London Buses route BL1

BL1
London General BYD Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV at Waterloo station in September 2025
Overview
Operator	London General (Go-Ahead London)
Garage	Waterloo
Vehicle	BYD Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV
Peak vehicle requirement	10
Began service	27 September 2025
Night-time	No night service
Route
Start	Waterloo station
Via	Elephant and Castle Old Kent Road New Cross Gate
End	Lewisham Shopping Centre
Length	6 miles (9.7 km)
Service
Level	Daily
Frequency	Every 12-15 minutes
Journey time	25-43 minutes
Operates	05:00 until 00:30

London Buses route BL1, also known as the Bakerloop, is a Transport for London contracted Superloop express bus route in London, England. Running between Waterloo station and Lewisham Shopping Centre, it is operated by Go-Ahead London subsidiary London General.

History

In November 2006, TfL published a transport strategic report for London, Transport 2025: transport challenges for a growing city. ^[1] The report considered a variety of long-term transport improvements in London, with an extension to the Bakerloo line considered as the most beneficial option for extending the Tube in South London.

During the 2024 London mayoral election, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan proposed an additional 10 Superloop routes across London, including an express bus route via Old Kent Road, prior to construction of the Bakerloo line extension if elected. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Route BL1 began service on 27 September 2025 with free fares for the first week of operation, to incentivise usership. ^[5]

Current route

Route BL1 operates via these primary locations: ^[6]

• Waterloo station
• Elephant & Castle station
• Old Kent Road
• New Cross Gate station
• Lewisham station
• Lewisham Shopping Centre

References

1. "Transport 2025: Transport vision for a growing world city" (Document). Transport for London. November 2006.
2. "Proposal for". Highway News. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
3. "Plans for Further Superloop Routes". Londonist. 31 January 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
4. "Proposed express bus route between Waterloo and Lewisham town centre". haveyoursay.tfl. 31 January 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
5. "New bus route launches with free fares in week one". BBC News. 27 September 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
6. "BL1 Bakerloop bus route". Transport for London. Retrieved 29 September 2025.

External links

 Media related to London Buses route BL1 at Wikimedia Commons