Proposals for a new express bus route between Walthamstow and North Woolwich Ferry (SL2 bus route), part of the Superloop

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Consultation has concluded

Image with title Quicker bus journeys between Walthamstow and North Woolwich Have your say and a diagram showing the route

Update 5 December 2023

Today we have published our response to the issues raised during the consultation on proposals for a new express bus route between Walthamstow and North Woolwich, called SL2.

Thank you to everyone who gave us feedback. 

-update ends-

Update 20 October 2023

Today we have published the results of the consultation on proposals for a new express bus route between Walthamstow and North Woolwich. We received positive feedback to our proposals and details of feedback we received and next steps can be found in the report. We will respond to all issues raised in the consultation in a Response to Issues Raised document in the coming weeks.

-update ends-

Update 5 September 2023

This consultation has now closed. We are analysing your feedback and will report back shortly.

-update ends-

We would like your feedback on proposals for a new express bus service between Walthamstow and North Woolwich, called SL2.

On this page you can find out more about our proposals for the SL2 between Walthamstow and North Woolwich. There are maps showing where the route could stop and how it would connect with other transport options in the wider area.

What is Superloop?

What are we proposing for the SL2?

Changes to other local services

Information to consider before you respond

Tell us your views


What is Superloop?

Our proposals would be part of the Superloop, a network of express routes which would circle London and connect outer London town centres, hospitals, schools and transport hubs. The Superloop is a key part of the Mayor's commitment to improving the bus network in outer London. You can find out more about the Superloop and also sign up for updates.

What are we proposing for the SL2?

Map showing proposed route for SL2(click on map for larger image)

Buses are the most affordable, accessible, and available form of public transport in London and offer the main sustainable alternative to cars for journeys that can't easily be walked or cycled. Following the Mayor of London’s announcement of the proposed new Superloop network, we are now developing proposals for a new express bus service for the section between Walthamstow and North Woolwich, called the SL2.

This new express route would run alongside part of 123 bus route between Walthamstow and Ilford, and would serve Barking and the eastern Royal Docks that are expected to see busier transport services in the future.

The SL2 would run with:

  • Buses every 12 minutes Monday to Saturday, and
  • Buses every 15 minutes on evenings and Sundays
  • At stops used by both the SL2 and 123, there would be a combined frequency of around 11 buses per hour during Monday to Saturday daytimes.

The new SL2 route would:

  • Give people more transport options to move between key locations in Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham and Newham
  • Provide extra capacity on busy parts of the existing route 123
  • Provide quicker journey times to outer London transport and town centre hubs
  • Encourage more sustainable journeys
  • Allow passengers on the SL2 to connect to 46 other bus routes and eight train lines, shown in this map

The following linear map shows where the new SL2 express route could go.

Linear map for proposed route SL2(click on map for larger image)

We are proposing stops at key transport interchanges and town centre hubs where there is the most demand for more transport options. However, we want your feedback on whether these are the right places for a new limited stop route.

Changes to other local services

We are not proposing any changes to the frequency of the 123 bus route, however we will monitor local bus service demand and bus capacity to make sure we are providing the right level of service when the SL2 is operating.

Information to consider before you respond

We have provided more information to help you shape your response to this consultation. Visit the Documents section for:

If you need to translate this page into another language, please use the ‘Select language’ button at the bottom of this page.

Connecting with London's deaf community on our consultations

To enhance how we engage and consult with London's deaf community we are trialling a British Sign Language (BSL) consultation conversation service. This service will allow us to have a two-way BSL translated discussion on any aspect of this consultation with a BSL speaker.

To request a BSL consultation conversation please contact us at haveyoursay@tfl.gov.uk and we will be in contact to arrange this at a convenient time.

Following this trial, we will evaluate the service to determine if this is something we are able to offer on other consultations in the future.

Update 5 December 2023

Today we have published our response to the issues raised during the consultation on proposals for a new express bus route between Walthamstow and North Woolwich, called SL2.

Thank you to everyone who gave us feedback. 

-update ends-

Update 20 October 2023

Today we have published the results of the consultation on proposals for a new express bus route between Walthamstow and North Woolwich. We received positive feedback to our proposals and details of feedback we received and next steps can be found in the report. We will respond to all issues raised in the consultation in a Response to Issues Raised document in the coming weeks.

-update ends-

Update 5 September 2023

This consultation has now closed. We are analysing your feedback and will report back shortly.

-update ends-

We would like your feedback on proposals for a new express bus service between Walthamstow and North Woolwich, called SL2.

On this page you can find out more about our proposals for the SL2 between Walthamstow and North Woolwich. There are maps showing where the route could stop and how it would connect with other transport options in the wider area.

What is Superloop?

What are we proposing for the SL2?

Changes to other local services

Information to consider before you respond

Tell us your views


What is Superloop?

Our proposals would be part of the Superloop, a network of express routes which would circle London and connect outer London town centres, hospitals, schools and transport hubs. The Superloop is a key part of the Mayor's commitment to improving the bus network in outer London. You can find out more about the Superloop and also sign up for updates.

What are we proposing for the SL2?

Map showing proposed route for SL2(click on map for larger image)

Buses are the most affordable, accessible, and available form of public transport in London and offer the main sustainable alternative to cars for journeys that can't easily be walked or cycled. Following the Mayor of London’s announcement of the proposed new Superloop network, we are now developing proposals for a new express bus service for the section between Walthamstow and North Woolwich, called the SL2.

This new express route would run alongside part of 123 bus route between Walthamstow and Ilford, and would serve Barking and the eastern Royal Docks that are expected to see busier transport services in the future.

The SL2 would run with:

  • Buses every 12 minutes Monday to Saturday, and
  • Buses every 15 minutes on evenings and Sundays
  • At stops used by both the SL2 and 123, there would be a combined frequency of around 11 buses per hour during Monday to Saturday daytimes.

The new SL2 route would:

  • Give people more transport options to move between key locations in Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham and Newham
  • Provide extra capacity on busy parts of the existing route 123
  • Provide quicker journey times to outer London transport and town centre hubs
  • Encourage more sustainable journeys
  • Allow passengers on the SL2 to connect to 46 other bus routes and eight train lines, shown in this map

The following linear map shows where the new SL2 express route could go.

Linear map for proposed route SL2(click on map for larger image)

We are proposing stops at key transport interchanges and town centre hubs where there is the most demand for more transport options. However, we want your feedback on whether these are the right places for a new limited stop route.

Changes to other local services

We are not proposing any changes to the frequency of the 123 bus route, however we will monitor local bus service demand and bus capacity to make sure we are providing the right level of service when the SL2 is operating.

Information to consider before you respond

We have provided more information to help you shape your response to this consultation. Visit the Documents section for:

If you need to translate this page into another language, please use the ‘Select language’ button at the bottom of this page.

Connecting with London's deaf community on our consultations

To enhance how we engage and consult with London's deaf community we are trialling a British Sign Language (BSL) consultation conversation service. This service will allow us to have a two-way BSL translated discussion on any aspect of this consultation with a BSL speaker.

To request a BSL consultation conversation please contact us at haveyoursay@tfl.gov.uk and we will be in contact to arrange this at a convenient time.

Following this trial, we will evaluate the service to determine if this is something we are able to offer on other consultations in the future.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Tell us your views

    We are holding a six-week public consultation to hear what you think about these proposals. We want to know if you agree with them, if there is anything you do not agree with, and to understand the reasons why you feel this way.

    This questionnaire should take you around five minutes to complete. Once you have submitted your answers, we will ensure your feedback is considered before we decide how to proceed with the proposed SL2 bus route. 

    As part of our decision making, we may decide to (i) proceed with our proposals as stated, (ii) proceed with our proposals but with changes, or (iii) not to proceed at all.  

    The consultation is open until 23.59 on 4 September 2023.

    You will need to register with our Have Your Say platform to take part in the online survey although your details will be kept secure.

    Alternatively, you can send your response to us by:

    • Email: haveyoursay@tfl.gov.uk
    • Telephone: 020 3054 6037 to leave your name and contact number and we will call you back. Please quote ‘SL2’ when leaving your message
    • Write to: Freepost TfL Have Your Say (SL2)

    Please note that responses to the survey will be made publicly available after the consultation has closed in the form of a report on the results. Your personal information will be properly safeguarded and processed in accordance with the requirements of privacy and data protection legislation. For further information, please visit our privacy policy.

    Consultation has concluded
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