Diverting permanently to a slower route does somewhat negate the point of a direct, express bus. A major point of the network is to encourage people who may not use buses normally to switch and alleviate congestion. Begin to divert here and there, add in stops and it becomes just another bus route.

I’d expect TfL to be very wary as if they do it in one place, others will start asking the same.

In contrast those behind it state the proposed Penhill Road route is no quicker due to traffic.

Rail cuts

It should also be noted that some arguments for diverting permanently to Bexley are to link with the Elizabeth line at Abbey Wood.

Conservative Cllr Cameron Smith (Sidcup) stated: “The Village suffers from heavy congestion and needs better public transport connections, especially to the Elizabeth Line.”

However it was French and Smith’s own party colleagues when in power that insisted on cuts to Southeastern rail services in 2022 which saw direct loop line trains from Bexley station to Abbey Wood removed for much of the day. The Conservatives also blocked TfL taking over SE Metro rail.

In recent years TfL did not cut services – or restored far quicker in the case of, for example, the DLR – unlike Department for Transport-controlled Southeastern and TfL saw much faster passenger recovery (and fare revenue) as a result.

Whether Labour in power permit Southeastern Metro to reverse cuts and provide funding remains to be seen. Southeastern is of course entirely government-owned and has been for some years now.

As for the petition, it does seem to miss a fundamental point of the new network in terms of speed and directness.

However, if new buses still struggle with the route from 2025 and in particular the junction of Arbuthment Road and Breidgen Road then it may be worth a shot at stopping at Bexley Village as it’ll pass anyway on a permanently slower timetable.

But if not, it seems unlikely the foundational point of the new network would be eroded so soon.

Finally, TfL have asked Bexley Council about speeding up the route. The council – controlled by the same party as Louie French – doesn’t seem keen.