🎶Riding the bus, was not my intention, Thus the Superloop is London''s newest invention, I rode it today and to my fascination, you connect all the city from termini to Station🚂🇬🇧🚌
I live in Walthamstow and my little five year old girl loves shouting out SUPERLOOP every time we see one so TFL have definitely got the branding right, my little one approves!
It was a great pleasure meeting you Geoff in thamesmead a few weeks ago. Sorry there wasn’t anything great to show you about thamesmead other than a burned out bin.
9:56 With the Birmingham Outer Circle route, the 11A runs in the anticlockwise direction throughout the circle while the 11C does the same in the clockwise direction. The route is split into two routes with the same numbers and in both directions, one does the part between Acocks Green & Erdington via the South and West of the city such as King's Heath, Selly Oak and Handsworth and the other runs between Acocks Green & via Perry Barr via the East of the City such as Yardley, Washwood Heath and Erdington. From what I know of, the split was meant to be only temporary while the road works were taking place in the Perry Barr area a few years ago, but it does look like National Express has opted to keep this arrangement permanent.
This brings back happy memories of my school days in the late 1970s, when my friend and I did this trip on regular bus services one summer holiday, using a 35p Red Bus Rover ticket. I even recall doing the same interchange in Walthamstow in the dark as I waited for the number 69 to get me back to North Woolwich. It took a lot longer than 9 hours that day, and was a real eye-opener for a kid who had grown up in the outer suburbs of south east London. Thank you!
the fact you mentioned the 90 made me feel really happy cuz it made me feel like "my local bus route was mentioned!" and yea, note that route takes between 2hrs and 2hrs 30mins and also you can make it a loop cuz not only the 90 but the 77 connects the 2 bus routes together so remember Geoff that there is a loop in Glasgow (77 + 90)
I actually scanned it to back too see if Id missed the SL8.. With that kind of title & missing alot of them out then there's a JOB IN TFL's Press Dept waiting for Geoff. This just shows what a load of bo&&ocks the "Super loop Hype" press is. Its not a Loop & alot of the routes already existed & they just just "rebranded" them.. 40 NEW Hospitals spring to mind.
@@paulmark63 You can do the Loop in an hr if the traffic is good.. The Stagecoach Loop that is.. Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Westwood-Margate Loop 🙂
I think it would be nice to have another circular route closer to the centre of London. Nottingham has a number of curious services that go out of the city and then make an arc around the suburbs: Navy Line 3 to Clifton via Wilford and Ruddington Orange Line 35 - City Centre to Bulwell via Beeston and Bilborough Turquoise Line 79 - City Centre to Arnold via Cinderhill, Bulwell and Top Valley Lilac Line 25 - City Centre to Arnold via Carlton, Gedling, Mapperley, Woodthorpe and Daybrook Blue Line 40/40X to City Hospital via St. Ann's, Porchester and Sherwood Then there's the Grey Line 53 which arcs around Nottingham from Clifton in the south to Arnold in the north via Queen's Medical Centre, Beechdale, Nuthall, Basford and Daybrook.
Hello, Geoff - absolutely fascinating video, and you've give me something to do next time I'm down in London! Just a minor quibble about your Birmingham Outer Circle map; the 11A/11C are still operated as two complete circuits, composed of two overlapping sections (Acock's GreenPerry Barr & Acock's GreenErdington Six Ways) instead of the Western/Eastern orbitals you've shown - every Anticlockwise bus is an 11A & every clockwise one is an 11C.
To the tune of 'Purple (T)Rain' Superloop, Superloop ..... Superloop, Superloop ..... I only want to see you riding on the Superloop. Love it Geoff!! Nottingham has a City loop service, there's also a couple of Loop services in Gateshead too.
Birmingham also has the 8A/8C which runs an inner loop around the city centre, something Leicester sort of has with the Hop! One of these days you'll have to come up to the midlands and see what's changing around my neck of the woods!
Many thanks for a much better list of stops. For Chiltern Line users like me, the key one is North Holt Park and I hadn't realised it's on the SuperLoop. Unfortunately, few trains stop at North Holt Park, but perhaps this will help to increase the frequency of trains that stop there.
The SL7 has spited me personally as a resident of Hanworth. It passes right through the high street without stopping, despite us being pretty much equidistant between Teddington and Hatton Cross, the LARGEST gap between stops by about double the next largest, with no more suitable places to stop in between.
Thanks for taking us along on your Super Loop trip. Now I don't have to do it. 🙃 It's a great way to see the surrounding areas around London never-the-less.
Ace video Geoff, that must have taken some making, especially the graphics which are brilliant. I live in Yorkshire and London Transport is probably number 999 of my list of interests, but I cant stop watching your videos! Thank you.
Thanks, Geoff. I lived in London for over 30 years. I miss it and need a London fix now and again - particularly for the sounds & smells of the tube and buses every few minutes. I particularly appreciated this video. We're staying in Richmond soon and will be visiting Croydon. The Google maps route took us by 371 to Richmond Station, then by train via Clapham Junction, which was all fine. But now we can get the 371 to Kingston and then the SL7. A smidge longer maybe but so much simpler. :)
If you want a start on an outer London bus route (not a TFL route but it is limited stop) then you need the 724. It almost forms a ring around north London and parts of surrounding counties running from Heathrow, Uxbridge, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth, Watford, St Albans, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Hertford, Ware and Harlow
Indeed and it was then the X26 before it became the SL7. Always been a great route and it's now even better now that it's part of the Superloop. Also, the SL6 is a rebranding of the X68 bus between Croydon and Russell Square.
Watching you jump from one bus to another reminded me of being a schoolboy in the 1950s. Saturdays we would buy a Red Rover ticket and either see how far we could go on the red buses, or how many we could ride on. Leaving in High Barnet I would go to boat, car and home shows exhibitions at Earls Court or Olympia. The best way was on the London Transport Green Line buses. They had limited stops and stopped right outside Olympia; Earls Court was just a short walk away so very convenient. High Barnet was well served with red and green bus routes, plus the Northern Line tube, though mum hated the climb up the path from the station, she used to sit on the house wall at the 34-bus stop to get here wind back. Luckily the house was owned by a friend of mine, who kept miniature penguins that escaped one day and walked down the underground track much to the delight of passengers on the platform. The power had been turned off by the way.
At 10:14 minutes in, I really hope they explore the possibility of further Superloop routes, especially for those of us in the fringes (zones 5/6 to 9 and higher) and neighbouring areas to London. Whether they make a 2nd loop (one of the bus routes could incorporate the curently hourly Ensignbus X80 route and cut across the Dartford crossing or the new Lower Thames Crossing when it opens) or branch off of the existing loop. Many cross boundary routes are very poor and many non existent. One obvious missing link near me is Chingford to Waltham Abbey, such a route may not have many passengers on its own as the gap is just two miles but if a Superloop route branched out from Walthamstow to Chingford and then Waltham Abbey and possible even on to Nazeing and Harlow, it would be well used and cut down on congestion. Such a route would be really useful for the wider area. The different authorities really need to work together better and fully understand that our transport needs don't stop at county boundaries. Historically, London used to run routes like this up to 30 miles from Central London as limited stop Greenline buses, from my understanding they worked well until congestion became common place. Superloop needs a lot of bus priority for it to last, SL1 took me less than 10 minutes from Walthamstow Market to Silver Street, Edmonton when the A406 is clear at night, which impresses me everytime I think about it!
Hello Geoff I've thoroughly enjoyed the video. Years ago, Sheffield had cross circler city services 2/3 later 2/59 Outer Circler and the 8/9 Inner Circler. That is a services a lot a places need
I don't know about the ones in London, but the versions of UK built double-deckers we have in North-Am have little leg room with the front-most seats. It's a challenge if you're more than average height.
The most exciting part for me was from 8:58 and 9:44 because it features my nearest Superloop bus routes. Although I missed you during this part, it’s cool that you rode on all the Superloop buses to date.
Manchester has the 53, which whilst not now a full loop of the city historically it was. Having originally been a tram/trolley bus and a full loop starting and ending in Cheetham hill. It now goes around the city from Cheetham Hill to Salford shopping centre (hte long way around), leaving a 2.5 mile section uncovered.
In Brisbane Australia there is the GREAT CIRCLE LINE bus route that takes four hours to ride. . . . . with most people doing part of it, having a break. But at least, it is a Single route.
Can't wait... Greenwich did take a few of the bystanders with Blackheath Sun-in-the-sands non-stop could conceivably continue to Crosslink by terminating Canary Wharf and Grove Park while Lewisham resident still supplies requirements become a new service going down as we get near completion date of engineering works, 2025 may be done with route 129 or SL4 previous 'X239'. '239' not being duplicated on the 'SL4' since it was TfL's vacant elsewhere but the plan may have used Sydenham - Lee Green via Westwood Hill, Newlands Park, Lennard Road, Kings Hall Road, Bridge Road, Copers Cope Road, Southend Road, Beckenham Hill Road, Bromley Road, Bellingham Road, Hazelbank Road, Verdant Lane, South Circular Road, Burnt Ash Hill and Burnt Ash Road - Taunton Road (New Bus Stand).
I'm sure there were more express buses back in the day, I rode the 53X (or X53) out to Woolwich and the 68X (or X68) from Euston to West Norwood, plus another one I can't recall the number of that sped along York Way north out of Kings Cross.
the 251 ? of Eastern National out eventually toward Brentwood ? Wasnt there an express in croydon to New Addington. And Stevenage has the SuperBus routes
Edinburgh is an interesting case too, it doesn't have a Superloop with express limited stops per se but it does have a number of routes that travel around the outer areas and connect at key points, allowing you to circle the city without going near the city centre. The city also has a number of Airport express services that don't go via the city centre which can be used and are faster than the more normal routes.
This is something I would do Geoff and I already do it. I find peace in it and relaxation (only if the bus driver drives properly 🙄😂) Good on you Geoff keep up the good work man loving the videos. Been watching for 2 years now 👍
You can definately make it from harrow all the way to east croydon for £1.70 if its late at night or the traffic is good which is a significant distance to travel for £1.70 in london
I Proposed an SL11 Express Route which goes Between Hammersmith Bus Station to Staines Bus Station Via Gunnersbury, Brentford, Isleworth, Hounslow, Feltham & Ashford (Hospital) Being the only Superloop Route to Go outside of Greater London and Hopefully (Unless Traffic) Can Reduce Overcrowding In areas such as Feltham and Isleworth.
SL4 will be the end of superloop considered bricking up new Silvertown tunnel so much less idealistic than SL11-16, I’m sure it’s no coincidence theory. X68 and X140 truly dropped from scaling down express route in order to being constructed and loop around North, East, South or West London clockwise.
Coventry tried a sort of "superloop" route/service. I can't remember the number but NNN A went Anti-clockwise and NNN C went - you've guessed it! - Clockwise. I went on it a few times, but it wasn't well used, so didn't last long.
Sheffield used to have an outer circle ( # 2 and 59) an Inner circle ( # 8 and 9)and a city centre service called "City Clipper" # 500 which used the first bendy buses in the UK !
The 90 in Glasgow used to be a full circular route in a clockwise direction and the 89 was the anticlockwise direction before it all changed. At night there's the 189 and 190 which is subsidised.
Birmingham: the 11C is clockwise and 11A anticlockwise. But was split in 2021 due to Perry Barr roadworks. So if you are in Acocks Green you have to change from the 11C terminating at Acocks Green to the 11C to Erdington. Check out National Express West Midlands.
I know this is a bit sad but I got a bit excited when you travelled on the SL10 as it is in my local area and I spotted all these places I go to the most. In fact I was at Harrow bus station only yesterday - although still not travelled on that route just as yet.
Many years ago I took the 34 from home in Walthamstow to work in Finchley. It was a quick journey on one of the old RT buses with an open rear platform and a conductor. Then shortly before I bought a motorbike they changed it to one of the modern single man buses that spent an age at every stop.
Map is incredible Geoff! But there is one missing stop at Abbey Wood for SL3: Abbey Wood/ Florence Road. It was never advertised but it has a super loop sign and it’s now on the timetable! If you want it for completeness :)
I did the 2 longest bus routes several years ago from Harlow to Heathrow then Heathrow to Croydon. Given the current £2 fare cap I would have saved £10 on the Harlow bus which is timetables to take around 3 hours.
Hey Geoff, in your all the london buses Q&A video you mentioned doing other routes in the UK, you should definitely come and do the UK’s Most Scenic Bus Route, the Coastliner 840 bus to Whitby! I work at the depot in Malton as. Cleaner and it would be amazing to see you do the route, and even stop off at the depot
Well done. Regarding "Superloop" routes around the country, I have taken the 11 Birmingham Outer Circle in its entirety. I'd like to take the 40 around Leicester some day soon. Of course, they paled into comparison with the 360 that used to go around Coventry, but officially that didn't count as it was run by the late, lamentable De Courcey Travel instead of National Express Coventry.
Today on my regular bus I spotted a Routemaster in a side street. Not knowing whether it was parked or not, I got off at the next stop and rather hastily dashed over to take some pictures and admire it. Unlike many others, that one managed to keep its original paint job and design and had been modified only on the inside, there was a tab inside so I assume it is some kind of food truck. I've never seen a working routemaster outside of London before and that unexpected surprise made my day.
Speeding around London is a bit of a stretch. I’m glad you did it though, it’ll save me from ever having the urge to commit to such madness. Enjoyed the vid as always, despite the fact I could think of nothing worse to do personally!
A great, informative video. As I haven’t lived in the UK since 2005, I wondered whether a similar bus route exists on the M25? I think a series of Park and Ride stations (that link to new rail stations) could provide efficient alternatives for traveling around or into London. It would have the benefit of massively reducing traffic into central London. Additional spoke routes for buses would also help. Just heard you mention this as I write!
Dublin has orbital bus services with letters denoting which part of the city they serve (N for northern orbital, W for western, and S for southern), and numbers 2-8 denoting how far from the city centre they run. The S8, W4, and (future) N8 form an outer loop around the city. No eastern orbital though as it would be difficult to run buses across Dublin Bay!
Suggestion for Glasgow….. when the new bridge over the Clyde at Renfrew (2 miles west of Braehead) is complete, the 90 should “complete the loop” and go back over the river, via Yoker, to Partick.
G'day from WA! Perth introduced a circular outer CBD route to link all the university campuses, hospitals and major shopping centres that have limited stops over 20 years ago know as 998 and 999 (depending on direction). Our trainlines are very CBD centric so this route provided a better linkage and frequency between all these 15-20min destinations from the CBD and for those not wanting to go in then back out of the CBD. We have one train line almost complete to start the next between line link opening soon.
West Yorkshire sort of has a circular with the 9 from White rose centre to horsforth and the 10 horsforth to White rose both operated by square peg and independent operator
I’m about to do my journey round the loop. I live on the SL7 so have been deciding whether to jump on here then go all the way round ( that would mean a quick train /bus ride from N Woolwich to Thamesmead then complete the last section home) or. Do SL7 to North Woolwich then come hone and do SL7 /SL5 and SL3 on another day. Or, take a train/ bus to Thamesmead then ride round to Woolwich. Another way I suppose would be get on my SL7 then to N Woolwich and go round anti clockwise wise . Hmmm . I’ll let you know.
Just a correction for Birmingham - the 11A and 11C are both one big loop - 11A goes anti-clockwise and 11C clockwise. It used to be they go round in the loop the same direction all day long, however now they change direction at Acocks Green (not Alcocks Green - typo!) and Erdington, meaning they do a loop and a bit before turning back. And yes, I have travelled the entire loop and got back to where I started from!
13:56 see how that bus had 19 at the back? I drove one of those on rail replacement from brixton garage (BN) covering the trams when east croydon tram stop was closed. Not sure why brixton had 19 on the blinds and i dno why that one in the video - which i believe goes from clapton garage in hackney central (CT) also has 19 on it, because the 19 is from Tottenham garage (AR) and also uses edmontons fleet sometimes (EC). I think companies & garages need to update their fleet better because from experience, i know that the 476s fleet (wvns) still have 19 blinds and im sure the whvs at stockwell still have them too along with camberwell.
Great video and effort Geoff. I will have to try the SuperLoop next time I come to London. I'm in Leicester this weekend so will look for that route 40 on my way round.
Plenty of past express routes over the years that you missed - including the original SL1 and SL2. But the 609 from Barnet was NOT an express route - it was a trolleybus route that also saw a few motorbuses running on it on Sundays for some months (keeping the trolleybus 6xx series route number). When the trolleybuses went and the whole route converted to motorbus, it was renumbered as 104.
Hi Geoff, just a small point on your segment of Express bus routes - others worthy of inclusion could be the D1 and D11? The last day of operation was 12/11/99 so they might not meet your terms of reference. Glad you have discovered the intricate interest bus routes can fester in the transport enthusiast's mind👍
I'm doing the Superloop tomorrow. I'll start with the SL 10 as there a stop very conveniently round the corner from where I live, and go clockwise. I'm not aiming for a record time, it's just so I've done it, but I'll use Geoff's shortcuts at Walthamstow and East Croydon.
I did the entire loop clockwise last weekend on a Saturday and it took me 9 hours, 20 mins in total (including a 56min walk from North Woolwich to Thamesmead via the foot tunnel). Not helped by a huge delay in Ilford, and 3 successive (not good!) SL2s terminating early in Barking. I loved the SL1, as it surfed the North Circular, and petite SL5. The SL9 has too many stops (3 in Yeading alone). SL2 is asking for trouble going down Ilford Lane. SL3s seemed scant of service, and has a needless Bexleyheath Library stop. But all in all it was fun (mostly) whizzing around, skipping lots, and seeing lots of London that was new to me.
everyone seems to be going clockwise and if you abandon the idea of connecting the routes at Woolwich ( ideally the Thamesmead one should run to Woolwich ) some idea that theSL2 should go down north circular but I dont think that will save time if it then has to get in and out of Barking Town Cenre.
Hi Geoff, Birmingham's 11A/C - 'Outer Circle' is (or was) Europe's longest continuous bus route. A and C simply denote anticlockwise and clockwise respectively. Birmingham also has the 'Inner Circle ' bus route 8A/C
tonight the Super Looper bus is gonna blind me
but I won't feel blue, like I always do
'cause somewhere in the crowd there's you ...
Yes Geoff! Love your vids! Keep up the work😊 -John Pierre-Sabate.
@@TheUltimateQuackoh ok
You could say this is an...ABBA Voyage 🌒
Whenever I heard 'Superloop', I kept thinking of the Chas & Dave track Snooker Loopy.
🎶Riding the bus, was not my intention, Thus the Superloop is London''s newest invention, I rode it today and to my fascination, you connect all the city from termini to Station🚂🇬🇧🚌
The "I'm a pensioner and the extortionate bills to heat my home are too expensive so I keep warm and socialise on the bus" experience.
@@simonwinter8839 VOTE REFORM - the alternative to the Globalist Lab-Con-Lib-Nat-Green Uin-party of Westminster.
you'd make better progress to vote Sinn Féin...
No thanks.@@Sarahbryson321
I can remember a l Meture Lady. Who would spend the Night riding Route N98 for warmth and Company
I think us over 60’s who used to enjoy a red bus rover in the 70’s will see this as a challenge/pub crawl
I live in Walthamstow and my little five year old girl loves shouting out SUPERLOOP every time we see one so TFL have definitely got the branding right, my little one approves!
sounds exactly like me lol
(except im not a girl and definetely not 5)
I just think of Chas and Dave every time I see one
I love buses does she
@@thisis_mudchutehaha
Has. She seen a metrobus from Crawley or brighton
It was a great pleasure meeting you Geoff in thamesmead a few weeks ago. Sorry there wasn’t anything great to show you about thamesmead other than a burned out bin.
Hello! It was so lovely to talk to you. Did you see? THEY’VE REPLACED THE BIN! The council went and put a new one in!
The notification abbreviated the title to "I Rode The Whole Superloo...", and I wondered if Geoff was expanding the site types he covers.
No need to take the piss! 😂
Stand by for the #AllTheSuperloos Kickstarter, where Geoff Marshall uses public transport to visit every Superloo in London.
😂😂
well he usd the loo at heathrow
The Superloo is the alternate name for the Superloop that goes through Croydon!
9:56 With the Birmingham Outer Circle route, the 11A runs in the anticlockwise direction throughout the circle while the 11C does the same in the clockwise direction. The route is split into two routes with the same numbers and in both directions, one does the part between Acocks Green & Erdington via the South and West of the city such as King's Heath, Selly Oak and Handsworth and the other runs between Acocks Green & via Perry Barr via the East of the City such as Yardley, Washwood Heath and Erdington.
From what I know of, the split was meant to be only temporary while the road works were taking place in the Perry Barr area a few years ago, but it does look like National Express has opted to keep this arrangement permanent.
And the 8a inner circle
This brings back happy memories of my school days in the late 1970s, when my friend and I did this trip on regular bus services one summer holiday, using a 35p Red Bus Rover ticket. I even recall doing the same interchange in Walthamstow in the dark as I waited for the number 69 to get me back to North Woolwich. It took a lot longer than 9 hours that day, and was a real eye-opener for a kid who had grown up in the outer suburbs of south east London. Thank you!
Really liking these bus videos.
Thanks Paul. Very kind! 😊
I applaud your commitment Geoff. That’s an awfully long loop around London!
the fact you mentioned the 90 made me feel really happy cuz it made me feel like "my local bus route was mentioned!" and yea, note that route takes between 2hrs and 2hrs 30mins and also you can make it a loop cuz not only the 90 but the 77 connects the 2 bus routes together so remember Geoff that there is a loop in Glasgow (77 + 90)
Thanks for this summary. The Super loop bus network is fantastic, and a great addition to the transport network. Well done TFL.
Not only have I been waiting to do this, been disappointed no youtuber has.
Geoff Marshall, a man after my Bus heart ❤
Geoff: I rode the whole Superloop in 9 hours!
SL4, SL6, SL8: ......And we took that personally.
SL6 and SL8 have entered the chat 😂
i did the whole super-loop 10 hours 28 including the SL8 paul
in kent
I was waiting for the SL8 (formerly 607), which is my local bus and the first Superloop bus. :(
I actually scanned it to back too see if Id missed the SL8.. With that kind of title & missing alot of them out then there's a JOB IN TFL's Press Dept waiting for Geoff.
This just shows what a load of bo&&ocks the "Super loop Hype" press is. Its not a Loop & alot of the routes already existed & they just just "rebranded" them.. 40 NEW Hospitals spring to mind.
@@paulmark63 You can do the Loop in an hr if the traffic is good.. The Stagecoach Loop that is.. Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Westwood-Margate Loop 🙂
I don't care if other people did the superloop, it's way more understandable when you do it
I like the fact that it wasn't a race and a relaxed affair
I think it would be nice to have another circular route closer to the centre of London.
Nottingham has a number of curious services that go out of the city and then make an arc around the suburbs:
Navy Line 3 to Clifton via Wilford and Ruddington
Orange Line 35 - City Centre to Bulwell via Beeston and Bilborough
Turquoise Line 79 - City Centre to Arnold via Cinderhill, Bulwell and Top Valley
Lilac Line 25 - City Centre to Arnold via Carlton, Gedling, Mapperley, Woodthorpe and Daybrook
Blue Line 40/40X to City Hospital via St. Ann's, Porchester and Sherwood
Then there's the Grey Line 53 which arcs around Nottingham from Clifton in the south to Arnold in the north via Queen's Medical Centre, Beechdale, Nuthall, Basford and Daybrook.
Hello, Geoff - absolutely fascinating video, and you've give me something to do next time I'm down in London!
Just a minor quibble about your Birmingham Outer Circle map; the 11A/11C are still operated as two complete circuits, composed of two overlapping sections (Acock's GreenPerry Barr & Acock's GreenErdington Six Ways) instead of the Western/Eastern orbitals you've shown - every Anticlockwise bus is an 11A & every clockwise one is an 11C.
Birmingham has two circular routes the 8A/8C to inner Circle
To the tune of 'Purple (T)Rain'
Superloop, Superloop .....
Superloop, Superloop .....
I only want to see you riding on the Superloop.
Love it Geoff!! Nottingham has a City loop service, there's also a couple of Loop services in Gateshead too.
Underrated.
Birmingham also has the 8A/8C which runs an inner loop around the city centre, something Leicester sort of has with the Hop!
One of these days you'll have to come up to the midlands and see what's changing around my neck of the woods!
Leicester also now has the 40, which is a suburban loop similar to the Superloop
I got 6 hours and 55 minutes doing the whole loop! I did it in the fastest time geoff
Nice video Geoff, some of the maps and diagrams were great in the video but riding the entire Superloop that is a hell of a journey.
You're spoiling us with yet another superb bus video! Keep them coming!
Wow so many, sl buses around and where they went that's a great journey to go on 😊
Thank you Geoff for taking us along on your TFL's Super-loop adventure .
Having sampled SL5 last week, was thinking about doing it myself... once I've worked out a decent pub near to each change!
The things you do for your art, Geoff! A martyr to motion. Keep going!
Many thanks for a much better list of stops.
For Chiltern Line users like me, the key one is North Holt Park and I hadn't realised it's on the SuperLoop.
Unfortunately, few trains stop at North Holt Park, but perhaps this will help to increase the frequency of trains that stop there.
The SL7 has spited me personally as a resident of Hanworth. It passes right through the high street without stopping, despite us being pretty much equidistant between Teddington and Hatton Cross, the LARGEST gap between stops by about double the next largest, with no more suitable places to stop in between.
The Superloop sounds fun and I like this series of bus content.
These Buses are a gamechanger , Thankyou Geoff . I was like , WOW that you put yourself through this ,, I salute you 👍👍🙏🙏💯💯
Thanks for the clarification on the Hopper Fare, geoff. I hope Busses stay in the Mix of content on your channel.
Geoff im not from London but find all London bus video's absolutely fascinating and very informative
Thanks for taking us along on your Super Loop trip. Now I don't have to do it. 🙃 It's a great way to see the surrounding areas around London never-the-less.
Ace video Geoff, that must have taken some making, especially the graphics which are brilliant. I live in Yorkshire and London Transport is probably number 999 of my list of interests, but I cant stop watching your videos! Thank you.
Thanks, Geoff. I lived in London for over 30 years. I miss it and need a London fix now and again - particularly for the sounds & smells of the tube and buses every few minutes. I particularly appreciated this video. We're staying in Richmond soon and will be visiting Croydon. The Google maps route took us by 371 to Richmond Station, then by train via Clapham Junction, which was all fine. But now we can get the 371 to Kingston and then the SL7. A smidge longer maybe but so much simpler. :)
Hi Geoff, another of the former Express buses was the X68 - Russell Square to Croydon.
When talking about the loop services. Cardiff has 2 (1 City Circle: Clockwise and 2 City Circle: Anti-clockwis)
Does Vienna still have the 1 and 2 trams around the ring?
If you want a start on an outer London bus route (not a TFL route but it is limited stop) then you need the 724. It almost forms a ring around north London and parts of surrounding counties running from Heathrow, Uxbridge, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth, Watford, St Albans, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Hertford, Ware and Harlow
13:25 geoff looks knackered 😂
Well done bro, iSalute ya
Bus-ted! Wow...My next visit to London, I'll do that, albeit start earlier so as to get it all in during daylight.
You should have mentioned that the SL7 is a reincarnation of the famous Green Line 726 and that was always a busy route
Indeed and it was then the X26 before it became the SL7. Always been a great route and it's now even better now that it's part of the Superloop.
Also, the SL6 is a rebranding of the X68 bus between Croydon and Russell Square.
pedantly part of the 726 ( a Darford / Bluewater connection should be useful still)
The 725 (Gravesend-Windsor) was even more famous. A Green Line that didn't serve central London! A sort of South Circular@@highpath4776
He mentioned the immediate predecessor, the X26.
Watching you jump from one bus to another reminded me of being a schoolboy in the 1950s. Saturdays we would buy a Red Rover ticket and either see how far we could go on the red buses, or how many we could ride on. Leaving in High Barnet I would go to boat, car and home shows exhibitions at Earls Court or Olympia. The best way was on the London Transport Green Line buses. They had limited stops and stopped right outside Olympia; Earls Court was just a short walk away so very convenient. High Barnet was well served with red and green bus routes, plus the Northern Line tube, though mum hated the climb up the path from the station, she used to sit on the house wall at the 34-bus stop to get here wind back. Luckily the house was owned by a friend of mine, who kept miniature penguins that escaped one day and walked down the underground track much to the delight of passengers on the platform. The power had been turned off by the way.
Birmingham also has the 8C/A which is also circular, but more into the actually city, the 11 goes around more outward of the city
At 10:14 minutes in, I really hope they explore the possibility of further Superloop routes, especially for those of us in the fringes (zones 5/6 to 9 and higher) and neighbouring areas to London. Whether they make a 2nd loop (one of the bus routes could incorporate the curently hourly Ensignbus X80 route and cut across the Dartford crossing or the new Lower Thames Crossing when it opens) or branch off of the existing loop. Many cross boundary routes are very poor and many non existent. One obvious missing link near me is Chingford to Waltham Abbey, such a route may not have many passengers on its own as the gap is just two miles but if a Superloop route branched out from Walthamstow to Chingford and then Waltham Abbey and possible even on to Nazeing and Harlow, it would be well used and cut down on congestion. Such a route would be really useful for the wider area. The different authorities really need to work together better and fully understand that our transport needs don't stop at county boundaries. Historically, London used to run routes like this up to 30 miles from Central London as limited stop Greenline buses, from my understanding they worked well until congestion became common place. Superloop needs a lot of bus priority for it to last, SL1 took me less than 10 minutes from Walthamstow Market to Silver Street, Edmonton when the A406 is clear at night, which impresses me everytime I think about it!
Leicester has an inner ring as well called the hop.
It also had an older inner ring that was further out than the current inner ring.
Hello Geoff
I've thoroughly enjoyed the video. Years ago, Sheffield had cross circler city services 2/3 later 2/59 Outer Circler and the 8/9 Inner Circler. That is a services a lot a places need
0:58 Geoff, you monster! What UA-camr doesn't sit at the front window, on the upper deck of a double-decker bus?
I don't know about the ones in London, but the versions of UK built double-deckers we have in North-Am have little leg room with the front-most seats. It's a challenge if you're more than average height.
@@stephensaines7100same in the Uk
Still worth it
Best seat is the one behind the stairs the front ones don't have the leg room as the wall is in the way
@@dancapewell It's the same behind the stairs. The best seat is the one behind the one behind the stairs.
In the summer, you bake in the front seats and the front windows don't open. In the 1960s, some buses had hopper ventilators.
The most exciting part for me was from 8:58 and 9:44 because it features my nearest Superloop bus routes. Although I missed you during this part, it’s cool that you rode on all the Superloop buses to date.
Manchester has the 53, which whilst not now a full loop of the city historically it was. Having originally been a tram/trolley bus and a full loop starting and ending in Cheetham hill. It now goes around the city from Cheetham Hill to Salford shopping centre (hte long way around), leaving a 2.5 mile section uncovered.
In Brisbane Australia there is the GREAT CIRCLE LINE bus route that takes four hours to ride. . . . . with most people doing part of it, having a break. But at least, it is a Single route.
Don’t forget to tick off the SL4 route when it commences next year 😁👍
Can't wait... Greenwich did take a few of the bystanders with Blackheath Sun-in-the-sands non-stop could conceivably continue to Crosslink by terminating Canary Wharf and Grove Park while Lewisham resident still supplies requirements become a new service going down as we get near completion date of engineering works, 2025 may be done with route 129 or SL4 previous 'X239'. '239' not being duplicated on the 'SL4' since it was TfL's vacant elsewhere but the plan may have used Sydenham - Lee Green via Westwood Hill, Newlands Park, Lennard Road, Kings Hall Road, Bridge Road, Copers Cope Road, Southend Road, Beckenham Hill Road, Bromley Road, Bellingham Road, Hazelbank Road, Verdant Lane, South Circular Road, Burnt Ash Hill and Burnt Ash Road - Taunton Road (New Bus Stand).
I bumped into you at North Finchley bus station while you were doing this! It was great to meet you bro!
You too! 👋
I'm sure there were more express buses back in the day, I rode the 53X (or X53) out to Woolwich and the 68X (or X68) from Euston to West Norwood, plus another one I can't recall the number of that sped along York Way north out of Kings Cross.
the 251 ? of Eastern National out eventually toward Brentwood ? Wasnt there an express in croydon to New Addington. And Stevenage has the SuperBus routes
I thought there was an X from West Norwood to Croydon? I use to go to college in West Norwood and would occasionally bunk off!😂
@@maryapatterson probably got forgotten as the X68 ( one ways in peak flow only) , now the SL whatever )
@@highpath4776 SL6
@@maryapatterson It is now the SL6
Edinburgh is an interesting case too, it doesn't have a Superloop with express limited stops per se but it does have a number of routes that travel around the outer areas and connect at key points, allowing you to circle the city without going near the city centre. The city also has a number of Airport express services that don't go via the city centre which can be used and are faster than the more normal routes.
This is something I would do Geoff and I already do it. I find peace in it and relaxation (only if the bus driver drives properly 🙄😂) Good on you Geoff keep up the good work man loving the videos. Been watching for 2 years now 👍
Superloop for the win (also Kingston spelt as Kington on your proposed map)
Also Acocks Green, on the Birmingham map, had an extra L - Alcocks Green
aagh! there's always a typo!
@@iainwasson6822well always a cock somewhere spots it letting all cocks know about it.
Perry Barr had 1 R missing
Thanks!
There was also the X71 between Ham BAC Works & Malden Rushett.
Thank you for all your hard work.
Thank you kindly.
Good show.
A10/V10.
Beautiful.
Cheers m8.
You can definately make it from harrow all the way to east croydon for £1.70 if its late at night or the traffic is good which is a significant distance to travel for £1.70 in london
I Proposed an SL11 Express Route which goes Between Hammersmith Bus Station to Staines Bus Station Via Gunnersbury, Brentford, Isleworth, Hounslow, Feltham & Ashford (Hospital) Being the only Superloop Route to Go outside of Greater London and Hopefully (Unless Traffic) Can Reduce Overcrowding In areas such as Feltham and Isleworth.
Unlikely to get Staines, as it's outside GLA
@@TheWildeFish Please note: Some bus routes go outside of greater London like 465 and 81.
@@FABIOA.V.P Old long established ones these are. Brand new route is very slim, unless a developer chips in (e.g 324 extension)
@@TheWildeFish Good Point, but it doesn’t mean it is Impossible ;)
SL4 will be the end of superloop considered bricking up new Silvertown tunnel so much less idealistic than SL11-16, I’m sure it’s no coincidence theory. X68 and X140 truly dropped from scaling down express route in order to being constructed and loop around North, East, South or West London clockwise.
Coventry tried a sort of "superloop" route/service. I can't remember the number but NNN A went Anti-clockwise and NNN C went - you've guessed it! - Clockwise. I went on it a few times, but it wasn't well used, so didn't last long.
It was the 360, a reference to the number of degrees in a circle.
Well done Geoff ! A marathon. I remember taking the wrong bus from Heathrow to Kingston where I used to live. 3 hours
Sheffield used to have an outer circle ( # 2 and 59) an Inner circle ( # 8 and 9)and a city centre service called "City Clipper" # 500 which used the first bendy buses in the UK !
The 90 in Glasgow used to be a full circular route in a clockwise direction and the 89 was the anticlockwise direction before it all changed. At night there's the 189 and 190 which is subsidised.
Congrats to you for doing it
Birmingham: the 11C is clockwise and 11A anticlockwise. But was split in 2021 due to Perry Barr roadworks. So if you are in Acocks Green you have to change from the 11C terminating at Acocks Green to the 11C to Erdington. Check out National Express West Midlands.
Its rough tho thevareas its badboy areas it goes through
Great video Geoff. Judy to add Liverpool also has a loop service. Route 26/27 one goes clockwise and the other anti clockwise.
I know this is a bit sad but I got a bit excited when you travelled on the SL10 as it is in my local area and I spotted all these places I go to the most. In fact I was at Harrow bus station only yesterday - although still not travelled on that route just as yet.
Many years ago I took the 34 from home in Walthamstow to work in Finchley. It was a quick journey on one of the old RT buses with an open rear platform and a conductor. Then shortly before I bought a motorbike they changed it to one of the modern single man buses that spent an age at every stop.
This looks like a fun day out 🤩 Might have to do it myself one day 🩷🧡💚
Map is incredible Geoff! But there is one missing stop at Abbey Wood for SL3: Abbey Wood/ Florence Road. It was never advertised but it has a super loop sign and it’s now on the timetable! If you want it for completeness :)
I did the 2 longest bus routes several years ago from Harlow to Heathrow then Heathrow to Croydon. Given the current £2 fare cap I would have saved £10 on the Harlow bus which is timetables to take around 3 hours.
Hey Geoff, in your all the london buses Q&A video you mentioned doing other routes in the UK, you should definitely come and do the UK’s Most Scenic Bus Route, the Coastliner 840 bus to Whitby! I work at the depot in Malton as. Cleaner and it would be amazing to see you do the route, and even stop off at the depot
Well done. Regarding "Superloop" routes around the country, I have taken the 11 Birmingham Outer Circle in its entirety. I'd like to take the 40 around Leicester some day soon. Of course, they paled into comparison with the 360 that used to go around Coventry, but officially that didn't count as it was run by the late, lamentable De Courcey Travel instead of National Express Coventry.
Today on my regular bus I spotted a Routemaster in a side street. Not knowing whether it was parked or not, I got off at the next stop and rather hastily dashed over to take some pictures and admire it. Unlike many others, that one managed to keep its original paint job and design and had been modified only on the inside, there was a tab inside so I assume it is some kind of food truck. I've never seen a working routemaster outside of London before and that unexpected surprise made my day.
Thanks for the brilliant maps!
Speeding around London is a bit of a stretch. I’m glad you did it though, it’ll save me from ever having the urge to commit to such madness. Enjoyed the vid as always, despite the fact I could think of nothing worse to do personally!
A great, informative video. As I haven’t lived in the UK since 2005, I wondered whether a similar bus route exists on the M25? I think a series of Park and Ride stations (that link to new rail stations) could provide efficient alternatives for traveling around or into London. It would have the benefit of massively reducing traffic into central London. Additional spoke routes for buses would also help. Just heard you mention this as I write!
There's also 8A 8c inner circle in Brum as well
Dublin has orbital bus services with letters denoting which part of the city they serve (N for northern orbital, W for western, and S for southern), and numbers 2-8 denoting how far from the city centre they run. The S8, W4, and (future) N8 form an outer loop around the city. No eastern orbital though as it would be difficult to run buses across Dublin Bay!
Not express services though 😢😢
Suggestion for Glasgow….. when the new bridge over the Clyde at Renfrew (2 miles west of Braehead) is complete, the 90 should “complete the loop” and go back over the river, via Yoker, to Partick.
G'day from WA! Perth introduced a circular outer CBD route to link all the university campuses, hospitals and major shopping centres that have limited stops over 20 years ago know as 998 and 999 (depending on direction). Our trainlines are very CBD centric so this route provided a better linkage and frequency between all these 15-20min destinations from the CBD and for those not wanting to go in then back out of the CBD. We have one train line almost complete to start the next between line link opening soon.
West Yorkshire sort of has a circular with the 9 from White rose centre to horsforth and the 10 horsforth to White rose both operated by square peg and independent operator
I’m about to do my journey round the loop. I live on the SL7 so have been deciding whether to jump on here then go all the way round ( that would mean a quick train /bus ride from N Woolwich to Thamesmead then complete the last section home) or. Do SL7 to North Woolwich then come hone and do SL7 /SL5 and SL3 on another day. Or, take a train/ bus to Thamesmead then ride round to Woolwich. Another way I suppose would be get on my SL7 then to N Woolwich and go round anti clockwise wise . Hmmm . I’ll let you know.
Just a correction for Birmingham - the 11A and 11C are both one big loop - 11A goes anti-clockwise and 11C clockwise. It used to be they go round in the loop the same direction all day long, however now they change direction at Acocks Green (not Alcocks Green - typo!) and Erdington, meaning they do a loop and a bit before turning back. And yes, I have travelled the entire loop and got back to where I started from!
Also, Birmingham has the 8A/C Inner Circle, which skirts around the City Centre of Birmingham.
ah! Good info .. thanks Andy!
@@geofftech2 no problem Geoff!
13:56 see how that bus had 19 at the back? I drove one of those on rail replacement from brixton garage (BN) covering the trams when east croydon tram stop was closed. Not sure why brixton had 19 on the blinds and i dno why that one in the video - which i believe goes from clapton garage in hackney central (CT) also has 19 on it, because the 19 is from Tottenham garage (AR) and also uses edmontons fleet sometimes (EC).
I think companies & garages need to update their fleet better because from experience, i know that the 476s fleet (wvns) still have 19 blinds and im sure the whvs at stockwell still have them too along with camberwell.
Until I virtually met Geoff, I never realised that transport was so touching funny and profound. It is love. Defo Not an infatuation
Great video and effort Geoff. I will have to try the SuperLoop next time I come to London. I'm in Leicester this weekend so will look for that route 40 on my way round.
Excellent video Geoff as always
Plenty of past express routes over the years that you missed - including the original SL1 and SL2.
But the 609 from Barnet was NOT an express route - it was a trolleybus route that also saw a few motorbuses running on it on Sundays for some months (keeping the trolleybus 6xx series route number). When the trolleybuses went and the whole route converted to motorbus, it was renumbered as 104.
Hi Geoff, just a small point on your segment of Express bus routes - others worthy of inclusion could be the D1 and D11? The last day of operation was 12/11/99 so they might not meet your terms of reference. Glad you have discovered the intricate interest bus routes can fester in the transport enthusiast's mind👍
I'm doing the Superloop tomorrow. I'll start with the SL 10 as there a stop very conveniently round the corner from where I live, and go clockwise. I'm not aiming for a record time, it's just so I've done it, but I'll use Geoff's shortcuts at Walthamstow and East Croydon.
What a work ethic you have mate, impressive
Thank you for the video Geoff that was very interesting and great information. ❤
I did the entire loop clockwise last weekend on a Saturday and it took me 9 hours, 20 mins in total (including a 56min walk from North Woolwich to Thamesmead via the foot tunnel). Not helped by a huge delay in Ilford, and 3 successive (not good!) SL2s terminating early in Barking.
I loved the SL1, as it surfed the North Circular, and petite SL5. The SL9 has too many stops (3 in Yeading alone). SL2 is asking for trouble going down Ilford Lane. SL3s seemed scant of service, and has a needless Bexleyheath Library stop. But all in all it was fun (mostly) whizzing around, skipping lots, and seeing lots of London that was new to me.
Maybe doing it on a Sunday would be the quiet, best time? If you started on the first 5am bus on a Sunday … that would be the way to do it!
@@geofftech2 Easter Sunday , big shops are shut ( but also this Easter Sunday its overground to London Bridge ( Mildmay line or Windrush ?)
everyone seems to be going clockwise and if you abandon the idea of connecting the routes at Woolwich ( ideally the Thamesmead one should run to Woolwich ) some idea that theSL2 should go down north circular but I dont think that will save time if it then has to get in and out of Barking Town Cenre.
Would not be a great experience for through passengers having to endure a round Barking tour
My 9hrs 20mins did also include the NW-Thamesmead walk - I wanted to complete the loop, and quite fancied a walk after all that sitting!
More Cities need the Superloop, we used have one and called it the Rover.
Very good..will be in the ol Dart December. Looks good the man from Oz.
Agree with the half-way split, totally agree Geoff.. ; )
You're always so cheery Geoff. Yet to see a clip where you get naffed off ans must happen with trains and busses
Hi Geoff, Birmingham's 11A/C - 'Outer Circle' is (or was) Europe's longest continuous bus route. A and C simply denote anticlockwise and clockwise respectively. Birmingham also has the 'Inner Circle ' bus route 8A/C