London bus route 472 scrapped as SL11 Superloop launches with a week of free travel

"We're thrilled to see another Superloop express service on the roads serving Londoners in this area. The SL11 will boost travel and journey times and crucially will mean faster connections between the Elizabeth line, DLR, London Underground and National Rail. All bus rides on the SL11 will be free for customers for the first week, so we encourage everyone to take advantage of this offer. As always, we'll continue to monitor travel patterns to ensure the network meets local demand."

"The next Superloop express bus service, SL11, is going into service for the first time this weekend, and unlike other Superloop buses, which roughly ran in parallel to existing stopping buses, the SL11 is a direct point-to-point replacement. With fewer bus stops. The existing 472 bus service runs between North Greenwich and Abbey Wood, and this weekend will be replaced by the SL11 bus service, but as a Superloop, it will skip most of the bus stops currently served by the 472."

"Although introduced to provide a faster bus service, the substantial road works between Charlton and Woolwich will mean most of the benefits will come later. So, as a launch incentive, pay as you go customers will have free travel on SL11 for the first week. Customers will still be required to touch in with a valid Oyster card or contactless card as they board the bus as usual, but won't be charged."

The SL11 Superloop will replace the existing 472 bus route between North Greenwich and Abbey Wood, operating as a direct point-to-point service with fewer stops. The SL11 will skip most stops previously served by the 472 and will omit the slow deviation through Woolwich town centre, reducing journey times and congestion around Woolwich Arsenal station. Substantial road works between Charlton and Woolwich mean many improvements will arrive later. Pay-as-you-go customers must touch in with a valid Oyster or contactless card but travel on the SL11 will be free for the first week. A new night route N472 will serve all former 472 stops overnight.

Read at ianVisits