DaRT Services
The DaRT services provide a Demand Responsive Transport in rural areas of North East Braintree, West & North Uttlesford and West Braintree and Epping Forest .
You can find the following information on this page:
How to book onto the service
How does the service work
How much does it cost
Where does the DaRT run
Frequently asked questions
How does the service work?
Demand Responsive Transport divert from their route to collect and drop off passengers. The Essex DaRT service works by grouping bookings together to make it viable. It is not a taxi service, as there must enough volume of passengers with similar itineraries. Most DaRT work is former bus routes, and group bookings. But unlike a large bus, DaRT only needs three or four passengers to make a group booking.
Where does the DaRT run?
DaRT operates in the following areas:
DaRT 3 – operates in North East Braintree and the Transport Provider is Central Connect and takes passengers from
Alphamstone, Ashen, Belchamp Otten, Belchamp St Paul, Belchamp Walter, Birdbrook, Borley, Bulmer, Bulmer Tye, Bures Hamlet, Colne Engaine, Earls Colne (areas not covered by Service 88), Foxearth, Gestingthorpe, Great Henny, Great Maplestead, Great Yeldham, Greenstead Green, Halsted Town (passenger unable to access conventional services), Lamarsh, Liston, Little Henny, Little Maplestead, Little Yeldham, Middleton, Ovington, Pebmarsh, Pentlow, Ridgewell, Stambourne, Steeple Bumpstead, Sudbury Tilbury Juxta Clare, Toppesfield, Twinstead, Wickham St Paul and White Colne (areas not served by service 88).
Service F315 has now been incorporated into DaRT 3
To see if your area is covered by DaRT 3 please see the area map.
How much does it cost?
Any single Journey on DaRT 3 costs £5
DaRT 3 operates on Monday to Saturdays between 0600 - 2000
Concessionary bus passes are accepted after 0900 Monday to Friday and all day on Saturdays.
How do I book?
To book this service please call: 0115 777 3187 or email: dart@central-connect.co.uk please note that email bookings are not confirmed until you have received a response from the DaRT booking centre, as all DaRT bookings are subject to availability.
The DaRT booking centre is open to take bookings between 0800 and 1800 on Monday to Saturday. You must book by 1800 the day before you wish to travel. Bookings for Monday must be made by 1800 on Saturday. You can book up to 14 days in advance of your desired travel date.
Outside of the above hours, the DaRT booking centre can only assist with live queries (i.e. where is my DaRT). When DaRT services are not operating, the DaRT booking centre is closed. The exception to this is on Good Friday and Bank Holiday Mondays when, although no DaRT services will operate, the DaRT booking centre will be open. Separate arrangements apply over the Christmas and New Year period, and these will be confirmed closer to the time.
How do I cancel my booking?
To cancel your booking, please contact the DaRT booking centre. Please give as much notice as possible, to free up vehicle capacity for other passengers who may wish to use the service. If you cancel repeatedly within 24 hours of your pick-up time, or fail to show up when the bus arrives to collect you, we reserve the right to refuse future DaRT bookings from you, to ensure that we are making the best use of our available vehicle resources.
Please see our FAQ's sheet for any further information.
DaRT 7 – The Transport Provider is Epping Forest Community Transport and Operates in the following areas on Monday & Thursday Only:
Toot Hill, Greenstead Green, Threshers Bush (covering New Way lane), Moreton, Tyler’s Green (covering Weald Bridge Road), Magdalen Laver (covering The Glebe), Little End, Stanford Rivers, Matching Tye (covering Fox Inn, Rainbow Road and Willow Cottage), Matching Green (covering Chequers) and Coronation Hill Epping.
How much does it cost?
EFCT currently offers £2 single fare tickets until 31st of December 2024
After that date, prices below will apply.
Adult £4.40 one way, £6.40 return. Child £2.10 each way, £3.20 return.
Concessionary bus passes are accepted after 0900 Monday to Friday and all day on Saturdays.
How do I book?
Dart 7 operates between 9:00-14:00 on Monday and Thursdays only
To book a journey please call 01992 579556
Please note, if you are not an existing customer, you will need to register first.
You are required to book a seat at least one working day in advance of travel.
When can I travel?
Monday & Thursday only between 0900-1400
DaRT 7 does not operate on bank holidays.
How can I get additional information?
For more Information, please get in touch with Epping Forest CT or go to their website:
Call: 01992 579556
Email: efct@efcommunitytransport.org.uk
Website: www.efcommunitytransport.co.uk
DaRT 299 – operates in West and North Uttlesford and West Braintree and takes passengers from:
Arkesden, Berden, Chrishall, Clavering, Elmdon, Langley, Littlebury, Manuden, Quendon & Rickling, Strethall, Wendon Lofts, Wicken Bonhunt, Bardfield Saling, Chickney, Great Bardfield, Great Saling, Great Sampford, Lindsell, Little Bardfield, Little Easton, Little Sampford, Tilty and Thaxted (Where access cannot be made to a local bus service).
To see if your area is covered by DaRT 299 please see the area map.
How much does it cost?
Any single Journey on DaRT 299 costs £5
DaRT 299 operates on Monday to Saturdays between 0700 - 1800
Concessionary bus passes are accepted after 0900 Monday to Friday and all day on Saturdays.
How do I book?
To book this service please call: 0115 777 3187 or email: dart@central-connect.co.uk please note that email bookings are not confirmed until you have received a response from the DaRT booking centre, as all DaRT bookings are subject to availability.
The DaRT booking centre is open to take bookings between 0800 and 1800 on Monday to Saturday. You must book by 1800 the day before you wish to travel. Bookings for Monday must be made by 1800 on Saturday. You can book up to 14 days in advance of your desired travel date.
Outside of the above hours, the DaRT booking centre can only assist with live queries (i.e. where is my DaRT). When DaRT services are not operating, the DaRT booking centre is closed. The exception to this is on Good Friday and Bank Holiday Mondays when, although no DaRT services will operate, the DaRT booking centre will be open. Separate arrangements apply over the Christmas and New Year period, and these will be confirmed closer to the time.
How do I cancel my booking?
To cancel your booking, please contact the DaRT booking centre. Please give as much notice as possible, to free up vehicle capacity for other passengers who may wish to use the service. If you cancel repeatedly within 24 hours of your pick-up time, or fail to show up when the bus arrives to collect you, we reserve the right to refuse future DaRT bookings from you, to ensure that we are making the best use of our available vehicle resources.
Please see our FAQ's sheet for any further information.
