Sadiq Khan's Superloop to bring express buses to east London

The Superloop aims to cut journey times by using limited-stop express buses to connect some outer London locations.

It comes as some Londoners have criticised Mr Khan for plans to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to the whole of the capital in August.

This will see £12.50 daily charges for vehicles that do not meet certain emission standards.

Mr Khan said he wanted to “make it easier for Londoners to get around the capital” using public transport.

The mayor will provide £6 million funding to improve the outer London bus network, as part of a commitment to introduce more than a million kilometres of bus routes.

How will ‘Superloop’ affect east Londoners?

Under the plans, residents in the boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge Newham and Tower Hamlets are set to benefit from the faster bus network.

Future sections set to be consulted on include a limited-stop express link between North Finchley and Walthamstow and between Walthamstow and the Royal Docks via Ilford.

A proposed map of 'Superloop' released by TfL (Image: TfL)

Transport for London (TfL) said another new route, linking Canary Wharf with Grove Park in south London, was consulted upon as part of the Silvertown opening bus network (as X239).

The consultation closed in January 2023. It will be operational by 2025, according to TfL, when the tunnel opens. 

Announcement and reaction

Mr Khan said: “When I made the tough decision to expand the ULEZ Londonwide, one of my key commitments to Londoners was to improve transport links in outer London.

“Today I am delivering on that commitment as we announce the Superloop, the game-changing new network of express buses that will add over four million additional kilometres to our bus network in outer London, linking stations, town centres, hospitals and transport hubs.”

Sadiq Khan's so called "superloop" is nothing but a superflop.

Londoners won't be fooled into thinking that this provides a meaningful alternative for the many in outer London who will still need to rely on their vehicles when Sadiq Khan’s unnecessary ULEZ tax comes into force. pic.twitter.com/DU6AaSeZlX

— City Hall Conservatives (@CityHallTories) March 28, 2023

But City Hall Conservatives branded the proposals a “superflop”.

They said: “Londoners won't be fooled into thinking that this provides a meaningful alternative for the many in outer London who will still need to rely on their vehicles when Sadiq Khan’s unnecessary ULEZ tax comes into force.”