London Buses route SL3

SL3
Selkent Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV at Bromley North station in September 2025
Overview
OperatorSelkent
(Stagecoach London)
GarageBromley
VehicleAlexander Dennis Enviro400EV
Peak vehicle requirement15 (February 2024)[1]
Began service24 February 2024
Night-timeNo night service
Route
StartThamesmead
ViaAbbey Wood
Bexleyheath
Sidcup
Chislehurst
Bickley
EndBromley North station
Length14 miles (23 km)
Service
LevelDaily
FrequencyEvery 12-15 minutes
Journey time44-83 minutes
Operates05:00 until 01:19

London Buses route SL3 is a Transport for London contracted Superloop express bus route in London, England. Running between Thamesmead and Bromley North station, it is operated by Stagecoach London subsidiary Selkent.

History

The route initially used New Routemasters when it launched

On 21 July 2023, a consultation for route SL3 was opened by Transport for London, and closed on 4 September the same year. The route parallels part of route 301 between Thamesmead and Bexleyheath, and part of route 269 between Bexleyheath Shopping Centre and Bromley North station.[2] Route SL3 was awarded to Selkent on 20 October.[3] TfL claimed that 67% of the feedback it received reflected that route SL3 would make their journeys more convenient, and 70% said the new route would reduce their travel time.[4]

Route SL3 was introduced on 24 February 2024, using New Routemasters previously operated by London United on route 9.[5][6][7] It is operated by Selkent.[1][8]

After a competitive tendering process, the contract was reawarded to Selkent from January 2025 with the New Routemasters being replaced by new Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV buses.[9][10]

Current route

Route SL3 operates via these primary locations:[11]

Operation

The route operates at a frequency of a bus every 12 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays and a bus every 15 minutes on Sundays.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b Short term contracts and a zero emission boost for Croydon Buses issue 825 December 2023
  2. ^ "Proposals for a new express bus route between Thamesmead and Bromley (SL3 bus route), part of the Superloop". Have Your Say Transport for London. 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  3. ^ "Route SL3 - award announced 20 October 2023". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 2024-02-18. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  4. ^ Sinclair, Ashleigh (2023-10-31). "TfL outlines next phase of 'Superloop'". Coach & Bus Week. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  5. ^ "Superloop Gets A Bit Loopier With SL5 Bromley To Croydon Bus". Londonist. 2024-02-01. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  6. ^ Lydall, Ross (2023-12-15). "'Boris buses' slammed for poor green credentials to be used on Superloop". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  7. ^ Fleet News Buses issue 829 April 2014 page 96
  8. ^ "Superloop routes growing at above network average, says TfL". Route One. 2023-12-06. Archived from the original on 2023-12-24. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  9. ^ First new buses for Superloop Buses issue 831 June 2024 page 18
  10. ^ Rigby, Andy (2025-01-19). "Superloop-ing". Buses. Retrieved 2025-06-20. Upon tender renewal, Stagecoach will deploy ADL Enviro400 EVs onto the SL3, with Go Ahead London using EBD-class BYD B11E02s on the SL4 and SL7.
  11. ^ Route SL3 Map Transport for London
  12. ^ "Route SL3 Timetable". Transport for London. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
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