There was a great deal of local interest and participation in the consultation concerning a potential new Superloop express bus service that would pass through Forest Hill.
We’ve posted a bit more about this, on our blog, but in summary, the new route will be launched in 2027 and connect us with Eltham in the East and Clapham Junction to the West.
We’d be interested to know your thoughts on this and how you see yourself using this, if at all as we do have some conversations with TfL from time to time and would be happy to share member feedback
Well, they could be useful too, but these are slow, local services. One of the complaints with the P4 is that it takes so long to get anywhere because of the route, and that is why it is not as used. Adding more buses wouldn’t change that.
The SL15 is the ‘express’ route, although we are sceptical about how ‘express’ it can be on the South Circular with no bus lanes.
It would be interesting to know if this will be of particular use to anyone here. If so, what is the route or destination that makes sense for you?
Forest Hill – Eltham, to visit Eltham Palace without having to take the car.
Tulse Hill – Forest Hill, useful for late night train/bus connections home.
Well, a genuinely faster service to Clapham Junction would be welcome, if that is what this is. But as other posters have said, how ‘express’ a route using the South Circular can be is doubtful, and I’m more likely to continue to opt for the train from FH station than sit in painful traffic jams for 25 minutes, just to get as far as the junction with Dulwich Common. I have no need to go to Eltham or Catford, although those might be useful links for those using schools there (maybe?) Eltham Palace is a trip thrice in a decade, tops. When Olds are in town, usually,
I think that it’s a good idea. Aside from the Victoria-London Bridge train, there is a lack of public transport to/from South West London.
May not be the quickest. But it will join some dots.
Whilst I welcome a new bus route in all honesty I doubt I’ll use it and would rather they extended the 12 to Penge and ran the 176 to Oxford Circus like they used to.
I feel we are very dependent on the trains when going anywhere central and it only takes a hiccup on the line or engineering works to totally ruin a planned day out, or indeed getting to and from work (if one works North of the river in west London for example..).
I do use the P4 to Brixton or Lewisham but if I wanted to go to Clapham junction I would use a train (from FH or bus it up to DKH if that worked out faster)…Eltham? er no aside from Eltham Palace which we’ve visited once in a decade I see little reason to go there.
My issue with busses in our area (As someone who much prefers getting a bus somewhere even if it takes longer) is many seem to go to Croydon and we could really do with a bus that connects to a station like Canada Water or even Stratford to make it easier to connect to underground lines.
Honestly, I find the wait for some local buses more problematic than how long the journey takes once on board - agree with others that I’m unsure an express bus is going to reduce the time enough vs. the train options to make them viable for long trips. Also agree on links to underground lines - if there were an express bus to Brixton or if the P4 were more frequent and reliable it would make linking to Victoria a better option. I see you already suggested that though and TFL didn’t listen, which is a shame.
I can’t see myself using the SL15 to Clapham Junction over the existing train service. My main concern is that the buses are single decker, so will end up scooping passengers in London Road going to Catford who then have to stand up for ages as it gets stuck on Stanstead Road, especially in the evening peaks who’d otherwise get the 185.
However I welcome a direct bus to Eltham, which we haven’t had since the 124 used to terminate in Church Rise.
If you every find yourself in need of NHS diagnostics, you may find yourself pressured to go to Eltham. It is our SEL Community Diagnostics Centre, which our Government maintain is SO much more convenient because it is “in the community”. It is true though, that the waiting times are shorter. Eltham Community Hospital NHS Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) | Lewisham and Greenwich