A freshly inaugurated bus route has commenced in south-east London, offering free rides for its first week.

The Bakerloop service operates between Waterloo station and Lewisham, with buses scheduled to arrive every 12 minutes during daytime hours from Monday to Saturday, and every 15 minutes in the evenings and on Sundays.

The electric double-decker BL1 buses will run daily from 5:00 AM BST until 12:30 AM along the proposed extension of the Bakerloo Tube line, making stops at Elephant and Castle, New Cross Gate, and Lewisham stations.

London’s Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan stated: “Constructing an extension for the Bakerloo line will take many years, and I can’t afford to delay enhancing transport connections for London residents any longer.”

He continued, “This is the reason I have introduced the Bakerloop now—a quicker, more environmentally friendly service that builds on the achievements of the Superloop, providing the immediate connections people need while demonstrating the potential transformation the Bakerloo line extension could bring to our city and its economy.”

Lorna Murphy, TfL’s director of buses, expressed enthusiasm about the new BL1 express service connecting Waterloo and Lewisham, promising quicker and more straightforward journeys.

“To mark its launch, all journeys on the BL1 will be free for customers during the inaugural week, and we encourage everyone to take advantage of this offer. As always, we will be monitoring the network closely to ensure that services meet customer needs effectively,” she added.

This new bus route is part of the Superloop initiative, which aims to enhance connectivity among what Transport for London (TfL) identifies as “essential outer London town centres and transit hubs.”

Despite the aging rolling stock of the Bakerloo line, with some trains in operation for 53 years, it has yet to secure funding from the central government.

Starting Monday, 6 October, the standard fare for the BL1 will be £1.75.