London Buses route SL4

SL4
Blue Triangle BYD BD11 at Canary Wharf in June 2025
Overview
OperatorBlue Triangle (Go-Ahead London)
GarageHenley Road
VehicleBYD BD11
Peak vehicle requirement18 (April 2025)
Began service7 April 2025
Route
StartGrove Park
ViaLee
Blackheath
Leamouth
Canary Wharf
EndWestferry Circus
Length7 miles (11 km)
Service
LevelDaily
FrequencyEvery 8-15 minutes
Journey time38-63 minutes
Operates05:00 until 01:34

London Buses route SL4 is a Transport for London contracted Superloop express bus route in London, England. Running between Grove Park and Westferry Circus, it is operated by Go-Ahead London subsidiary Blue Triangle.

The service is one of three bus routes to run through the Silvertown Tunnel, alongside route 129 and the Silvertown Tunnel cycle shuttle.[1]

History

The route was first proposed by Transport for London in November 2022 as part of the Silvertown Tunnel bus network.[2][3] At the time of the consultation, the route was proposed to be numbered X239.[4]

In March 2023, it was confirmed that the route would be introduced as planned and would also be included as part of the then proposed Superloop express bus network.[5] In October 2023, it was confirmed that the route would be introduced using route number SL4.[6]

In 2023, the contract to operate the service was awarded to Blue Triangle, a subsidary of Go-Ahead London.[7][8]

Route SL4 was introduced on 7 April 2025, the same day as the opening of the Silvertown Tunnel.[9]

Current route

Route SL4 operates via these primary locations:[10]

Operation

The route operates at a frequency of a bus every eight minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends.[11]

Like all bus services using the Silvertown Tunnel, the service is operated using zero emission battery electric buses.[12] The service will be free to use for all passengers until at least April 2026.[13][14][1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Silvertown Tunnel bus changes". Transport for London. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Have your say on a possible new cross-river bus network in East London". Disability Horizons. 2022-11-24. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  3. ^ Rusk, Lynn (2022-10-25). "Two new bus routes planned for Silvertown Tunnel". LondonWorld. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  4. ^ "Silvertown Tunnel Bus Network Proposals". Transport for London. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  5. ^ "SUBURBAN SUPERLOOP PLANNED AS CENTRAL CUTS START". Buses Magazine. 2023-04-19. Archived from the original on 2024-06-17.
  6. ^ Lydall, Ross (2023-10-20). "Superloop buses will form orbital route around London by spring 2024". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  7. ^ "Bus tender results". Transport for London. 2023-09-15. Archived from the original on 2025-04-09. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  8. ^ Halford, Paul (2023-09-15). "Go-Ahead wins TfL contract for Superloop SL4 route". Route One. Archived from the original on 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  9. ^ Lydall, Ross (2025-04-07). "Silvertown Tunnel opens - with car drivers paying up to £4 to use first new Thames tunnel for 58 years". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  10. ^ Route SL4 Map Transport for London
  11. ^ Neath, Amelia (2025-03-17). "Free London buses announced for first year of Silvertown Tunnel opening". Independent. Archived from the original on 2025-03-19. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  12. ^ Edwards, Tom (2025-03-12). "When Silvertown opens, Blackwall tolls start too". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  13. ^ Donnelly, Luke (2025-01-10). "Launch date set for free Superloop London bus route across River Thames". MyLondon. Reach Plc. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  14. ^ Edwards, Tom (2025-03-12). "When Silvertown opens, Blackwall tolls start too". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2025-04-07.

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