New Superloop SL15 between Eltham and Clapham: TfL reveal plans
Plans for Superloop route number SL15 between Eltham and Clapham have been revealed by TfL.
Consultation has now begun with the service leaving Eltham station before calling at Catford, Forest Hill, West Dulwich and Clapham Junction.
In keeping with prior Superloops this links a wide number of transport options including Southeastern at Eltham station, Thameslink at Catford, London Overground and Southern Rail at Forest Hill and the Northern line at Clapham South before South Western Railway at Clapham Junction.
However due to a low bridge during the route at Thurlow Park Road, only single-deckers would be used.
Service frequencies are in line with other Superloop routes at 12 minutes during the day between Monday and Saturday with intervals extending to 15 minutes during evenings, Sundays, and early morning weekdays.
Cuts elsewhere
It doesn’t appear that any existing routes will be entirely cut ensuring that dubious honour remains solely for the 472 between Abbey Wood and North Greenwich via Thamesmead.
TfL announced earlier this summer it would remove the 472 for wholesale replacement with the SL11 in a move supported by Greenwich Council, despite the 472 serving no less than six new developments which the SL11 will not. Those developments along the 472 route will welcome thousands of forthcoming residents in the near future yet see a net reduction in buses stopping outside.
When previous Superloops have launched – or future additions planned such as SL15 – existing routes have altered or seen frequency reductions but none have been entirety removed as will be seen with the busy 472 serving parts of Thamesmead, Plumstead and Woolwich.
Areas to see a reduction a net reduction in buses include south Thamesmead phase one and two at Southmere Village, east Thamesmead, Plumstead’s soon to open college with 294 adjacent homes, newly built and planned towers near the Woolwich ferry, the Morris Walk estate rebuild seen above, the first homes at Charlton Riverside and forthcoming homes at Greenwich Millennium Village.
The SL15 plan would supplement routes such as P13, 160 and 185.
The reduction due to SL11 for parts of Greenwich borough will start in early 2026. SL15 would be expected to start from around mid-2026.
Would there not be a decent argument for extending this further to Woolwich (completing an inner circle) , and if it is too long then perhaps splitting the line in two around Forest Hill?
As new superloop route SL15 Eltham Station to Clapham Junction woukd use single deckers rather than double deckers i believe buses should run every 8 minutes during the day Monday to Saturday and every 12 minutes evenings Sundays and Public Holidays to provide adequate capacity on the route.
I agree Nathan route SL15 could have been extended to Woolwich via Well Hall Road, Academy Road and Woolwich New Road to terminate in Woolwich.
I think the route SL15 should start at Woolwich (more connections TUBE & DLR) then the next stop Eltham & finish at Richmond. (attached)If it doesn’t it will not join and complete the inner super loop. This completely defeats the point of calling this and connecting routes Super Loops & should be EXpress buses like everywhere else.
It’s bad you have to change SL buses 5x just to complete half a loop, but can cross Europe on 1 bus from Victoria. It would be more super, simpler & convenient with fewer routes by joining them together like the Circle line or M25. Obviously drivers could change when needed.
The clearance of the bridge is 4.6m (attached) Double deckers in London are generally ordered to the highbridge spec 4.4m compared to outside around 4.2m.Also if needed the road could be slightly lowered under the bridge
SL15 Richmond – Woolwich (Suggested Stops)
(SCircular, 20 Miles, 50m – 1h30m)
Richmond Station (NR, District, Mildway SL19, SL17)
Waitrose Sheen
Queens Ride (Barnes Station, NR, SL17)
Easy Putney Station (District)
Wandsworth Town Hall (NR)
Clapham Junction Station (NR, Mildmay, Windrush)
Clapham North Station (bCommon) (Northern)
b Lambeth Town Hall (Brixton Station, NR, Victoria)
Tulse Hill Hotel (Station, NR, SL6)
West Dulwich Station (NR)
Forest Hill Station (NR Windrush)
Catford Stations (NR, BL1 could add extra stop here)
Baring Road (Lee Station, NR, SL4)
Eltham Station (NR Original Termination)
Woolwich Station (NR, DLR, Elizabeth, SL14)
James I trust you will respond to the consultation with such a detailed evaluation. Very impressed!
SL15 should be extended by 1 stop and terminate at Woolwich where it connects (SL14, SL2, TUBE, DLR +Rail). It should also start at Richmond (SL16/17 may join but involve changing) If it doesn’t it won’t connect & complete the inner superloop. Then pointless branding this & connecting routes SuperLoops when should be EXpress. Alternating b bus via Brixton could be considered.
The clearance of the bridge is 4.6m. Double deckers in London are 4.4m (highbridge spec) compared to 4.2m elsewhere. The road could also be lowered under the bridge.
You can cross Europe on 1 bus from Victoria, but need 5 SL buses to cross London. It would be more super, simpler & convenient with fewer routes by joining them together like the Circle line or M25. Drivers could change like they do in the middle of standard routes.
SL15 Richmond – Woolwich (Suggested Stops)
(SCircular, 20 Miles, 50m – 1h30m)
Richmond Station (NR,District,Mildway,SL17/19)
Waitrose Sheen
Queens Ride (Barnes St, NR,SL17)
Easy Putney Station (District)
Wandsworth Town Hall (NR)
Clapham Junction (NR,Mildmay,Windrush)
Eccles Road
Clapham South Station (-bCommon) (Northern)
-b Lambeth Town Hall (Brixton St, NR,Victoria)
Clarence Avenue
Streatham Place
Tulse Hill Hotel (St, NR,SL6)
Croxted Road (West Dulwich St, NR)
Wood Vale
Forest Hill Station (NR,Windrush)
Kilmorie Road
Catford Stations (NR)
Lewisham Town Hall (BL1 could extend here)
Hither Green Lane (Hither Green St, NR)
Baring Road (Lee St, NR,SL4)
Eltham Road
Well Hall Road
Eltham Station (NR)
Woolwich Station (NR,DLR,Elizabeth,SL14/2)
Instead of SL buses stuck in traffic jam, can’t we have underground specially in South London? Paris willbhave the great Paris delivered late but they will see a massive network improvement.
BL1 should also be extended to Bromley as proposed for the Bakerloo line extension (SL6 longer). This would link it with the inner & outer Superloop to qualify. To link it with the SL15 is just 1 stop to Catford
The proposed extension of the Bakerloo line that costs between £5.2 billion and £8.7 billion to Lewisham in the phase 1 and then down to Hayes for a further £1.9 billion would have a proposed BL1 addition to Catford Stations + the SL15 would preferably have a better route adjustment if started at Woolwich via Well Hall Road (DLR and TUBE) and instead take a diverted route instead of the low bridge at Thurlow Park Rd by West Dulwich Station and Terminate at either Wandsworth Town Station or Terminate near Putney (SW15) connecting South East to South West London (or even like James said to terminate it at Richmond)
And with more new Superloop bus routes to be added across London this year and next year as well as BL2 and BL3 to be added. I’ve only been on some of the Superloop bus routes and it’s actually quite nice and convenient.