Two new bus routes planned for Silvertown Tunnel

TfL says it is committed to running 20 buses per hour once the tunnel, which will link Silvertown to the Greenwich Peninsula, opens in 2025.
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Transport for London (TfL) has announced that two bus routes will make use of the Silvertown Tunnel, including a new express service to Canary Wharf.

TfL says it is committed to running 20 buses per hour once the tunnel, which will link Silvertown to the Greenwich Peninsula, opens in 2025

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The X239, a new “fast service” will start at Grove Park in Lewisham. Buses will use the A102 before turning onto the Silvertown Tunnel and will be non-stop from the Sun in the Sands pub in Blackheath to Canary Wharf.

There will also be an extension to the existing 129 routeThere will also be an extension to the existing 129 route
There will also be an extension to the existing 129 route

There will also be an extension to the existing 129 route, which will run to Great Eastern Quays in Beckton, Newham.

At present just one route uses the Blackwall Tunnel, the single-deck 108 service which links Stratford International station and Lewisham.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has consistently promised that the adjacent Silvertown Tunnel will be “public transport-focused” when it opens.

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Rob Varney, head of public affairs for TfL, who attended a transport meeting in Woolwich last week said: “One of the commitments as part of the delivery of the Silvertown Tunnel is the implementation of a 20 bus per hour network running both through Blackwall and Silvertown.

"This is an initial proposal that we will start to consult on from November 16, and brings two new routes to the lines in addition to the currently running 108.”

The consultation on the proposed bus routes involving the Silvertown Tunnel – as well as the 108 route which runs through the Blackwall Tunnel – will begin from November 16.

Tunnelling work on the Silvertown Tunnel started in September. Credit: TfLTunnelling work on the Silvertown Tunnel started in September. Credit: TfL
Tunnelling work on the Silvertown Tunnel started in September. Credit: TfL

A TfL spokesperson said: "Once the Silvertown tunnel is open, the total number of buses running through the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels will significantly increase.

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“TfL is committed to running at least 20 buses per hour when the new tunnel opens, and will increase the number of buses over time in response to demand.

“Work on the future bus network is well underway and we have been in discussions with key stakeholders and the Silvertown Tunnel Implementation Group to engage them in this important work.

"A public consultation on the final proposals is expected to be carried out from next month ahead of the new or extended routes launching, to align with the tunnel opening in 2025.

“TfL’s ambition to make all buses using both Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnel zero emission. Subject to the consultation, we will aim to use zero-emission buses from when the Silvertown Tunnel opens in 2025.

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“We also anticipate the overall provision of buses across the wider area to increase over time following the opening of the tunnel, as further developments including at the Royal Docks and Greenwich Peninsula are built out."

Tunnelling work on the new crossing started last month.