All south London Superloop routes to see electric double-decker buses this year
So here’s something that’s perhaps not exactly a surprise to some but only just occurred to me in recent days; all three Superloop routes running around south London from Thamesmead to Heathrow (well ok, a bit in the west) will be operated by electric double-deckers by the end of 2025.
I’ve been keeping tabs on Superloop routes from the beginning and only twigged when covering TfL finally cutting back trees to allow double-deckers on SL5 between Bromley and Croydon.
That then means that these routes go to full electric operation this coming year:
- SL3: Thamesmead to Bromley: Currently New Routemasters but a contract awarded in 2024 sees a change this year
- SL5: Bromley to Croydon: Currently 10+ year old single-deckers with the route not only growing an upper deck (and a bout time too) but becoming electric.
- SL7: Croydon to Heathrow: Currently using 10+ year old double-deckers this will too see new electric double-deckers this coming year
If you’re wondering about the gaps in the “loop” it’s because SL4 and SL6 aren’t “circular” routes avoiding inner London making a bit of a mockery of the Superloop concept of radial routes and numbering scheme.
You what?
SL4 launches in April from Grove Park to Canary Wharf.
SL6 runs from Croydon to Russell Square at peak time only.
Both too will see electric buses introduced this year.
Meanwhile to confuse the numbering scheme yet further SL11 has just been announced from Abbey Wood to North Greenwich station and is set to replace the 472. That does plug the missing Superloop gap between Thamesmead and Woolwich where people can cross the Thames via the foot tunnel or ferry to reach SL2 but makes a further pig’s ear of route logic.
As the map above shows any sort of simple idea regarding a clockwork numbering scheme starting at SL1 at the top of the map moving clockwise around has gone well out the window.
