607 and X140 To Be Rebranded as Superloop Buses

New orbital express service for outer London but no increase in existing frequency

New bus service would have a distinctive red and white livery. Picture: TfL

March 30, 2023

The Mayor of London has announced a new ‘Superloop’ bus service which will provide limited-stop express bus routes around outer London.

The launch is designed to meet Sadiq Khan’s pledge that bus services outside the centre of London would be boosted to give people improved public transport provision ahead of the expansion of the ULEZ in August.

Initially this will involve the rebranding of some existing services including the 607 between Uxbridge and White City and the X140 which links Harrow and Heathrow passing through Northolt. TfL has confirmed to us that the changes will not be accompanied by any increase in frequency on these routes. Part of the route served by the 607 has recently seen a reduction in provision following the curtailment of the 427 route.

The Superloop brand is designed to work with the iconic London Buses brand by using a new Roundel and bus livery to ensure clear identification of the new service, but still recognisable as part of the London Buses network. The new branding will also feature on maps, timetables and other pieces of customer information. Photos supplied by TfL suggests the buses will have a white upper deck and a red lower deck to distinguish them from other services.

£6 million has been provided by the Mayor for the orbital route to be launched in stages with some routes that would become part of the Superloop already in operation. This includes the X140 connecting Heathrow and Harrow, and a more frequent route X26 connecting Heathrow and West Croydon. The next part of the outer London bus network will be the route linking Harrow with North Finchley, subject to consultation. TfL is working with the relevant boroughs on initial proposals for this next section and will consult on the route in the coming months.

The buses will provide limited stop services in outer London. Picture: TfL

Following that, views will be sought on future sections of the orbital network. These proposed future sections include a limited-stop express link between North Finchley and Walthamstow and between Walthamstow and the Royal Docks via Ilford. Links are also proposed between Bexleyheath, Bromley and Croydon. Some of the benefits of the proposed Superloop will be realised later this year, with the X26 doubling in frequency so that buses run every 15 minutes instead of every 30 minutes.

TfL data shows that the most recently introduced limited-stop express route, the X140, delivered a 10-15 per cent increase in weekday demand and that frequencies at the busiest stops served by the 140 was increased. Surveys found that customers had increased satisfaction with their journey times and nearly four in five said they would use the X140 more often.

Sadiq Khan, said, “When I made the tough decision to expand the ULEZ London-wide, 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. These new routes will make it much easier for Londoners to get around the capital, and help build a better, greener London for everyone.”

James Murray, Member of Parliament for Ealing North, said: “In outer London, it is especially important for us to have quick and reliable bus routes. I very much welcome the Mayor’s new Superloop, and its more direct services between many of our town centres and stations. I hope this will make it easier and faster for many people living in outer London to get around the city by public transport.”

City Hall Conservatives were quick to describe the initiative a ‘superflop’ and mainly a rebranding exercise than a substantial expansion of services.

“Sadiq Khan’s Superloop announcement is a Superflop, amounting to nothing more than a repackaging of existing routes and vague promises that will not be delivered before his ULEZ expansion hits Londoners,” said Nick Rogers, London Assembly Member for South West London.

TfL is also continuing work on plans for further expansion across outer London, including in Southall. These packages of bus enhancements, complement other plans to improve the outer London public transport network, including introducing the full peak timetable on the Elizabeth line this May and introducing new trains on the DLR and Piccadilly line.

In addition, TfL confirmed yesterday that more than £35m of further funding has been allocated to outer London boroughs to make streets healthier and safer for all as part of TfL’s Local Implementation Plan funding. The whole programme will see 29km of bus lane schemes and is providing £10.6m to London boroughs to deliver bus journey time improvements

TfL is holding a consultation to gather views about the superloop service.