From Finchley to Walthamstow

Superloop is a scheme which incorporates new and existing express routes to form an orbital loop around London, with a few extras. On London Connected we will try our best to provide coverage on the new routes being introduced as part of the scheme. Today's post will focus on brand new route SL1 which has been recently introduced running express from North Finchley Bus Station to Walthamstow Central Bus Station. This route is operated by Arriva from their Palmers Green (AD) garage. But before I get into some details about the SL1 in particular I've listed the various routes below that will make up the complete scheme.

Route SL1 - North Finchley to Walthamstow Central via Arnos Grove (Arriva from Palmers Green AD)

Route SL2 - Walthamstow Central to North Woolwich via Gants Hill, Ilford and Barking (Arriva from Barking DX) - To be introduced early 2024

Route SL3 - Thamesmead to Bromley North via Bexleyheath (Stagecoach from Plumstead PD) - To be introduced early 2024

Route SL4 - Grove Park to Canary Wharf via Silvertown Tunnel (Go Ahead London from Henley Road DS) - To be introduced 2025

Route SL5 - Bromley North to Croydon (Arriva from Croydon TC) - To be introduced early 2024

Route SL6 (formerly X68) - Croydon to Russell Square (Go Ahead from Camberwell Q)

Route SL7 (formerly X26) - Croydon to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 via Kingston (Go Ahead from Croydon C)

Route SL8 (formerly 607) - Uxbridge to White City via Ealing and Acton (Metroline from Greenford G)

Route SL9 (formerly X140) - Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 to Harrow, Bus Station via Hayes (RATP from Harrow SO)

Route SL10 Harrow, Bus Station to North Finchley via Kenton (RATP from Harrow SO)

All routes together will make up the Superloop network, an initiative to improve bus services in outer London. This will involve buses wearing a special livery to help distinguish them from standard bus services which will be calling at all stops.

Route SL1 was introduced on the 9th of December running express between North Finchley and Walthamstow Central, being the first route linking these two areas, the route predominantly follows the line of route of route 34, using the same route between Walthamstow and Arnos Grove before following route 232 to New Southgate, and then route 221 to North Finchley.

As mentioned earlier, the route is operated by Arriva from their Palmers Green (AD) garage, operating as a spin off on the existing 34 contract. The route uses E40H City buses that have been made free by the loss of route 78 a few weeks prior from Ash Grove as that moved to Go Ahead operation from Peckham (PM) south of the river. 

The iBus display for the SL1

I went down to Walthamstow Central on the 9th of December to try to ride the route, however faced with the prospect of a half an hour wait for 4 to turn up together I decided against riding the route and opted to come back another day. I went back on the 22nd of December, this time to North Finchley to have a second attempt at the route. Upon arrival I was lucky to see HA4 preparing to depart and it wasn't long until I was sat comfortably on the front right hand side of the upper deck. I was only one of two people who boarded at the first stop, but there were a few people at the second stop slightly further down on Woodhouse Road. It wasn't long until we were breezing down the road towards Friern Barnet and New Southgate, although we did get caught at some traffic on the approach to Betstyle Circus. Up until this point the bus had been relatively empty, however once we pulled up to the bus stop at Arnos Grove station we picked up quite a healthy load with only a few seats left on the bus to spare. 

New USB ports have been installed

After Arnos Grove, route SL1 uses the North Circular road to get to Walthamstow so I was expecting a fun ride. But before the fun ride could start we had to negotiate a long line of traffic spawning from the junction at Palmers Green. Just as we made that stop the dreaded announcement of a driver changeover went off on the iBus display and a unanimous groan came out of the mouths of many passengers - the first I've heard many people do this so loudly! To say it was quick would be a lie, during the time we were waiting we got overtaken by the all stops 34 before we could eventually make it on our way. Our new driver however was not hasty with the foot pedal, it wasn't very long until we caught up and overtook the 34 which had passed us during the driver changeover. One of the biggest benefits of the SL1 is that it can use flyovers and underpasses while the standard 34 has to exit at them to serve the various communities. We went through the underpass at the Great Cambridge roundabout before existing the North Circular Road to serve Angel Corner and Silver Street Station before we were back on the North Circular. We also had the luxury of using the flyover to go above Meridian Water and Ely's Estate before we could see the Sainsbury's at Crooked Billet, the sign that we were entering Walthamstow. 

All new Superloop buses have an interior map

Unfortunately this is where it all ended up going slightly pear shaped, severe traffic leading to the Crooked Billet ended up in us wasting 15 minutes on the entrance ramp, before we knew it another SL1 had caught us up behind (despite this bus was 20 minutes behind us as we had left North Finchley). Once we finally managed to break free from the traffic at the Crooked Billet, we were greeted by another line of cars with their brake lights on stemming from Bell Corner. After what felt like forever we finally pulled into Walthamstow Central Bus Station with the second SL1 right behind us, and just as I was walking to the station a third one pulled up too! What was a great journey, showing the strengths of express routes and their obvious place within our bus network was ruined at the end by excessive traffic and a lack of bus priority. I think many of us are in agreement that the public should be encouraged to use buses where they can, and that schemes such as the Superloop should be welcomed with open arms, but what's the point when they're subject to the same drawbacks as your standard bus services?

If you are interested in checking out the new SL1 route, below are the stops that the route will stop at. Remember it's an express bus service so will not stop at every bus stop that it passes.

North Finchley Bus Station

North Finchley High Road

Friern Barnet/Friern Barnet Lane

Beaconsfield Road/New Southgate Station

Arnos Grove Station

Palmerston Road

Angel Corner/Silver Street Station

Ely Trading Estate

Crooked Billet/Walthamstow Avenue

Walthamstow/Crooked Billet Roundabout

Forest Road/Bell Corner

Walthamstow Market

Walthamstow Bus Station

Have to say we've not been posting as much as we'd have liked to over the past few months, unfortunately all members of the London Connected Team have been very busy over the past few months. However you can always keep up with the latest on the London Connected Online Chat where we are frequently found