A new express ‘Bakerloop’ bus route is to begin this autumn as further plans for an expansion of the Superloop network are revealed.
The London Boroughs of Southwark and Lewisham, in collaboration with Transport for London (TfL), have announced the opening of a new express bus route named the BL1, or ‘Bakerloop’.
With stops at significant locations like Elephant & Castle, Burgess Park, Old Kent Road, and New Cross Gate, as well as Lewisham station and Lewisham town centre, the new route will start operating in the autumn of 2025 and provide a quicker, more direct connection between Waterloo and Lewisham.
The route is intended to replicate the proposed Bakerloo line extension, offering an immediate boost in connection for areas in south east London while longer-term infrastructure planning for the extension continues.
The Bakerloop expands on the existing Superloop network, a 194-kilometer orbital system of rapid buses connecting outer London and is a component of TfL’s larger plan to enhance sustainable transport connections throughout London.
A consultation into the BL1 ‘Bakerloop’ line route was launched with the Mayor of London alongside local and pan-London stakeholders earlier this year.
The majority of feedback from residents and local stakeholders was positive and the proposals were widely supported, with many respondents stating that a new route BL1 would:
- Be more convenient (82%)
- Result in a quicker bus journey time (79%)
- Be used between a few days and every day per week (55%)
In response to comments, a planned stop at Lewisham’s Station Road (facing Waterloo) will now be removed, making way for a more direct and effective route.
The route will run every 12 minutes during Monday to Saturday daytimes and every 15 minutes during Sundays, evenings and early mornings, increasing capacity along the whole route.
TfL has also revealed early plans for the next phase of the Superloop network, with public consultations scheduled for autumn 2025 on three proposed new routes:
- SL13: Ealing Broadway to Hendon
- SL14: Stratford bus station to Chingford Hatch
- SL15: Clapham Junction to Eltham station
These routes are intended to enhance travel times and connections throughout the city by catering to regions with limited access to rail or Tube services.
TfL director of public transport service planning Geoff Hobbs said: “It is great to see support for the ‘Bakerloop’ express bus running between Waterloo and Lewisham which would enable us to improve public transport connectivity and capacity between southeast London and central London by delivering some of the same benefits that the Bakerloo line extension would.”
Mayor of Lewisham, Brenda Dacres, said: “Lewisham welcomes the launch of the Bakerloop bus and thanks the Mayor and TfL for taking action to address the long-standing transport gap in south east London. But this must be just the beginning.”
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