The Superloop network expands into East London on Saturday, September 5, with the launch of the SL12 express bus route between Gants Hill and Rainham. Transport for London (TfL) will offer free travel on the new service for the first week, according to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
The route connects Gants Hill, Romford, Elm Park and Rainham, passing through the boroughs of Redbridge and Havering. TfL said the service will have a transformative impact and vastly improve connections in outer East London, providing quicker journeys to workplaces and shops in Romford and improving links to the Central and District London Underground lines.
Addressing long-standing transport concerns
The new route follows backlash in late 2024 over bus cuts in Romford. Former Havering Council leader Ray Morgon criticised Sadiq Khan for expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) while snubbing the area during the initial Superloop launch. The SL12 is seen as a direct response to those concerns.
Since the Superloop network launched in 2023, it now encompasses 9.6 million bus kilometres across the capital. TfL said ridership on these new routes is 12 per cent higher than journeys on standard buses.
Service details and frequencies
The SL12 will operate between 5.30am and 12.30am every day. From Monday to Saturday, buses will run every 12 minutes, reducing to every 15 minutes during the evening and on Sunday.
Other Superloop improvements include increased frequency on the SL9 between Heathrow and Harrow, and new electric buses on the SL2 between Walthamstow and North Woolwich. TfL confirmed that further Superloop routes between Stratford and Chingford Hatch, and between Clapham Junction and Eltham, will launch next year.
Official responses
Sadiq Khan said: "Our Superloop network has been a game-changer for bus travel in outer London, offering quicker, more convenient journeys around the capital. I'm delighted that our latest Superloop express route, SL12, will now be connecting communities in Gants Hill and Rainham and providing faster links between town centres, railway stations and hospitals."
He added: "The success of the Superloop is one of my proudest achievements as Mayor, and I'll continue to explore how we can keep improving London's bus network and build a better, fairer London for everyone."
Lorna Murphy, TfL's Director of Buses, said: "We're thrilled to be able to deliver yet another Superloop express bus service for Londoners, with services on the game-changing network now expanding into Havering for the first time. The SL12 will boost travel and journey times in northeast and east London, taking people across the area to local shops and amenities and onwards to fast and convenient Elizabeth line and Tube connections at Romford, Newbury Park, Elm Park and Gants Hill."
The SL12 launch represents a significant step in addressing public transport gaps in East London, with free travel in the first week expected to encourage ridership and demonstrate the service's benefits to local communities.
