Local Bus Supported services & consultations

Local Bus Consultations

When making a change to a subsidised service (one which Essex County Council (ECC) supports the Transport Provider to run), we first like to understand the impact for people using the service, as well as ensuring we meet our criteria set out in the Bus Strategy "Getting Around in Essex".

You can see details here of the Getting Around in Essex Strategy.

Current on Bus Consultations:

Consultation 1.

Outcome of the consultation:

Following the on-bus consultations on the future of 13 Essex County Council supported local bus services with contracts ending in 2026, Essex County Council has now published the outcome:

These decisions reflect:

• Public feedback and comments

• Network sustainability and long-term financial considerations

• Online survey

You can view the decision here:

Local Bus Services Expiring July 2026

Outcome summary

1.     Services that will continue until July 2028

• Services 59 / 590 Audley End – Saffron Walden, Monday to Friday Only.

• Service 320 Haverhill – Audley End, Monday to Saturdays Only

• Service 321 Haverhill – Audley End / Newport, Monday to Saturdays Only.

 2.     Services / journeys that will cease ECC support in April 2026

• Service 31, Sundays and Public Holidays,

  Burnham-on-Crouch - Chelmsford: journey at 19:23.

• Service 332, Sundays and Public Holidays,

  Burnham-on-Crouch - Chelmsford: journeys at 09:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30 and 17:30;

  Chelmsford – Burnham-on-Crouch: 08:00, 09:50, 11:50, 13:50, 15:50 and 17:50.

• Service B2 - Basildon to Laindon, Sunday & Public Holidays:

  Laindon – Basildon 07:30,09:30,11:30,13:30,15:30 and 17:30;

  Basildon – Laindon 09:00,11:00,13:00,15:00 and 17:00.

• Service C3, Monday-Saturday evenings:

  North Melbourne – Chelmsford 20:48 and 21:48;

  Chelmsford - North Melbourne - 21:33.

• Service C3 - Chelmsford to North Melbourne Sunday and Public Holidays

  2 hourly frequency from 10:01 to 17:57 from North Melbourne and 09:40 to 17:40 from Chelmsford.

• Service C8 - Chelmsford to Beaulieu Park - Monday to Saturday evenings:

  Chelmsford - Beaulieu Park Housing Estate 20:50 and 21:50;

  Beaulieu Park Housing Estate – Chelmsford 20:10 and 21:10.

• Service C11 - Chelmsford to Beaulieu Park - Monday to Saturday evenings:

  Chelmsford - Beaulieu Park Housing Estate 20:03 and 21:03;

  Beaulieu Park Housing Estate – Chelmsford 20:27 and 21:27.

• Service C11 - Chelmsford to Beaulieu Park - Sunday and Public Holidays:

  Chelmsford - Beaulieu Park Housing Estate 09:17, 11:17, 13:17, 15:17 and 17:13;

  Beaulieu Park Housing Estate – Chelmsford 10:13, 12:13, 14:13, 16:13 and 18:03.

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3.     Services that will cease operation in July 2026

• Service 315, Bishop’s Stortford - Stansted Airport, Monday to Saturday, all journeys.

• Service 325 – Bishop’s Stortford - Stansted Airport - Monday to Saturday, all journeys.

Consultation 2.

Outcome of the consultation:

Proposed changes to service 305

Service 305 will continue in a redesigned format. You can view the timetable here

Proposed changes to service 319

Service 319 will continue to operate the current timetable alongside the 59/590/319/320/321.

Supported bus services in Essex

Essex County Council is a significant investor in local bus services which support safer, greener and healthier alternatives to the car but only around 15% of the services in Essex are supported by the tax payer – the remaining are commercially operated.

Whilst passenger numbers dropped significantly during the pandemic, it remains that good bus networks help people live all aspects of their lives, support the renewal of the local economy, jobs, the environment and communities by enabling people to access a wide range of services.  Bus services support equality, as they disproportionately support the travel of those on lower incomes, women, older and younger people and people with a disability.  This includes supporting access to jobs, education, training, healthcare and leisure.

To see if your service is supported by Essex Council County please download the document here.

The Traffic Commissioner is responsible for the licensing and regulation of bus operators. Most bus services in Essex are operated by commercial transport providers without subsidy from Essex County Council. These services operate on a ‘commercial basis and may be operated by small, family-run businesses or big multi-national companies.

If you need to contact your Transport Provider you can find all there details on this page.