London’s new Bakerloop express bus service launches this weekend – with free rides for a week

For years south-east Londoners have been driven bus-erk at the lack of transport connections into central London – but fear not, the new transport service you’ve been waiting for is finally here!

Nope, we’re not talking about the Bakerloo line extension (that’s still very much TBC). While we wait for that new tube service, TfL is launching an express bus service called the ‘Bakerloop’. It’s another route on TfL’s ever-expanding network of Superloop bus services, which launched in the capital last year, and it kicks off this weekend.

The bus’ route, named BL1, will speed passengers between Waterloo, Elephant & Castle and Lewisham, calling at Burgess Park, Old Kent Road, New Cross Gate, Lewisham station and Lewisham town centre. Buses will run every 12 minutes Monday to Saturday, and every 15 minutes on Sundays and evenings.

Better yet, after the express bus service launches on Saturday (September 27) it will offer free travel for its first week (you’ll still need to tap in, but won’t be charged). The fully electric service has all the modern bells and whistles of modern TfL bus services  – USB chargers at seats, dedicated priority seating and plenty of extra capacity –  and comes wrapped in a Bakerloo-inspired brown moquette colour scheme.

The Bakerloop is part of the expanding Superloop network, which now covers more than 200km of London. The service was unveiled back in February and confirmed in June.

In a consultation earlier this year, Londoners proved very keen for the new bus route. A whopping  82 percent said the Bakerloop would make their journeys more convenient and 79 percent believed it would speed up their commutes. 

Brenda Dacres, Mayor of Lewisham, said: ‘The launch of the new Bakerloop express bus is a welcome and exciting development for south east London. By following part of the proposed extension route, it brings to life the vision of the Bakerloo Line Extension – offering the promise of faster, greener and more direct journeys for everyone.

‘Though this new service is a positive step, many communities south of Lewisham will still remain underserved, and bus travel simply doesn’t match the speed or efficiency of trains. That’s why the Bakerloo Line Extension remains crucial – not only for delivering the transformative connectivity our borough needs, but also for unlocking the new homes, jobs and wider economic benefits.’

The Bakerloo line extension is still not yet confirmed. TfL and London boroughs of Lewisham and Southwark are continuing to discuss tunnel and station designs, as well as potentially extending the line beyond Lewisham. Some stations – like Elephant and Castle – are being renovated with the new service in mind.

In a previous consultation, 89 percent of local businesses and 76 percent of residents backed the extension. TfL says it could begin in 2030 and be complete by 2040 if the£10 billion in funding is approved. The government is yet to give the extension a green light. 

So for now, the bus will have to do!

Two new Superloop bus routes have been given the go-ahead: the SL11 between Abbey Wood and North Greenwich and the SL12, between Gants Hill and Ferry Lane in Rainham via Romford. These routes are due to launch in 2026. Three more bus routes have been proposed: the SL13, between Ealing Broadway and Hendon, the SL14, between Stratford and Chingford Hatch, and the SL15 between Clapham Junction and Eltham.

Bakerloop bus stops

• Elephant & Castle
• Old Kent Road/Burgess Park
• Old Kent Road/Ilderton Road
• New Cross Gate Station
• Lewisham Station
• Lewisham Centre/Molesworth Street
• Lewisham Centre

Find out more about plans for more Superloop buses in London here. 

Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.