Not-so-super Superloop

 21st March 2024

I'm late to the party as usual but have finally ridden on part of the new Superloop branded TfL express bus service. The experience was ... well not that super to be honest. I was in Kenton early evening and wanted to get back to Hounslow West, not in any huge hurry, and the TfL Go app suggested a number of different routes involving combinations of Overground, bus, and Tube and then a step-free suggestion of the Superloop.

Well it was new and shiny and I had the time so why not? It started off well, the 18:10  SL10 rocking up on time for the one stop to Harrow Bus Station and lightly loaded enough to get a top deck front seat. We arrived at Harrow Bus Station with more than enough time to catch the next SL9 Harrow to Heathrow departure and there was an SL9 laying over at the back of the bus station ready to go. Which is where it stayed for the next 10 minutes - despite the app showing it as "due" at Harrow Bus station Stop B - while a large, jostling crowd gathered on the narrow foot-way at Stop B. Eventually it came out of the bus station and... drove straight past. The route indicators no longer displaying "SL9 Heathrow Airport Central" but simply "Transport for London". The crowd continued to swell, scrums forming to board other services at Stop B until another SL9 appeared about 10 minutes later behind a 114 that was already occupying Stop B. The British have a reputation for queuing which at this point they decided to disprove and there was a general melee for another 5 minutes or more until the "New Routemaster" bus was full. I mean full too, standing room only full, and as became apparent when we moved off, scraping the humps and bumps in the road full because these buses have very little ground clearance. 

Off we went into the evening traffic. By Northolt Station I had at least got a seat due to a few passengers alighting albeit not with a window view. Those who alighted were replaced by as many boarding so it was still a full load. Through Yeading and the bright lights of Hayes we went, delayed at several points and now running about 10 minutes late although no longer as tightly packed in. Then it happened. I could hear the conversation between the driver and the control as they told him to terminate at Harlington Corner instead of going all the way to Heathrow Airport, which he questioned, as was told there was another SL9 two to three minutes behind which would pick up any passengers wanting to continue. There was no announcement of the change and the on board displays and audio continued unchanged stating SL9 to Heathrow Airport Central. As we approached Harlington Corner a passenger who had evidently had a good afternoon in the bar went forward to ask if this was the last stop before the airport then returned to inform us "we're all being turfed off here" and sure enough, still without any announcement, the bus pulled into Stop J at Harlington Corner, the hazard lights went on, and the remaining passengers were indeed turfed off.

Sure enough two or three minutes later another SL9 bus rounded the corner... and drove straight past without stopping. Now this wasn't a problem for me as Harlington Corner was where I was to change to the 81 to Hounslow but it did leave quite a few people standing at the side of the road consulting the timetable on the bus stop pole or on their phones and trying to work out their next move to continue their journey. I wonder how many of them were late for work at Heathrow? At least no one had the sort of baggage that indicated they were on their way to catch a flight.

So the Superloop isn't that super and I'm sure it's very useful - as the loading on this SL9 showed - but it still suffers all the uncertainties of other TfL buses but stops in fewer places.

Anyway, that's SL10 and SL9 ticked off.

• Route SL1 - North Finchley to Walthamstow
• Route SL2 - Walthamstow Central to North Woolwich
• Route SL3 - Thamesmead to Bromley
• Route SL4 - Canary Wharf to Grove Park
• Route SL5 - Bromley to Croydon
• Route SL6 - Russell Square to West Croydon (peak services only)
• Route SL7 - Croydon to Heathrow Airport
• Route SL8 - Uxbridge to White City
• Route SL9 - Heathrow Airport to Harrow
• Route SL10 - Harrow to North Finchley

Though I've no intention of riding it all the way round like Geoff Marshall did.