The new Bakerloop bus starts this weekend

The new BL1 express bus – known as the Bakerloop – will begin operating along Old Kent Road on Saturday 27 September.

The new express bus service will mirror the route of the proposed Bakerloo Line Extension, connecting Waterloo, Elephant and Castle and Lewisham via Old Kent Road.

It has been made possible, in part, thanks to £5 million of funding from Southwark Council drawn from S106 and CIL contributions made by local developers. It’s just one of the ways in which new developments in the area are helping to deliver social value for the local community.

Part of the Superloop network, the new electric bus service will provide fast journey times between Waterloo, Elephant and Castle and Lewisham. It will operate as an express service, including stops at Burgess Park and Old Kent Road (the two Old Kent Road sites earmarked for new Bakerloo line stations); New Cross Gate; Lewisham station and Lewisham town centre.

It is not intended to be a substitute for the extension to the Tube but to provide additional public transport capacity until the Government gives the project the green light.

The buses are fully electric and have modern features including USB chargers and dedicated priority-seating moquettes. The route will run every 12 minutes during Monday to Saturday daytimes and every 15 minutes during Sundays, evenings and early mornings, increasing capacity along the whole route.

The BL1 is offering free travel for the first week to enable passengers to see how the route can transform their journeys across south London.

Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development at Southwark Council, said:

“The new Bakerloop bus service is an exciting interim step, now providing much-needed additional transport capacity for South London and the increasing numbers of people living along the Old Kent Road. The consultation with the local community showed that this new bus route will make life easier for those commuting now in the area but it will also highlight the urgent need to move on with the Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension.

I’m proud of the role we’ve played in helping to deliver this new service through developer contributions but our attention will not divert from the ultimate goal of seeing the Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension project become a reality – with the backing of 76 per cent of residents and 89 per cent of businesses, we know this will be the key to unlocking new jobs, new homes and a £1.5bn per year economic boost for the national economy.”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

“I’m proud to unveil the Bakerloop – a brand-new, express electric bus service linking communities from Waterloo to Lewisham.

A Bakerloo line extension will take years to build, and I don’t want to wait any longer to improve transport connections for Londoners. That’s why I’ve introduced the Bakerloop now – a faster, greener service, building on the success of the Superloop, that delivers the links people need immediately, while showcasing just how transformative the Bakerloo line extension could be for our city and economy.

To celebrate its launch – and after overwhelming support in our consultation – the Bakerloop will be free to use for its first week. This is a chance for Londoners to experience first-hand how this service can cut journey times, reduce pollution and transform everyday travel across our capital.”

To find out more about the Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension and pledge your support, visit: BacktheBakerloo.org.uk