London Buses route SL2

SL2
Overview
OperatorArriva London
GarageTottenham[1]
VehicleBYD BD11
Peak vehicle requirement16 (March 2024)[2]
Began service2 March 2024
Night-timeNo night service
Route
StartWalthamstow bus station
ViaSouth Woodford
Woodford
Gants Hill
Ilford
Barking
UEL Docklands Campus
EndNorth Woolwich
Length12 miles (19 km)
Service
LevelDaily
FrequencyEvery 12-15 minutes
Journey time45-80 minutes
Operates05:00 until 01:17
Superloop branded bus stop at the UEL Docklands Campus

London Buses route SL2 is a Transport for London contracted Superloop express bus route in London, England. Running between Walthamstow bus station and North Woolwich, it is operated by Arriva London.

History

The route initially used Alexander Dennis Enviro400H Citys when it launched

On 21 July 2023, a consultation for route SL2 was opened by Transport for London, and closed on 4 September the same year.[3][4] It was awarded on 20 October 2023, and was introduced on 2 March 2024, using existing Alexander Dennis Enviro400H Citys.[5] It was initially operated by Arriva London from Barking garage.[2]

On 18 July 2026, route SL2 was transferred from Barking to Tottenham bus garage.[1] At the same time, the Alexander Dennis Enviro400H Citys were replaced with new BYD BD11s, converting the route to full electric bus operation.[6]

Current route

Route SL2 operates via these locations:[7]

Operation

The route operates at a frequency of a bus every 12 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays and a bus every 15 minutes on Sundays.[8]

Former route SL2

From June 1996 until August 2002, a previous route SL2 ran in Central London, connecting the mainline railway stations at Paddington, Marylebone, Euston, St Pancras, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, Fenchurch Street, London Bridge, Waterloo and Victoria.[9][10] The route was operated by Thorpes and branded as Stationlink, running an hourly (anticlockwise) circular service, with route SL1 operating in the reverse direction. Both were replaced by routes 205 and 705 respectively in August 2002.[9][10]

References

  1. 1 2 "London Bus Routes and Bus Garages". Arriva London. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  2. 1 2 Short term contracts and a zero emission boost for Croydon Buses issue 825 December 2023
  3. ↑ "Consultation opens for planned express Superloop bus route in east London". Romford Recorder. 2023-07-24. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  4. ↑ Proposals for a new express bus route between Walthamstow and North Woolwich Ferry (SL2 bus route), part of the Superloop Transport for London
  5. ↑ "Route SL2 - award announced 20 October 2023". Transport for London. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  6. ↑ "Another Superloop route gains electric buses". Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Route SL2 Map Transport for London
  8. ↑ "Route SL2 Timetable". Transport for London. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  9. 1 2 Enhancement of Accessible Bus Service Linking London's Mainline Railway Stations London Regional Transport 27 June 1996
  10. 1 2 Latest service changes Transport for London 31 August 2002

Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to London Buses route SL2 at Wikimedia Commons