London Buses route SL6

London Buses route SL6, formerly London Buses route X68, is a Transport for London contracted Superloop express bus route in London, England. Running between Russell Square and West Croydon bus station, it is operated by Arriva London.

SL6
London Central Alexander Dennis Enviro400H MMC at Waterloo station
Overview
Operator	Arriva London
Garage	Norwood
Vehicle	Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV
Began service	27 October 1986
Former operator(s)	Arriva London London Regional Transport London Central
Night-time	N68
Route
Start	Russell Square
Via	Aldwych Waterloo West Norwood Selhurst Park
End	West Croydon bus station
Service
Level	Weekdays (peak hours only)
Route map Legend Route SL6  68  to Euston bus station Russell Square  SL6   N68  to Tottenham Court Road station Holborn station Aldwych Waterloo station  N68   68  via Elephant and Castle Elephant and Castle  468  West Norwood station  68  Upper Norwood Selhurst Park Thornton Heath High Street  N68  to Old Coulsdon  468  to South Croydon West Croydon bus station  SL6  This diagram: view talk edit ← {{{previous_line}}}  {{{system_nav}}}  {{{next_line}}} →

The route partially parallels routes 68 and 468. It runs towards Russell Square in the morning peak, and towards West Croydon in the evening peak.

History

Route X68 commenced on 27 October 1986 as a peak-hour, express version of route 68 operating between Russell Square and West Croydon bus station with no stops made between West Norwood and Waterloo. It was operated by London Regional Transport's Norwood bus garage with Leyland Olympians fitted with high back seats.^[1] As part of the privatisation of London bus services, in January 1995 it was taken over by Arriva London.

Upon being re-tendered it passed to London Central on 3 April 2006 being operated by Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs.^[2][3] London Central successfully retained the route when re-tendered, commencing new contracts in 2011 and 2018, with Alexander Dennis Enviro400H MMCs introduced with the commencement of the latter contract.^[4][5][6] In 2018, a three-axle BCI bus was trialled on the route.^[7]

On 31 July 2023, route X68 was renumbered SL6, becoming part of the Superloop network of orbital express bus routes.^[8][9] Prior to being renumbered (and branded as Superloop), the buses that operated route X68 could also operate route 188. During the day buses are stabled at Waterloo garage.^[10]

On 29 July 2024, Arriva London was awarded as the new operator of route SL6. Operations transferred on 29 March 2025.^{[citation needed]} The route was the first in London to receive the second generation of Alexander Dennis Enviro400EVs.

Current route

Route SL6 operates via these primary locations:^[11]

• Russell Square
• Holborn station
• Aldwych
• Waterloo Bridge
• South Bank
• Waterloo station
• West Norwood station
• Beulah Hill
• Selhurst Park
• West Croydon bus station