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London Buses route SL9

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SL9
Overview
OperatorLondon Sovereign
GarageHarrow
VehicleAlexander Dennis Enviro400EV
Began service7 December 2019
Former operator(s)Metroline
Night-timeN140
Route
StartHeathrow Central bus station
ViaHarlington
Hayes
Yeading
Northolt
South Harrow
EndHarrow bus station
Service
LevelDaily
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London Buses route SL9, formerly London Buses route X140, is a Transport for London contracted Superloop express bus route in London, England. Running between Heathrow Central and Harrow bus stations, it is operated by London Sovereign under the RATP Dev Transit London brand.

The route partially parallels routes 140 and 278.

History

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The route commenced on 7 December 2019, originally numbered X140, as part of a reorganisation of routes in the lead up to the opening of the Elizabeth line. Route X140 was introduced as a limited stop service between Harrow and Heathrow Central bus stations and as a partial replacement for the all stops route 140, which was withdrawn between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow at the same time.[1][2] Route X140 was initially operated by Metroline.

Upon being put out to tender, on 4 September 2021 route X140 was taken over by London Sovereign's Harrow bus garage.[3][4] However, due to delays in the delivery of new Alexander Dennis Enviro400EVs and the refurbishment of the Wright SRM bodied Volvo B5LHs for the route, London Sovereign initially operated it with Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LHs.[5]

On 26 August 2023, route X140 was renumbered SL9, becoming part of the Superloop network of orbital express bus routes.[6][7][8][9]

Current route

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Route SL9 operates via these primary locations:[10]

Operation

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The route operates at a frequency of a bus every 12 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays and a bus every 15 minutes on Sundays.[11] Between the hours of 23:00 and 07:00, the route is covered by an all stops night service, numbered N140, running every 30 minutes between Harrow Weald bus garage and Heathrow Central bus station.[12]

References

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  1. ^ New route X140 - Limited stop service between Harrow and Heathrow Airport Transport for London 7 December 2019
  2. ^ RTs return to Heathrow for route 140 farewell Buses issue 778 January 2020 page 22
  3. ^ TfL contract awards give boost for zero-emission operation Route One 3 November 2020
  4. ^ Latest tendered service awards Buses issue 789 December 2020 page 21
  5. ^ RATP shuffles fleet Buses issue 800 November 2021 page 22
  6. ^ Third London Superloop route to start as X26 becomes SL7 Route One 18 August 2023
  7. ^ Route X140 renumbered - 26 August 2023 Transport for London
  8. ^ "Superloop: West London express Heathrow to Harrow bus service launched". BBC News. 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  9. ^ Toms, Adam (2023-08-26). "New Superloop bus route launched as TfL says it's 'more than just a paint job'". MyLondon. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  10. ^ Route SL9 Map Transport for London
  11. ^ "Route SL9 Timetable". Transport for London. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  12. ^ Matters, Transport for London | Every Journey. "N140 bus timetable". Transport for London. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
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Media related to London Buses route SL9 at Wikimedia Commons