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A New Express Bus Route in Southeast London
What Is Bakerloop
Bakerloop (route BL1) is a brand-new express bus service in London, introduced in late 2025. It’s part of the growing Superloop network of express buses, designed to provide faster, more efficient public transport connections in areas that are not yet served by major rail or Tube extensions.
The name “Bakerloop” reflects its alignment with the proposed extension of the Bakerloo Tube line — the route it mirrors aims to serve similar corridors.
Route & Operation Details
Here are the key features of the route:
• Route: From Waterloo → Elephant & Castle → Burgess Park → Old Kent Road → New Cross Gate → Lewisham Station → Lewisham Town Centre.
• Stops: It’ll stop at major hubs but is more “express” than standard buses—that is, fewer stops, more direct. One stop proposed (on Station Road, toward Waterloo) was dropped to make the route quicker and more direct.
• Frequency:
• Monday–Saturday daytime: every 12 minutes
• Sundays, evenings, early mornings: every 15 minutes
• Vehicle Features: Fully electric buses, with enhanced customer amenities such as USB chargers and priority seating.
• Launch Date & Free Travel Period: Service began on Saturday 27 September 2025. To celebrate its launch, all pay-as-you-go journeys on BL1 were free during the first week (until 5 October). Passengers still had to tap in with Oyster/contactless, but no fare was charged.
What’s the Purpose
The Bakerloop isn’t just about a new bus service—it has broader goals:
1. Improve connectivity in southeast London: Many areas along Old Kent Road, New Cross Gate, Burgess Park, and Lewisham have been long underserved by high-capacity public transport. The new route helps plug some of those gaps.
2. Complement the planned Bakerloo line extension: The Bakerloop mirrors much of the proposed extension of the Bakerloo Tube line from Elephant & Castle to Lewisham. While the Tube extension is not yet funded (and will take time to build), the bus route provides earlier relief and demonstrates demand, while walking the path of what the extension would serve.
3. Promote greener transport: Fully electric buses reduce emissions. The faster, more direct route also encourages people to switch from cars or slower buses.
4. Support new homes and economic growth: The new service is part-funded by developer contributions (via Section 106 funding), which underlines its role in supporting development. Also, with better transport links, areas along the route may become more attractive for investment, housing, and jobs.
Reception & Feedback
When the proposal was consulted on earlier in 2025:
• Approximately 82% of respondents said the new route would be more convenient.
• About 79% felt it would result in quicker journey times.
• Over half said they would use it several days a week or daily.
Local authorities (in particular Lewisham and Southwark) and community stakeholders have expressed support. Also, there’s acknowledgment that while this doesn’t replace the full Tube extension, it helps build momentum.
Challenges / Things to Watch
• Funding and the Tube extension: While Bakerloop is funded and operational, the Bakerloo line extension remains unfunded. So Bakerloop is a stepping stone—but not a substitute—for those who want a full Tube line.
• Journey times vs Tube: Although quicker than many existing buses, express bus services are still subject to road congestion. They won’t necessarily match Tube speeds or reliability. The full benefits depend on traffic conditions and potential priority measures (bus lanes etc.).
• Integration with other services: Timetabling, interchanges, and overlaps with existing bus routes will need close attention to avoid redundancies and ensure efficient coverage. TfL have noted some changes—for example, reductions in frequency on certain overlapping routes to balance capacity.
• Public awareness / behavior: Transit users need to adopt the route. Some may stick with old buses out of habit. The free opening week is one strategy to help people try it out.
What This Means Day-to-Day
For commuters, students, and residents in southeast London:
• Faster journeys for many trips between central London (Waterloo etc.) and Lewisham or stops in between.
• More choice: a high-frequency, direct express option supplementing existing routes.
• Better quality travel: cleaner, quieter electric buses with modern amenities.
• Likely a reduction in congestion or travel times on some overlapping bus routes as usage patterns adjust.
For example, Christ the King Sixth Forms in Lewisham note that BL1 will make travel to their campuses easier, greener and quicker for students and staff.
Conclusion
The Bakerloop BL1 is a well-considered initiative: it fills a gap in current transport provision, serves both immediate travel needs and longer-term strategic goals (like the Bakerloo extension), and does so with sustainability in mind. It’s a promising improvement, especially for those in southeast London who’ve been waiting for better connectivity.
Attached is a news article regarding London new bus route the BL1
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg3kp9vjl5o.amp
Article written and conducted by Christopher Stanley
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