The new Bakerloop (BL1) bus route is set to launch this autumn to connect areas and stations between Lewisham and Waterloo.
The Bakerloop’s route mirrors the proposed Bakerloo Underground line extension route, running between Waterloo, Elephant & Castle and Lewisham via Burgess Park, Old Kent Road, New Cross Gate, Lewisham station and Lewisham town centre.
The route aims build on the success of the Superloop, which launched in June 2023 and is a group of ten fast bus routes aimed at providing passengers with easier and quicker travel between outer London town centres and transport hubs.
Transport for London’s (TfL) public transport service planning director Geoff Hobbs said: “We know from the success of the Superloop that express bus services are providing a hugely valuable way for Londoners to trave.
“From the feedback we received, we expect some passengers currently using other bus routes will take their journeys on the BL1 instead.
“We will now progress work on launching this express bus route so that customers can start using it by autumn 2025.”
The BL1 bus route consultation was launched earlier this year with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
It will run every 12 minutes Monday to Saturday in the daytime, and every 15 minutes during evenings, early mornings and on Sundays.
TfL figures indicate the current Superloop services are providing customers with quicker journey times, getting more people in outer London to use greener bus travel.
TfL has also revealed plans for three further Superloop bus routes.
The three proposed routes, subject to consultation, are the SL13 running from Ealing Broadway and Hendon, the SL14 running from Stratford Bus Station to Chingford Hatch, and SL15 running from Clapham Junction to Eltham station.
The consultations will begin in autumn 2025, and TfL’s plans aim to ensure buses play a vital role in creating a green, healthy and inclusive future for London, with more people taking trips via public transport.
Featured image: Transport for London
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