Londoners who rely on the SL4 Superloop could soon see their bus take a new route through the Isle of Dogs, as Transport for London (TfL) opens a public consultation on sending the express service via Wood Wharf.
Under the proposals, SL4 buses heading towards Canary Wharf would leave the existing route to travel along Baffin Way, Preston’s Road and Charter Street, rejoining the current line at Cartier Circle. Buses running in the opposite direction would return via Charter Street and Preston’s Road.
The reroute is part of a much wider shake-up of bus services around the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf. Alongside the SL4 changes, TfL is proposing to withdraw route D7 entirely and to alter routes 135, 277 and D6.
TfL says travel patterns on the Isle of Dogs have shifted in recent years, with fewer passengers using some services. The transport authority insists there would be no change to the SL4’s route through the boroughs of Lewisham and Greenwich, meaning Grove Park, Lee, Blackheath and Kidbrooke would continue to be served.
What is the SL4 Superloop?
The SL4 is one of the express bus routes that make up the Superloop, TfL’s network of orbital express services designed to connect outer London town centres and key destinations more quickly than standard buses.
The route runs between Grove Park Bus Station in south-east London and Canary Wharf, calling at Lee, Blackheath, Kidbrooke, Leamouth and East India. With fewer stops than conventional routes, it is aimed at commuters and other passengers who need a faster link into the Docklands financial district.
What the reroute would mean for passengers
For residents and workers in Wood Wharf — the growing district of homes, offices and shops on the eastern edge of Canary Wharf — the change would bring a direct express bus link to south-east London for the first time.
Passengers already using the SL4 would see a slightly altered journey through the Isle of Dogs, with the new alignment serving Baffin Way, Preston’s Road and Charter Street before rejoining the existing route at Cartier Circle. TfL has not proposed removing the service from any of its current stops in Lewisham or Greenwich.
As with any change to the capital’s transport network, passengers are advised to check for disruption before travelling — our live travel updates keep you posted on the latest across London’s rail and bus services.
Have your say on the proposals
The consultation is being run on TfL’s Have Your Say website, where residents, commuters and businesses can read the full proposals and submit their views. It closes on Monday, 16 November.
Anyone can take part — you do not need to live in the area to respond. TfL asks respondents to say whether they support or oppose each proposed change and to explain how it would affect their journeys.
Once the consultation closes, TfL will analyse all responses and publish a report summarising what people said, along with its decision on whether to go ahead. If approved, a start date for the new route would be confirmed later.
To respond, visit haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/isle-of-dogs-bus-restructure before the 16 November deadline.
The proposed changes sit within a borough that is steeped in history — from the naval stories behind Greenwich’s street names to the modern towers of Canary Wharf, the area the SL4 serves is one of the most storied corners of the capital.
Bus network reviews are a regular part of TfL’s work, with routes periodically adjusted to reflect where passengers actually travel. The transport body says the Isle of Dogs has seen significant change in recent years, and the consultation is a chance for those who live, work and travel in the area to shape what happens next.
