Free journeys on buses through Silvertown tunnel and Blackwall tunnel end

Buses through both the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel are now being charged at standard fares following the end of 13 months of free journeys.

Charges started applying a couple of weeks back though somehow I’d forgotten and ended up paying for a few journeys, so really this is a bit of a heads up not to do the same.

Routes affected are the long-running 108 (its been running since 1914) plus two routes through the Silvertown tunnel – the SL4 and extended 129.

I’d only really used them since the tunnel opened as they were free and wouldn’t pay for given other options.

For example, the 108 is pretty much busy all day and night and recently at around 11pm leaving Stratford I couldn’t get a seat which is hardly unheard of. Going to Lewisham or North Greenwich? DLR or tube every time.

As for the other routes I used the 129 on occasion but only south of the river (when lazy) but never to cross the river into east London. If I ever need to go Beckton it’d also be DLR.

The SL4 was the most useful service and not too bad if heading to Blackheath from Canary Wharf. Mind you it still gets stuck in southbound afternoon traffic which the new tunnel has done nothing to alleviate.

Future

How each route performs now they’re charged will be revealing. The 108 already ran and was always busy so that’ll keep on as its always been.

The SL4 is a handy link to Canary Wharf from places like Lee and Blackheath so should have healthy custom.

The 129 is a route cobbled together from what would be local trips either side of the river. I’m not sure many in Greenwich want to go to Beckton and if they did the DLR is far quicker. It may do well for local trips but cross-river is likely to be marginal.

Back when the Silvertown tunnel was being planned TfL had other potential routes that never made it into final plans. Could they emerge? One such idea was linking Eltham and Kidbrooke to the other side of the river.

It was to go to Beckton which the 129 ended up doing. But could a route head to Canary Wharf?

Kidbrooke of course is one of London’s major growth areas with 5,500 new homes across Kidbrooke Village, TfL’s own Kidbrooke Square development and two adjacent Greenwich Council sites.

However given TfL recently cut buses from Kidbrooke to the Elizabeth line at Woolwich that suggests no such route is likely anytime soon.

What about Charlton? To cross the river requires a bus or train to the DLR or tube at North Greenwich. Charlton is in line for around 8,000 homes and nearly 1,000 more are being built nearby.

What became the SL4 could have served Charlton according to those earlier proposals.

TfL have recently cut buses serving 1,000 new homes around Charlton and west Woolwich by axing the 472 so again, that suggests it’s unlikely.

When the next major Charlton sites do finally kick off such as the approved Herringham Road site comprising 1,292 homes the most likely bus to the site is extending route 301 to Woolwich rather than buses heading west to Greenwich and then through the tunnel.

Wasted potential?

It does seem a bit of a waste after spending £2.2bn on a tunnel to have just two new routes – well one new route and one existing route extended.

Given Canary Wharf’s growth as a centre of employment and increasingly leisure that’s the obvious place to send any future route, and major areas of growth such as Kidbrooke and Charlton the places to send routes from.

From Charlton it isn’t too hard to reach Woolwich for the Elizabeth line or North Greenwich for the tube, but both stations are often busy. Woolwich station is nearing capacity already as it lacks two entrances. North Greenwich is often packed when events are on. A bus from Charlton over the river could be a winner.

Yet while TfL is very much in cutting mode when it comes to buses, any new routes seem unlikely anytime soon. Still, things can change. New developments do bring much money to assist with transport. Maybe something will pop up soon.