Superloop SL15: TfL reveals plan to give Eltham a Clapham omnibus

Transport for London has revealed its long-awaited plan to put Eltham on the Superloop express bus network – with a limited-stop service running to Clapham Junction.

The SL15 would run from Eltham station, down Eltham Hill and then via the South Circular Road to Catford, Forest Hill, West Dulwich, Tulse Hill, Streatham Place, Clapham South station and Clapham Junction.

Its only stop in Eltham town centre would be at the quieter western end of the high street, with other stops at the Yorkshire Grey roundabout, Baring Road, Lewisham Town Hall, Catford Bridge station, Kilmorie Road, Forest Hill station and Wood Vale before continuing to West Dulwich station and beyond.

A low railway bridge close to Tulse Hill station means the route would only use single-decker buses. Services would run every 12 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes, and every 15 minutes in the evening and on Sundays.

Only a handful of bus routes run across south London, with the lack of services traditionally having been blamed on the notorious queues on the South Circular. No direct bus links Forest Hill and West Dulwich, even though they are less than two miles apart.

The SL15 would connect those places, but run straight into many traffic hotspots along its route, such as Brownhill Road and Dulwich Common – and TfL predicts that an end-to-end trip could take as long as 70 minutes. But it would be cheaper than travelling by train into central London and back out again.

The new service is part of the second tranche of Superloop services, which were promised in mayor Sir Sadiq Khan’s election manifesto, along with the BL1 fast bus from Lewisham to Waterloo, which started last month. New services in east and west London are also being consulted on.

All are additions to the network, with the exception of the North Greenwich to Abbey Wood SL11 route, which will replace the 472 early next year, meaning a reduction in service for parts of Thamesmead, Woolwich and Charlton.

A consultation into the proposed SL15 is now open on the TfL website.