London has a new option for crossing the Thames following the opening of the Silvertown Tunnel on 7 April, including a new Superloop and cycle-only bus route which take advantage of the new link.
The 1.4km tunnel, which was first announced in 2012, now links Newham to the Greenwich Peninsula and allows for the hourly number of buses able to cross the river in the area to increase from six to 21. Transport for London says the new scheme will make journeys faster and more reliable, with average journey time savings expected to be up to 20 minutes at peak times. Delivered in partnership with Riverlinx, which designed, built and financed the project and will also operate and maintain it over the next 25 years., the tunnel will be used by Superloop route SL4 from South-East London to Canary Wharf, along with route 129.
For at least 12 months, the new cross-river bus routes, along with route 108 which uses the neighbouring Blackwall Tunnel, will also be free for pay as you go users. To allow cyclists to cross the river safely, a special cycle shuttle service has also been launched, which is also free for at least a year. Using Enviro200 buses in a bespoke silver and blue design to distinguish it from the regular bus network, the cycle shuttle operates every 12 minutes, seven days a week from 0630 to 2130hrs, and has just one stop on each side of the river.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “The new Silvertown Tunnel will transform travel in the South and East of our city, particularly across the River Thames, and will help to address the chronic congestion and poor air quality around Blackwall Tunnel. The new tunnel will reduce journey times, help to manage pollution levels and improve cross-river public transport.
“The original plans for the Silvertown Tunnel were developed by the previous Mayor of London in 2012. We made a series of significant improvements to make the scheme greener and to include a package of measures to support Londoners, local residents and businesses. This includes ensuring there are discounts and concessions in place, reserving a lane for buses, a free cycle-shuttle service and free bus travel for pedestrians, which will encourage more people to switch to greener modes of transport.”
