London Buses route SL1

London Buses route SL1 is a Transport for London contracted Superloop express bus route in London, England. Running between North Finchley and Walthamstow bus stations, it is operated by Arriva London.

SL1
Overview
OperatorArriva London
GaragePalmers Green
VehicleAlexander Dennis Enviro400H City
Began service9 December 2023
Route
StartNorth Finchley bus station
ViaFriern Barnet
Arnos Grove
Palmers Green
Meridian Water
South Chingford
EndWalthamstow bus station
Service
LevelDaily

The route partially parallels routes 34 and 221.

The route runs via the North Circular Road between Arnos Grove and South Chingford.[1]

History edit

The route was first proposed by Transport for London in June 2023 as the second proposed new route in the Superloop network of orbital express bus routes. At the time of the consultation, the route was proposed to be numbered X34. It was proposed to partially parallel routes 34 and 221.[2] Having been renumbered SL1, it was introduced on 9 December 2023.[3][4][5] It is operated by Arriva London as a variation to its route 34 contract that it parallels between New Southgate and Walthamstow.[6]

Current route edit

Route SL1 operates via these primary locations:[7]

Operation edit

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]

Reception edit

Route SL1 has been criticised for not offering a direct link to North Middlesex University Hospital in Edmonton.[9]

Former route SL1 edit

From June 1996 until August 2002, a previous route SL1 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.[10][11] The route was operated by Thorpes and was branded as Stationlink, running an hourly (clockwise) circular service with route SL2 operating in the reverse direction. SL1 & SL2 were replaced by routes routes 205 and 705 in August 2002.[10][11]

References edit

  1. ^ Lydall, Ross (5 December 2023). "Superloop bus network is 'game changer'". The Evening Standard. ProQuest 2898019616. Retrieved 15 January 2024 – via ProQuest.
  2. ^ Proposals for a new limited stop express bus route between North Finchley and Walthamstow (X34 bus route), part of the Superloop Transport for London July 2023
  3. ^ TfL confirms new routes and next steps for the next phase of the Superloop network in outer London Transport for London 7 September 2023
  4. ^ Superloop buses will form orbital route around London by spring 2024 Evening Standard 20 October 2023
  5. ^ New route SL1 introduced - 9 December 2023 Transport for London
  6. ^ Superloop takes shape Buses issue 823 November 2023 page 20
  7. ^ Route SL1 Map Transport for London
  8. ^ "Route SL1 Timetable". Transport for London. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  9. ^ "'Superloop' express bus service arrives in Enfield this weekend". Enfield Dispatch. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  10. ^ a b Enhancement of Accessible Bus Service Linking London's Mainline Railway Stations London Regional Transport 27 June 1996
  11. ^ a b Latest service changes Transport for London 31 August 2002

External links edit

  Media related to London Buses route SL1 at Wikimedia Commons