Sunday 4th February 2024
The latest segment of TfL’s Superloop network launched yesterday.
Route SL5 is the shortest section of the loop-round-London-that-isn’t-really-a-loop, lying roughly between five o’clock and six o’clock on a clock face analogy. In geographic terms that’s from Bromley to Croydon.
It has the fewest number of bus stops of the Superloop network so far with just nine intermediate stops on its seven and a half mile route.
Buses run every 12 minutes during the daytime and every 15 minutes during evenings and all day on Sundays. End to end journey time is just over half an hour in the daytime increasing to 44 minutes in the peak and reducing to as low as 20 minutes in the late evening.
In the ‘good old days’ the quick link between Bromley and Croydon was the province of long standing southern orbital Green Line route 725 on a three hour marathon journey from Gravesend to Windsor with a half hour frequency. Changes during the late 1970s saw one of those journeys each hour reclassified as a 726 and diverted at the western end of the route to Heathrow Airport becoming a forerunner of TfL’s route X26 west of Croydon, now trading as Superloop SL7.
The route taken by the SL5 is not the same as the former Green Line 725/726 which, in the 1960s, was timetabled to do the journey in 22 minutes via Beckenham and Elmers End.
Nor does it follow the route of TfL’s existing Bromley to Croydon route 119 which runs every 12 minutes on a more southerly trajectory via Hayes and West Wickham taking 45 minutes to East Croydon and an hour to its terminus at Croydon Airport Colonnades.
The new SL5 charts a more middle course as shown on the map below, which I’ve adapted from TfL’s consultation by adding other routes serving the same roads as the new Superloop and, just for fun, also showing the route taken by former Green Line 725/726.
Route 119 is a slow and tedious route if travelling end to end from Bromley to Croydon so the SL5 now offers a more attractive alternative, and as you can see from the map, also provides new links to destinations from the middle section of route in the Eden Park area and to the Bethlem Royal Hospital.
Unlike when new Superloop routes SL1 and SL10 were introduced with compensating reductions to frequencies on parallel routes 34 and 183, the SL5 has seen no reductions in frequencies including the 119, reflecting the fact it’s an amalgam of three existing routes (119, 358 and 162) making it the first genuine additional route to the network providing new journey possibilities.
Uniquely for Superloop, the SL5 is operated by single deck buses. Low trees on South Eden Park Road, also used by single deck route 358, means double deck operation is impractical, although TfL do say “this will be kept under review depending on any changes to this current highway constraint”, presumably meaning if and when the trees are cut back.
However a ride along the route demonstrates just how extensive the trees are, and it would be a great shame to see them pruned.
Arriva London is running up to ten 12-year old Alexander Dennis Enviro200s from its bus garage in South Croydon on the SL5.
They’ve been given a rather brutal external makeover wearing new Superloop branding which certainly makes them stand out from the rest of the red dominated bus fleet in south London, but I don’t think they’ll be winning any awards for outstanding design.
And as a few observers pointed out when I posted photos on social media yesterday, the branding can’t hide lower panel battle scars evident on some of the buses.
The interiors contain classic 12 year old basic, and somewhat uncomfortable, London style seats rather than what’s now offered by newly built buses, even in London, but I guess the buses were all that was available in the rush to get the route up and running.
Mayor Khan is understandably keen on promoting Superloop to ULEZ challenged motorists in outer London suburbia, especially in the coming weeks (Mayoral May election alert) but I doubt any new converts will be impressed by a ride on these buses.
Equivalent high profile new routes outside London would offer far more of a ‘wow factor’ interior and comfort and frankly many provincial bus company managers would be embarrassed to offer such a basic standard on a brand new high profile route such as the SL5; although the buses have been retrofitted with usb sockets, so at least that’s something.
However, outside of London a new route like the SL5 would probably kick off running half hourly to test the market, whereas TfL has the pre Mayoral election financial resources to start with an attractive 12 minute frequency and this, together with a significant improvement in end-to-end journey time. compared to the alternatives, between two of south London’s significant commercial, employment and retail centres is going to mean the SL5 becomes a sure fire winner. Although a Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR) of what must be at least nine or ten is quite some extra cost to be covered by new revenue.
Travelling up and down the route a couple of times yesterday admirably demonstrated its potential with an early afternoon departure leaving Bromley with 20 on board. All bar one travelled through to Croydon.
Mind you, many of those on board were regular Superloop first day riders including some well known faces such as the wonderful Luke, otherwise know as Tubemapper who I’m delighted to see is now extending his amazing photographic prowess from track based public transport in London to buses ….
…. and of course, the master of transport videos, Geoff Marshall, was making another ‘must watch’ video.
As always Geoff entered into the spirit of the day with a unique offering from Cadbury … a Single Decker chocolate bar to celebrate the launch of the SL5.
Just how quickly the SL5 is already part of London’s strategic public transport network can be seen by checking journey planners which, for example, previously always recommended a trip from stations at the southern end of the Brighton mainline to Bromley South was best by train north to London Bridge and back out south again. Now the algorithm confirms it’s quicker for me to head north from my home station at Hassocks and change at East Croydon to take the SL5. Such is the improvement over the 119.
Once again it was impressive yesterday to see all the bus stop flags, timetables and spider map diagrams in bus shelters had been updated with new SL5 logos and timetables …
… but I did find the poster inside Bromley North station had slipped through the net…
… probably because someone has forgotten it’s there.
But of more concern was the bus stop diagram in East Croydon’s small bus station hadn’t been updated with no mention of the SL5.
Most bus shelters had the Superloop roof logo added too …
… and the usual first day agency staff were doing their bit, giving out a leaflet confirming the bus stops the SL5 observes …
… as well as a Superloop badge.
TfL have also splashed out on some promotional on-street advertising including in Bromley town centre where I noticed this high profile advert encouraging people to “pop to” …. er… “Bromley” …
… except next time the advert came round on the cycle it had changed to Croydon …
… as well as other journey ideas.
Bus interiors also have line diagrams showing the bus stops observed …
… and yes, I obligingly stuck it back again and hopefully it will last for a few more hours before the grubby panel underneath ensures it peels off again.
Although the line diagram doesn’t show it, Croydon now benefits from three Superloop routes, but there’s no stop where you’ll find all three interchanging.
Both the SL5 and SL7 (formerly known as X26) West Croydon to Heathrow, can be found outside East Croydon station …
… but the weekday peak hour only SL6 (formerly known as X68) from West Croydon to Russell Square only touches the SL7 at the former terminus, and not the SL5 – and isn’t part of the “loop” anyway.
I also noticed the line diagram doesn’t highlight the SL5 passes within 450 yards of Eden Park railway station (on the Charing Cross to Hayes line) just beyond the roundabout at the bottom of the tree lined South Eden Park Road by Langley Park School (as in the photo below).
Next up for introduction, in the pre Mayoral election Superloop expansion, is the SL3 between Bromley North and Thamesmead operated by Stagecoach with New Routemaster buses.
Taking us round from five o’clock to three o’clock on the dial, it begins in three weeks on 24th February.
You can see Geoff’s video here …
… and read Diamond Geezer’s blog about the SL5 here.
Roger French
Blogging timetable: 06:00 TThS. On Tuesday 13th February at 12:00 don’t miss my free-to-attend online webinar “Secrets of a Successful Bus Operation” thanks to the Foundation for Integrated Transport. Book your place here.
Comments are welcome but please keep them relevant to the blog topic, avoid personal insults and add your name (or an identifier). Thank you.
BusAndTrainUser 
I got from my home stop in Walton-on-Thames to Bromley in around two hours early yesterday. This included a just missed SL7 in Kingston-upon-Thames! Planning to stop over in Kingston-upon-Thames on my way home it took around two hours just to reach there around mid day. SL7 seriously delayed from Central Road in Worcester Park to the A3 junction. Bethlem Royal Hospital is a psychiatric facility. It has a MUSEUM OF THE MIND, it is worth a visit.
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Whilst a “nice to have”, the SL5 and the amazing speed with which other Superloop routes have been introduced, can only lead to the suspicions that they are all very politically motivated. TfL do not move fast, so clearly this time a degree of panic may have been at hand…..
The clapped out single-decks have I believe came off the 289, where for most of their career must have been sitting in endless traffic jams on the very backwater and circuitous route from Elmers End to Purley. One hopes they enjoy a bit of spirited running at least off-peak, as certain journeys are timed to take just fifteen minutes from Bromley South to East Croydon, a near impossibility if caught at no less than three sets of traffic lights just after leaving Bromley South! For half the route they are simply a limited stop version of the 119 and 198, so subject to the same delays, particularly near Croydon where sharing the road with Trams.
Unfortunately, whilst hopefully attracting new custom in the Park Langley and Eden Park areas, the main effect of the SL5 will be to take custom from primarily the 119, now with smart (and very fast) electric double-decks. And journey times are not that different for some parts of the day, with many getting from Bromley South to East Croydon in less that 30 minutes. But of course the attraction of the SL5 and all other Superloop routes is the perceived speed by missing endless stops. It feels good!
It has been pointed out that the contract finishes in 2025 the same day as the SL7, the former X26. And it would make a great deal of sense to link the two and restore the Heathrow link to Bromley once more. And however nice the trees are in many places along the route, they only need pruning and not removal, so that needs to be done forthwith, as two door single decks are not the best vehicles.
Interestingly, from an Enthusiasts point of view, I believe this is the very first time in over 100 years that buses out of the former Tilling garage at South Croydon (TC) have ever reached Bromley, once another Tilling stronghold. Strange for two adjacent towns.
Terence Uden
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It’s worth noting that all the new Superloop routes are being introduced initially with interim short-term contracts, presumably this is to get them up and running before the end of the current financial year due to the funding agreement with Government (if I understand correctly, this explicitly allows TfL to spend money on increasing bus mileage in outer London). I would hope that these new routes prove their worth and justify an upgrade to new state-of-the-art electrics when full seven-year contracts commence in a couple of years’ time.
Having seen the trees along the route I cannot see the SL5 becoming double-deck, however given the route’s short length, brand-new 12-metre electrics and a frequency increase should do the job. An Irizar ie Tram with Superloop branding would really turn heads.
Julian Walker
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There’s a certain irony in the registration of the SL5 bus which featured in your rear-end photo – LJ12BYD. It’s probably more about building the dreams of a successful election campaign for Mayor Khan than it is about the SL5 gaining electric buses from a well-known chassis manufacturer!
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Some observations from yesterday:
At least two of the new/retiled stops along South Eden Park Road have tiles for the 356, rather than the 358. This kind of sloppy error is just not good enough from TfL.
I’m unclear whether the width restriction at West Wickham station is due to a weak bridge, a desire to prevent heavy traffic from using this as a through route, or both. If the latter, it is a shame that an opportunity was not taken to resolve this via a bus gate or similar, as this would have allowed a more obvious route, as well as the opportunity to include West Wickham as a major traffic objective. True that West Wickham High Street may have slowed journey times, but it could definitely do with faster journeys to both Bromley and Croydon.
The inclusion of Bromley Civic Centre as a stop but the exclusion of what is probably the busiest stop in Bromley, Bromley High Street/The Mall seems odd. Perhaps in the latter cases the excess of buses trying to stop here and dwell time was a factor, but this excludes potential travellers who would otherwise have to walk down to Bromley South.
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The cynic in me can’t help thinking the West Wickham bridge issue is very convenient for the well-to-do residents of Park Langley who don’t want regular buses disturbing their otherwise peaceful residential streets.
Cjw714
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I note the interior map correctly places Croydon at the west end of the map, and Bromley at the east – unlike the exterior, which reads left from Bromley to right for Croydon.
Oh, and “The Chinese Garage” on the bus stop sticker at East Croydon station is inexplicably not in Johnston font!
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The standard of the information is what impresses mme but sadly highlights how deficient the standard of public transport information is in most of the UK
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Many thanks for this – good to see it is making a difference in the time taken to get from Brighton line stations to Bromley; I’d rather worried that TfL were not pushing Superloop enough as an important part of an outer-London network – as the Overground loop is nearer in. Hopefully they will even out the frequency mess – changing from the (12-min) SL5 to the (15-min) SL7 is a real lucky-dip. But then it’s even worse for people changing on to the generally half-hourly suburban rail services at Croydon or Bromley!
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The SL7 seemed a while back to have service extras on it , are they still running as it seems frequency at times was about every 7mins.
I understand there are ideas to ask for proposals for road network changes , eg Bus Lanes, on SL routes , anyone got sensible ideas actually on them?
Anyone travelling in parts of SW London yesterday (3rd Feb) would have been knackered as person trespassing (ie one under) on SWR near Earlsfield ceased train services via Wimbledon lines (inc District+ Thameslink was on strike), this might explain some of the Walton on Thames travel difficulties – local buses could not cope with the extra loads.
As to East Croydon Bus Station – I find it difficult with no clear maps of local stopping places for routes , nor reasonably viewable next bus details at the stops – and barely timetables at times. For a major interchanges its not really good enough (West Croydon not much better- does the SL5 serve West Croydon ?0
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On an admittedly nerdy point, I wonder why the blind shows ‘Croydon Town Centre’, when any savvy passenger could assume that it was going to terminate in the centre. If the words ‘Town Centre’ were omitted the word ‘Croydon’ could be larger, and more useful. Besides, ‘Town Centre’ doesn’t tell you exactly where in town it’s going to terminate.
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Geoff’s “superloop by borough” map made me think of … seven people sitting around a camp fire holding hands … and maybe singing kum by yah … or something !
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TfL are planning to make significant changes to many routes across London
The 123 is being changed for example. A small change with the heavily connected section between Turnpike Lane and Wood Green being withdraw. It will no doubt inconvenience a small number of passengers but should improve reliability of the route considerably
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Croydon Town Centre is deliberately vague (though East Croydon should be mentioned). There is a lot of demolition and new build happening in Croydon (effectively the streets around the Town Hall area (historically the site of the short lived Croydon Central railway station)). Thus the terminus could easily be around Fairfield Halls or using roundabout or a cut through something closer to Surrey Street, or even if needed routed toward West Croydon then terminate near M&S at anytime over the next five years as the cranes move around and footpaths and roads change being accessible
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Reinstating the old 725 routeing would have largely duplicated Tramlink between Croydon and Elmers End, plus parts of Beckenham, and with today’s traffic would be unlikely to achieve the original 22 minute journey time between Croydon and Bromley. The option that does however seem to have been missed is to improve local (non-express) bus service connections from the Park Langley/Shortlands area direct to the purpose built bus/tram interchange at Elmers End (ie avoiding Beckenham town centre). The Hopper fare means that journeys to Croydon using the bus plus tram combination would be no more expensive than SL5 (or other through bus to Croydon) and would almost certainly be quicker in the morning peak than the SL5
Local user
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