London Buses route SL6

London Buses route SL6, formerly London Buses route X68, is a Transport for London contracted Superloop express bus route in London, England. Running between West Croydon bus station and Russell Square during peak hours only, it is operated by London Central.

SL6
Overview
OperatorLondon Central
GarageCamberwell
VehicleAlexander Dennis Enviro400H MMC
Began service27 October 1986
Former operator(s)Arriva London
London Regional Transport
Night-timeRoute N68
Route
StartWest Croydon bus station
ViaSelhurst Park
West Norwood station
Waterloo station
Aldwych
EndRussell Square
Service
LevelWeekdays (peak hours only)

The route has two stopping service equivalents, routes 68 and 468.

History

Route X68 commenced on 27 October 1986 as a peak-hour, express version of route 68 operating between West Croydon bus station and Russell Square 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.[4][5][6] In 2018, a three-axle BCI bus was trialled on the route.[7]

On 31 July 2023, route X68 was converted to a Superloop route and renumbered SL6.[8][9]

Current route

Route SL6 operates via these primary locations:[10]

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. Route SL6 Map Transport for London
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