Transport for London (TfL) has put forward plans to introduce a new express bus route, SL15, connecting Clapham Junction and Eltham stations, aiming to enhance public transport options across south London. The proposed service would operate along the A205 South Circular Road, stopping at a selective number of key locations and eight rail interchanges, including prominent stations such as Clapham South, Tulse Hill, Forest Hill, Catford, and Catford Bridge. The SL15 is designed to serve passengers seven days a week, running from 5am until 12.30am, with buses scheduled every 12 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays during daytime, and every 15 minutes during evenings, Sundays, and early weekday mornings.
The express route is envisioned to ease crowded conditions and reduce waiting times on existing busy bus lines, particularly benefiting users of routes P13, 160, and 185. Additionally, it aims to improve connectivity for passengers travelling from Catford to Eltham and facilitate easier transfers with a wide array of other bus services—up to 77 routes—as well as London Underground, National Rail, and London Overground networks. TfL notes that the implementation of the SL15 would not disrupt current bus routes overall, although some local services around Clapham Junction, such as routes C3, 35, 39, 49, 170, 295, 319, and 344, might see alterations to accommodate the new line. Infrastructure adjustments could include a new bus stop built beneath a railway bridge on Falcon Road and the potential adaptation of a disused coach stop at Eltham Station, pending agreement with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, to serve the SL15 route.
This proposal forms part of TfL’s broader Superloop initiative, which launched in 2023 to offer faster, more efficient transport options in outer London, where connectivity has traditionally lagged behind the central areas. The Superloop network currently comprises ten routes, with the soon-to-start BL1 route linking Waterloo and Lewisham expected this autumn. Future expansions include routes SL11 (North Greenwich to Abbey Wood) and SL12 (Gants Hill to Rainham) slated for a 2026 launch, alongside routes SL13 between Hendon and Ealing Broadway and SL14 connecting Stratford and Chingford Hatch, both presently under consultation. The Superloop concept has witnessed substantial uptake, with over 1.86 billion journeys recorded in 2023/2024, reflecting growing public demand for enhanced orbital transport services outside central London.
Significantly, the SL15 would operate with single-deck buses due to infrastructure constraints, specifically a low bridge on Thurlow Park Road near Tulse Hill, where the route passes through. This detail illustrates the importance of tailoring service specifications to existing road and rail infrastructure. The route would intersect with major transport services, including Southeastern trains at Eltham, Thameslink at Catford, London Overground and Southern Rail at Forest Hill, the Northern line at Clapham South, and South Western Railway at Clapham Junction, thus integrating multiple modes of travel.
TfL is currently conducting a public consultation on the SL15 proposal until 30 November 2025, inviting feedback from residents and commuters to help shape the final plans. This engagement aligns with TfL’s commitment to responsive planning that reflects user needs and preferences while aiming to alleviate congestion and improve reliability across the network. Transport experts and local stakeholders are closely watching these developments, recognising the potential for the Superloop routes to transform travel patterns in London’s outer boroughs by providing quicker, more direct orbital connections away from central London’s often congested routes.
📌 Reference Map:
- Paragraph 1 – [1] MyLondon, [2] TfL consultation page
- Paragraph 2 – [1] MyLondon, [4] Greenwich Wire
- Paragraph 3 – [1] MyLondon, [3] TfL Superloop expansion page
- Paragraph 4 – [6] Murky Depths, [4] Greenwich Wire
- Paragraph 5 – [1] MyLondon, [2] TfL consultation page
Source: Noah Wire Services