Essex County Council carried out a consultation on its support for 162 local bus services during 13 July and 5 October 2023. The majority of local bus contracts are now set to continue to at least 2026 or 2028. The result of the consultation is as follows:
Three services will be replaced. They are: DaRT4 and DaRT5 – both to be replaced with a new Service 45; and F315 which will now be incorporated into DaRT3.
Four additional services will be replaced with DigiGo; which offers greater flexibility and longer operational hours and days compared to the services being replaced. They are: 9/9A, 21 (both Hedingham and Stephensons services), 345 and SB21. Details on how to book DigiGo here. Please note:
Eight services will be withdrawn due to low number of passengers. These are services: 6, 84B, 94, 99, 256, 552, 804 and C56. See further information below on possible alternative transport options.
A procurement process is now underway for the remaining services. We would expect to make an announcement on the outcome during Spring 2024. This allows us to use the most up to date passenger data available in any final decisions.
Service number | Origin | Destination | Days of operation | Current operator | Possible alternative transport options ** |
6 | Harlow | Harlow | Monday to Saturday Evenings | Arriva Kent Thameside | Replaced by an alternative service - to be confirmed |
94 | South Woodham | South Woodham Ferrers | Sunday & Public Holidays | First Essex Buses Ltd | Service 336 |
84B | Colchester | Great Horkesley | Thursday | Hedingham & Chambers | Services 784, 84, 754 and 756 |
99 | Clacton | Walton on the Naze | Monday to Saturday Evenings | Hedingham & Chambers | Train line |
256 | Basildon | Ramsden Heath | Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday | First Essex Buses Ltd | Services 3, 10, 725, 2, 13A and 14 |
552 | Ramsden Heath | Billericay Station | Monday to Friday | First Essex Buses Ltd | Services 3, 10, 725, 2, 13A and 14 |
804 | Debden | Chigwell | Schooldays | NIBS Buses | Services 542A, 397, 275 and 67 |
C56 | Chelmsford | Galleywood | Sunday & Public Holidays | First Essex Buses Ltd | Services C1 and C7 |
* Please note all service information is correct at the time of writing (January 2024).
Below is a link to the TravelEssex site with further explanation of the consultation outcome, which includes a link to the detailed decision taken regarding all the local bus services subsidised by Essex County Council:
https://www.travelessex.co.uk/about-bus-services/consultations-supported-services
