Silvertown Tunnel bus changes
The Silvertown Tunnel will allow more buses to cross the river in this area - from 6 to 21 buses an hour in each direction during the busiest times (07:00-19:00 Monday to Friday). All buses will be zero-emission at the tailpipe.
Free pay as you go fares for the first year
Pay as you go travel is free on these routes for at least 12 months after the tunnel opens. You must touch in with a valid Oyster card or contactless card or device, but the fare will be £0.00.
Pay as you go customers will be able to start and end their journeys at any point along the bus routes. Touch in as you board the bus with a:
- Contactless card or device
- Valid concession photocard
- Credit for pay as you go travel on an Oyster card
Although the pay as you go fare will be £0 and no money will be taken from your chosen payment method, you will need to ensure your payment method is valid and doesn't have a negative balance.
There are no changes to the Hopper fare or pay as you go fare caps.
60+ and Older Person's Freedom Passes
Customers with valid 60+ London Oyster cards and Older Person's Freedom Passes must still touch in on a card reader as usual. To get free travel travel on these 3 bus routes 04:30-08:59 on weekdays, use contactless or a valid Oyster card.
Route 108
We're changing our services on route 108 which runs between Lewisham station and Stratford International via the Blackwall Tunnel.
- Route 108 towards Lewisham station will be slightly re-routed near the Blackwall Tunnel using a new bus-only slip road to allow quicker and prioritised bus journeys to North Greenwich Station
- This means bus stop MW on Millennium Way will not be served. For travel to or from stop MW on Millennium Way use existing route 188 or extended route 129 instead. You can change between routes 108, 129 or 188 at North Greenwich bus station
- Stops MU and MV on Tunnel Avenue will remain closed and route 108 towards Stratford will not stop there because of ongoing works. We apologise for the ongoing inconvenience and hope to be able to return route 108 to this bus stop soon
Route 129
When the Silvertown Tunnel opens route 129 will be extended to run via the tunnel between Lewisham shopping centre and Gallions Reach, Great Eastern Quay using zero emission double deck buses.
Buses will run:
- Every 8 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Fridays
- Every 10 minutes during the daytime on Saturdays
- Every 12 minutes in the evenings and all day on Sundays
First buses will depart Lewisham at 05:00 and depart Gallions Reach at 04:45 every day.
Last buses will depart Lewisham 01:00 and depart Gallions Reach at 00:15 every day.
Route 129 will not travel down Dock Road during highway improvements in the area - the first and last stop before crossing the river will be at West Silvertown. Buses will stop at Dock Road again when the works finish - we expect this to happen later in 2025.
Superloop route SL4
We're introducing brand new Superloop bus route SL4 between Grove Park and Westferry Circus.
Buses will:
- Call at all stops between Grove Park and Kidbrooke Park Road via Lee station and Blackheath station
- Run non-stop between Kidbrooke Park Road and Leamouth via the new Silvertown Tunnel
- Call at all stops between Leamouth and Westferry Circus. via East India station and Canary Wharf stations
Buses will run:
- Every 8 minutes during the day Monday to Friday
- Every 15 minutes during evenings and on Saturday and Sunday
- Every 20 minutes in the early mornings on weekends
Route SL4 will be served by brand new electric double-deck vehicles.
Details about where the these routes will run and stop are on the Bus changes page.
Travelling by bike? Find out about the Silvertown Tunnel cycle shuttle.
