The new Bakerloop bus route will be in service from this autumn after the consultation for the proposal led to positive feedback from residents in Southwark and the wider capital.
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.
After the consultation was launched in January to gather sentiment on the proposed new bus, the majority of feedback from residents and local stakeholders was positive and the proposals were widely supported, with many respondents stating that the new service 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)
Councillor Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “The huge support from local people for the Bakerloop bus service is great to see and we all look forward to this bus making life easier for those who live and commute on the Old Kent Road. It is also a big step towards showing the impact the Bakerloo Line Extension can make.
“Last month we found out that 76% of London’s residents and 89% of businesses in the capital support the plans to upgrade and extend the Bakerloo Line. If we can get this over the line it will boost the economy by £1.5 bn per year and help to support the delivery of 150,000 jobs across the full length of the line.”