Following the recent news of its expansion, Maxson Goh explores London’s Superloop express bus service and asks whether it can take you from the city to Heathrow for just a single Hopper fare
London’s Superloop express bus network was launched in 2023 and is already seeing ambitious plans for further expansion by Transport for London (TfL), including the newly announced ‘Bakerloop’ service. While most of the current routes focus on connecting outer London boroughs, the SL8 stands out as currently the only full-day route bridging the outer loop with central London, running between White City and Uxbridge. The route also holds the title of being the first to carry the Superloop branding, having been renumbered from 607.
What makes the Superloop especially appealing is its inclusion in the capital’s standard hopper fare system. For £1.75, you can enjoy an hour of unlimited bus travel after your initial tap-in, making it an attractive option not just for faster journeys but also for budget conscious travellers. Intrigued by the potential savings, I set out to test if it was possible to travel from Acton Vale – close enough to the city – to Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 using just one hopper fare, whilst having a closer look at the service itself.
A quick check on Google Maps suggested a combination of bus and Piccadilly Line tube, which would take 56 minutes and cost £3.85. My alternative plan was to get the SL8 towards Uxbridge and transfer to the SL9 at Haynes, which connects directly to Heathrow Central Bus Station. From there, I could get the free train to Terminal 5. The challenge was simple: tap onto the SL9 within an hour of boarding the SL8 to keep my journey within the £1.75 single fare limit.
[…]Are you enjoying this feature? Why not subscribe to continue reading?
Subscribe for 6 issues/weeks from only £6Or login if you are already a subscriber
By subscribing you will benefit from:
• Operator & Supplier Profiles
• Face-to-Face Interviews
• Lastest News
• Test Drives and Reviews
• Legal Updates
• Route Focus
• Industry Insider Opinions
• Passenger Perspective
• Vehicle Launches
• and much more!
