Free Bus Rides Through Silvertown Tunnel End This April!
Great news for London bus fans came with a catch: the free rides through the Silvertown Tunnel are about to stop. Passengers on routes 108, 129, and the Superloop SL4 have enjoyed free travel since the Silvertown Tunnel opened in April 2025. But Transport for London (TfL) has just confirmed these freebies will vanish this April – so start digging out your Oyster or contactless cards!
Free Travel Was a Sweet Deal—But It’s Running Out
- Since the Silvertown Tunnel launch in April 2025, bus passengers on Route 108 (via Blackwall Tunnel), extended Route 129 (now using Silvertown), and the brand-new Superloop SL4 have travelled for zero cost.
- Riders still had to tap in with a valid Oyster or contactless card — even during the free fare period.
- The free rides were a special celebration of the new Silvertown Tunnel, linking Silvertown to Greenwich Peninsula.
More Buses, Cleaner Air—But Now You’ve Got to Pay
The new tunnel saw cross-river bus services jump from six to 21 buses per hour each way during rush hour. TfL overhauled routes 108 and 129 and launched the SL4 Superloop, all using zero-emission buses to help clean up London’s air.
With free fares ending, Londoners will soon have to pay again to benefit from this faster, cleaner journey under the Thames.
