Transport for London (TfL) has provided further information following the introduction of the X140 last year, a limited-stop express route running from Heathrow Airport to Harrow.
The new service has already shown promising results, with a 10-15 per cent increase in weekday demand and increased frequencies at the busiest stops served by the 140.
Passenger satisfaction has also improved with shorter journey times and almost four in five customers stated that they would use the X140 from Harrow more often.
The route provides a much-needed link between Heathrow Airport and Harrow, and is set to improve connectivity for commuters and travellers alike. The route is set to become part of the proposed new Superloop network expansion announced yesterday.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “When I made the tough decision to expand the ULEZ London-wide, one of my key commitments to Londoners was to improve transport links in outer London. Today I am delivering on that commitment as we announce the Superloop, the game-changing new network of express buses that will add over four million additional kilometres to our bus network in outer London, linking stations, town centres, hospitals and transport hubs. These new routes will make it much easier for Londoners to get around the capital, and help build a better, greener London for everyone.”
Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at TfL, said: “The Superloop is the jewel in the crown in our plans to strengthen alternatives to the private car ahead of the ULEZ expanding London-wide and is a game changer for outer London. For the first time we will be bringing a number of the capital’s town centres together with express orbital routes. We know these kinds of services are hugely popular from what we have seen in the rise in the number of people using the X140 during the week.
“Part of making the bus network even more attractive is providing new routes and increasing frequencies where it is required – both of which we are doing with this new iconic service. The Superloop is on top of, and complements, a million additional bus kilometres committed by the Mayor in the capital’s outer ring and includes improvements from Sutton in the south to Brent Cross in the north, as well as transformational changes to London’s rail network outside the centre of the city.”
John Holland-Kaye, CEO of Heathrow Airport, said: “Bus routes are vital for thousands of colleagues and passengers travelling to Heathrow. We welcome the announcement of a Superloop service that will provide quicker connections and we look forward to continuing to work with the Mayor to deliver vital connectivity in outer London’.