'Bakerloop' bus route launches in autumn, TfL says

A new bus route named the Bakerloop is set to launch in autumn to connect stations and areas in south-east London.

Transport for London (TfL) said the BL1 express bus service will run between Waterloo and Lewisham and is part of the Superloop network expansion.

The areas the bus will mirror the proposed Bakerloo Tube line extension route covering stops such as Old Kent Road and Burgess Park.

The consultation on the BL1 route closed on 14 March and received mostly positive support from residents and local stakeholders, TfL said.

A bus stop that was proposed on Station Road towards Waterloo has been removed to allow a "quicker and more direct route" for the Bakerloop when leaving Lewisham.

Mayor of Lewisham, Brenda Dacres said: "Lewisham welcomes the launch of the Bakerloop bus and thanks the mayor and TfL for taking action to address the long-standing transport gap in southeast London. But this must be just the beginning."

TfL's director of Public Transport Service Planning said that they will monitor all bus services to accurately reflect customer demand in the area.

The BL1 will operate between 05:00 and 00:30 every 12 minutes during the daytime from Monday to Saturday and every 15 minutes in the evenings and on Sundays.

TfL has also revealed new plans for three further routes - consultations on these proposals are set to begin this autumn.

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