What is the new TfL Superloop bus route in London? Map, start date and more

An expanded bus route linking London’s suburbs was unveiled today by Sadiq Khan.

The project, known as “Superloop”, consists of adding six new express bus lines to the four already in place in the capital.

The £6million proposal has been heavily criticized, with Conservatives calling the plan a “super flop”.

Critics also said few of the new services will be operational until the extension of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (Ulez) to the Greater London border on August 29. But Mr Khan said at an event today that anyone who opposes Superloop is a ‘curmudgeon’.

Will the “Superloop” include a route near you? How often will they run? Read everything you need to know about London’s latest transport project below.

The “Superloop” consists of the addition of six new express bus routes to the four already in place in the capital

Which four existing routes does the “Superloop” use?

The four routes already in operation are:

• 607: Bus running from White City to Uxbridge in west London, mainly along Uxbridge Road. This includes a similar route to the 207 – the eighth busiest route in London – but skips many stops for a faster journey.

• X26: route from West Croydon to Heathrow Central. Bus lanes and traffic lights will also be changed.

• X140: Bus from Harrow to Heathrow Central. TfL’s latest express route is said to have resulted in a 15 per cent increase in weekly demand.

• X68: Route from West Croydon to Russell Square, which currently only operates at weekday peak times.

A prospective map of the new ‘Superloop’ route that aims to help connect London’s suburbs

Where will the six new “Superloop” tracks be?

Transport for London (TfL) has announced that six new routes will be introduced as part of the “Superloop”. These routes help complete the loop. They are:

• Harrow to North Finchley via Northwick Park and Hendon. This route is expected to be the first to be launched.

• From North Finchley to Walthamstow via Edmonton

• From Walthamstow to Royal Docks via Ilford

• Bexleyheath to Bromley via Sidcup

• X239 from Grove Park to Canary Wharf via the new Silvertown Tunnel (already announced, expected to start in 2025 when tunnel opens)

It costs £1.75 to travel on a ‘Superloop’ service, the same price as traveling on any other bus in London

When will the line be operational?

Until the London Ulez expansion comes into effect on August 29, the “Superloop” will only have partial operation.

The ulez operates 24 hours a day, all year round, except for Christmas. All motorcycles and cars must meet certain emissions standards to avoid the fee.

All details are yet to be confirmed.

How often are the services operated?

The frequency of the X26 will be doubled to every 15 minutes later this year. The 607, X140 and X68 remain the same but are renamed with “Superloop” in front of the bus number.

Other service times have yet to be announced.

How much does it cost to ride the Superloop?

Fares for the new routes are £1.75 each way – the same as for all other buses in London. The ‘Hopper’ fare, which allows passengers to use as many buses as they like within an hour for £1.75, will also remain in place.

That fare rose 5.9 per cent from £1.65 earlier this month, the biggest increase in more than a decade.

Sadiq Khan pictured at an event for the ‘Superloop’ in Northolt today

What did Sadiq Khan say about the “Superloop”?

Speaking at an event in Northolt today, Mr Khan said: “When I took the difficult decision to extend the ulez across London, one of my key commitments to Londoners was to improve outbound London transport links.

“Today, I deliver on that commitment as we announce Superloop, the groundbreaking new express bus network that will add over four million additional kilometers to our bus network outside London, connecting train stations, city centres, hospitals and transport hubs.

“These new routes will make it much easier for Londoners to get around the capital and help build a better, greener London for all.”

Why was the “Superloop” criticized?

Critics of the project argue that the “Superloop” is just a “recomposition of existing routes” and will “only work if buses have priority on the road.”

Nick Rogers, the Conservatives’ traffic spokesman at City Hall, told MailOnline today: “Sadiq Khan’s Superloop announcement is a super flop that represents nothing more than a repackaging of existing routes and vague promises that will not be delivered before his Ulez extension hits Londoners meets.

“This is a microscopic level of investment compared to the £100m cross-party plan we proposed last month which was blocked by Labour.

“The mayor’s rash plans have been thrown together in a panic and do nothing to address the devastating impact of his ulez tax.

London TravelWatch added: “Superloop” will only be truly disruptive if buses are given priority on the road. After all, a stuck express bus with limited stops is still a stuck bus.”