London Buses route SL6

SL6
London Central Alexander Dennis Enviro400H MMC at Waterloo station
Overview
OperatorLondon Central
GarageCamberwell
VehicleAlexander Dennis Enviro400H MMC
Began service27 October 1986
Former operator(s)Arriva London
London Regional Transport
Night-timeN68
Route
StartRussell Square
ViaAldwych
Waterloo
West Norwood
Selhurst Park
EndWest Croydon bus station
Service
LevelWeekdays (peak hours only)
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London Buses route SL6, formerly London Buses route X68, is a Transport for London contracted Superloop express bus route in London, England. Running between Russell Square and West Croydon bus station, it is operated by London Central, a subsidiary of Go-Ahead London.

The route partially parallels routes 68 and 468. It runs towards Russell Square in the morning peak, and towards West Croydon in the evening peak.

History

Route X68 commenced on 27 October 1986 as a peak-hour, express version of route 68 operating between Russell Square and West Croydon bus station with no stops made between West Norwood and Waterloo. It was operated by London Regional Transport's Norwood bus garage with Leyland Olympians fitted with high back seats.[1] As part of the privatisation of London bus services, in January 1995 it was taken over by Arriva London.

Upon being re-tendered it passed to London Central on 3 April 2006 being operated by Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs.[2][3] London Central successfully retained the route when re-tendered, commencing new contracts in 2011 and 2018, with Alexander Dennis Enviro400H MMCs introduced with the commencement of the latter contract.[4][5][6] In 2018, a three-axle BCI bus was trialled on the route.[7]

On 31 July 2023, route X68 was renumbered SL6, becoming part of the Superloop network of orbital express bus routes.[8][9] Prior to being renumbered, the buses that operated route X68 also used to operate route 188, but when the buses were being reliveried, this crosslink ceased. During the day buses are stabled at Waterloo garage.[10]

Current route

Route SL6 operates via these primary locations:[11]

References

  1. ^ Wharmby, Mathew (2016). London Transport's Last Buses: Leyland Olympians L1-263. Pen & Sword. ISBN 978 147382 386 0.
  2. ^ Route Alteration Transport for London 3 April 2006
  3. ^ Wharmby, Matthew (2021). The London Volvo B7TL. Pen & Sword. ISBN 978 1 52678 695 1.
  4. ^ Win, Win, Win Bus Talk issue 6 October 2010 page 1
  5. ^ Latest tendered service awards Buses issue 750 September 2017 page 23
  6. ^ Fleet News Buses issue 752 November 2017 page 71
  7. ^ London to try a tri-axle decker Coach & Bus Week 10 April 2018
  8. ^ First TfL Superloop bus route to start this weekend Route One 14 July 2023
  9. ^ Superloop Transport for London
  10. ^ Superloop and night bus expansion in the suburbs but 168 withdrawn Buses issue 823 October 2023 page 20
  11. ^ Route SL6 Map Transport for London

Media related to London Buses route SL6 at Wikimedia Commons