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Monday, 9 June 2025

London Bus Tender Awards: Route 149 to Continue Using New Routemasters, New Electric Buses for Route 275, and Go-Ahead London Central Wins Bakerloop Express BL1 Contract – Launching in September 2025

 

Bakerloop BL1 Bus - TfL Image

In this special London Bus Tender Awards update, it has been revealed that Arriva London has retained route 149 and will continue to operate three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemasters.

The Bakerloop Express BL1 route, part of the Superloop network, has been awarded to Go-Ahead London Central, who will introduce electric buses. The service is expected to launch on 27 September 2025.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

Route 149 (24h)
Current Operator: Arriva London North
New Operator: Arriva London North
Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR): 30
Vehicles: Existing New Routemaster
Contract Start Date: 18th October 2025
Contract End Date: 21st April 2028

Route 275
Retained by: Stagecoach East London
Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR): 13
Vehicles: New electric double deck
Contract Start Date: 28th February 2026
Contract End Date: 25th February 2033

Route BL1
Current Operator: n/a - new route
New Operator: London Central
Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR): 10
Vehicles: Electric double deck
Contract Start Date: 27th September 2025
Contract End Date: 24th September 2032

Electric vehicles may enter service after the contract start date, dependent on infrastructure and/ or vehicle delivery timescales.
The hybrid vehicles detailed above will meet Euro VI emissions standards.

As for route 149, as I mentioned in my previous article:

Going back to December 2024, Arriva London surrendered routes 149 and 248 due to contract cost issues. As part of my aspiration to see a 100% zero-emission London bus fleet by 2028, coinciding with the next London Mayoral election, Arriva London should have taken the opportunity to retender route 248 with new double-deck electric buses. I would also suggest the same approach for route 149.

As for the Bakerloop BL1, here is the press release from Transport for London (TfL):

• The bus route, which will connect stations and areas between Waterloo and Lewisham, will be known as BL1

• Feedback from the consultation showed there was strong support for the proposal

• The express bus service will mirror the proposed Bakerloo line extension to the Tube

• Proposed plans for next phase of Superloop expansion have also been revealed, with consultations on three further routes to take place this autumn

The new 'Bakerloop' express bus route is set to be in service from this autumn, following positive feedback from Londoners in a recent consultation.
The new express bus service will connect stations and areas mirroring the proposed Bakerloo Tube line extension route, running between Waterloo, Elephant & Castle and Lewisham via Burgess Park, Old Kent Road, New Cross Gate, Lewisham station and Lewisham town centre. Working alongside local councils and partners, the bus route will demonstrate the opportunities presented by the Bakerloo line extension to better connect people in southeast London.
The ‘Bakerloop’ will build on the success of the game-changing Superloop, a 194km network loop of express bus services that has transformed travel in outer London and added more than seven million kilometres per year to the capital's network.
TfL continues to work at pace on plans to further expand the network and has revealed new plans for three further routes, which could bring the benefits of the network to even more people across the capital. These proposals will focus on busy corridors without rail parallels where Superloop can provide a step change in connectivity and journey times between key destinations. Subject to consultation, the next phase of the expansion would include a new SL13 service, travelling between Ealing Broadway and Hendon; a new SL14 service, travelling between Stratford bus station and Chingford Hatch; and a new SL15 service travelling between Clapham Junction and Eltham station. Consultations on these proposals are set to begin in autumn 2025. These plans will help to ensure buses continue to play a critical role in a green, healthy, and inclusive future for London, where more trips are made by public transport, walking and cycling, and fewer by private car.
Since the first Superloop was launched in June 2023, figures show the average increase in passengers on all Superloop corridors (including parallel routes) is 11 per cent, which is nine per cent higher than the network average, proving it is already providing customers with quicker journey times to key town centres, hospitals, schools, and transport interchanges, making sustainable bus travel a more popular option for people in outer London.
Two other express routes are already in the works as part of the Superloop expansion programme. Consultations forming part of this initial phase of the expansion have just closed with feedback currently being analysed. The proposed routes include SL11, which would run between Abbey Wood and North Greenwich, supporting regeneration plans in Thamesmead; and SL12, which would run between Rainham, Ferry Lane and Gants Hill, extending the Superloop network further into outer London. The two proposed routes would enable interchange with existing Superloop routes, with the SL11 connecting to the SL3 at Abbey Wood and Thamesmead, and the SL12 allowing easy interchange with SL2 at Gants Hill.
The consultation into the BL1 'Bakerloop' line route was launched with the Mayor of London alongside local and pan-London stakeholders earlier this year. The majority of feedback from residents and local stakeholders was positive and the proposals were widely supported, with many respondents stating that a new route BL1 would:

• Be more convenient (82 per cent)
• Result in a quicker bus journey time (79 per cent)
• Be used between a few days and every day per week (55 per cent)

Following careful consideration of the feedback received, the route will be implemented with a modification in Lewisham town centre. A bus stop that was proposed on Station Road towards Waterloo will now be removed which will allow for a quicker and more direct route for the BL1 when leaving Lewisham. 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 London boroughs of Lewisham and Southwark have shown support for the project, and, with them, TfL continues to develop plans for the Bakerloo line extension, including tunnel design, station designs and plans for a possible extension beyond Lewisham. The ‘Bakerloop’ service would be part-funded by Southwark Council through Section 106 funding from development in the area.
The Mayor and TfL continue to discuss with the Government how the extension could be funded. The extension from Elephant & Castle to Lewisham would not only upgrade the existing line and connect a historically under-served part of London to the Tube network but would also unlock thousands of new homes and support new jobs and economic growth.
In a separate change, TfL will operate route 453 at a reduced frequency during Monday to Saturday daytimes while enhancing reliability and increasing Sunday early morning frequency. There are several other routes along this corridor providing additional frequency, and alongside the introduction of the BL1, there will be a net increase in bus capacity overall from 58 to 60 buses per hour at the busiest times on Old Kent Road which best matches evolving demand patterns on this corridor. Changes to route 453 will be introduced during the course of this year. There are also several other routes along this corridor providing additional frequency and connectivity to these. All these changes will be kept under close review to ensure capacity continues to be well matched to demand.

Read more

Here is my response to the BL1 consultation, which I have shared on social media:


Highlights of the consultation report for #London Buses #Superloop Route BL1 (Bakerloop): #TfL consulted on Superloop route BL1 (Waterloo to Lewisham) in early 2025. Most strongly supported it. Launch planned for autumn 2025 with minor stop changes. haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/bl1-superloo...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 2:23 PM

Here are the highlights of my posts on X (formerly known as Twitter) and BlueSky. If you have an account on X and BlueSky, you are welcome to like and retweet my posts.

SWR is the first rail service back in public hands, marking the start of Great British Railways. Operators must meet strict standards to join, aiming to boost reliability, cut waste, and restore trust in the network after decades of privatisation. www.gov.uk/government/n...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) May 25, 2025 at 7:32 AM

Transport for London has published new bus priority design guidance – April 2025 Bus priority measures reduce journey times and improve reliability. Emergency services, including ambulance, police, and fire, also use bus lanes to respond more quickly. tfl.gov.uk/corporate/pu...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) May 28, 2025 at 11:43 AM

#TfL has launched new #London walking maps showing times and distances between stations to encourage walking. They aim to boost health, cut congestion, and support the Mayor’s goal of 80% of journeys by foot, bike or public transport by 2041. tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/tfl-lau...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) May 30, 2025 at 10:23 AM

#Transport for #London proposes re-routing bus routes 287 and 687 via Maplestead and Goresbrook Roads, avoiding part of the A13. Route 173 will still serve the A13. Road changes by the London Borough of #Barking and #Dagenham. Consultation ends 13 July 2025. haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/bus-routes-2...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) June 2, 2025 at 4:42 PM

The Bus Services Bill protects vital UK bus routes from sudden cuts, gives councils more control, lifts the ban on public ownership, and boosts investment to improve reliability, safety, and access—supporting communities and the economy. www.gov.uk/government/n...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 11:41 AM

Greater #Manchester has opened its first fully electric bus depot in Ashton, housing 83 zero-emission buses. Part of the Bee Network, it supports 14 electric routes and over 300 electric buses, backed by £2.5bn to build the UK’s first zero-emission network. news.tfgm.com/press-releas...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) June 5, 2025 at 10:26 PM

#London now has over 2,000 zero-emission buses—the largest fleet in Western #Europe. Over 20% of buses are electric, cutting pollution and supporting green jobs. #TfL aims for a fully zero-emission fleet by 2030 to improve air quality and health. tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/london-...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) June 6, 2025 at 1:35 PM

The £122m Greater Manchester Bus Priority Programme cut journey times by 25%, doubled bus use, and reduced serious collisions by 63%. It supported 2,000 new homes, boosted walking and cycling, and improved access with night buses and affordable fares. news.tfgm.com/press-releas...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 2:31 PM

From 16 June, commuter bus fares in #Dublin, #Ireland change with a new Leap zonal system. Four zones replace old fares, making pricing fairer and simpler. Leap Card users get the best value with new passes covering buses, rail, and Luas (trams). www.transportforireland.ie/news/new-lea...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 2:39 PM

I would like to extend an invite for you to follow me on X (formerly Twitter) for transport-related updates. You can find me by searching for @CLondoner92 or by clicking on the direct link to my X page here. I am also present on BlueSky and Mastodon. I look forward to connecting with you on these platforms. Thank you for your support.

Further reading:

Transport for London Shouldn't Debrand the Bakerloop BL1 Bus; It Should Be Used to Promote the Consultation

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