Starting Saturday, 5 September 2026, Transport for London (TfL) is launching the newest addition to its express bus service Superloop: SL12.
Making bus trips between Havering and Redbridge – Including between Queen’s & King George / Goodmayes Hospitals faster.
The New SL12 will operate between Rainham (Ferry Lane Industrial Area) to Gants Hill Station, via Elm Park, Queen’s Hospital, Romford, King George Hospital, Newbury Park — with a fast, high-frequency, limited stop bus service.
This is also the first Superloop service to serve Havering – Here is everything you need to know about the new service, the stop lineup, and a few minor bus route changes coming to Romford.
SL12 – Express Bus.
Operated by Stagecoach London, will be operated SL12 for Transport For London – With a brand-new fleet of fully electric double-decker buses. That means a quieter ride, standard USB power and modern passenger info displays inside.
The SL12 is an express service, stopping only at targeting key points and interchange points.
Where Does the SL12 Stop?
To keep journeys fast, the bus will only call at selected key stops along the corridor
| TO GANTS HILL | TO RAINHAM |
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Frequency
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Monday – Saturday (Daytime): Every 12 minutes – Evenings & All Day Sunday: Every 15 minutes
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First Buses: Depart around 05:00 from both Rainham and Gants Hill – Last Buses: Depart around 00:30 from both Rainham and Gants Hill
Other TfL Bus Changes
To make room for the new SL12 stops, TfL is making a couple of minor adjustments to existing routes around Western Road starting September 5:
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Routes 86 & N86 (towards Stratford): Moving down Western Road to board at Stop PP (instead of Stop P).
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Route 498 (from Brentwood): Will no longer serve Stop P on Western Road. Passengers can board at Stop V (outside Romford Station) or Stop N (on Mercury Gardens).
Other TfL services will have changes from Saturday August 29th:
103: Chase Cross – Rainham
A temporary timetable due to roadworks at Gallows Corner. Widening the frequency of the service to every 11-12 minutes during the daytime and every 15-16 minutes during on Sundays.
173: Beckton – King George Hospital.
Improved timetable, with buses running every 10 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Saturdays, and every 15 minutes during the evenings and Sundays.
174: Dagenham, Marsh Way – Harold Hill, Dagnam Pk Drive.
Improved timetable with frequency restored to every 6 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Fridays, every 8 minutes during the daytime on Saturdays and every 12 minutes during the evenings and Sundays.
Thurrock: Bus Improvements
Ensignbus is introducing route and timetable adjustments starting Saturday, August 29th, 2026, aimed at improving direct connections across Thurrock.
- Route 88 & 33 Merged: Route 33 will combine into a expanded Route 88, creating a direct link connecting Orsett, Stifford Clays, Grays, and Chafford Hundred (extending to Lakeside during off-peak times and Saturdays). Sunday services will run under Route 88A.
- Route 44 Split & Extension: Route 22’s previous extension to Purfleet-on-Thames is now part of Route 44. Route 44 will split into two hourly options—the 44 (Grays – Purfleet – Lakeside) and 44A (Grays – Purfleet – Aveley – Ockendon Station)—providing a combined 30-minute frequency between Grays and Marlow Avenue.
- Other routes will see improvements in timings: Full details: https://ensignbus.com/news/service-changes-from-august-29th-2026/