Network update
Essex - July 2024 Network Changes
1 month ago
We're making significant changes to our Essex network from Sunday 28th July 2024 following the re-tendering of the bulk of Essex County Council funded services. Alongside the changes to funded services we're also making a number of commercial developments to our networks. Details of the changes are listed below:
Service 1
Harlow > Sumners & Katherines
We'll be taking over the evening & Sunday operations on service 1 from Arriva, who will continue to operate Monday-Saturday daytimes. Arriva daytime tickets won't be accepted unfortunately but singles fares will remain capped at £2 until at least December 2024 and we'll be introducing our own great value Harlow Zone tickets across the town.
>>Click here for the new Service 1 evening & Sunday timetable<<
>>Click here for the new Service 1 evening & Sunday map<<
Service 2 (3)
Harlow > Staple Tye Circular
We'll be taking over the evening & Sunday operations on services 2 & 3* from Arriva, who will continue to operate Monday-Saturday daytimes. In addition an extra early morning journey will operate on service 2 on Sundays only. Arriva daytime tickets won't be accepted unfortunately but singles fares will remain capped at £2 until at least December 2024 and we'll be introducing our own great value Harlow Zone tickets across the town.
*Service 3 journeys operate Saturday evenings only. No weekday evening or Sunday service.
>>Click here for the new Service 2 (3) evening & Sunday timetable<<
>>Click here for the new Service 2 (3) evening & Sunday map<<
Service 4
Harlow > Latton Bush
We'll be taking over the Sunday operations on service 4 from Arriva, who will continue to operate Monday-Saturday daytimes. Arriva daytime tickets won't be accepted unfortunately but singles fares will remain capped at £2 until at least December 2024 and we'll be introducing our own great value Harlow Zone tickets across the town.
Note: Monday-Saturday evening journeys will be operated by First Essex.
>>Click here for the new Service 4 Sunday timetable<<
>>Click here for the new Service 4 Sunday map<<
Service 5
Harlow > Sumners Farm
We'll be taking over the operation of service 5 between Harlow and Sumners Farm throughout the week. There will be minor changes to the existing timetable with most journeys generally running 1 minute later throughout to provide a more clock-face timetable. However we're also introducing morning peak and late evening journeys Monday-Saturday and a small Sunday service.
>>Click here for the new Service 5 timetable<<
>>Click here for the new Service 5 map<<
Our service 5 fare-chart isn't ready just yet but we'll be offering a great value range of Harlow town tickets valid across our network of local services. Single fares will also remain capped at £2 until at least December 2024.
Service 6
Harlow > Little Parndon
We'll be taking over the Sunday operations on service 6 from Arriva, who will continue to operate Monday-Saturday daytimes. Arriva daytime tickets won't be accepted unfortunately but singles fares will remain capped at £2 until at least December 2024 and we'll be introducing our own great value Harlow Zone tickets across the town.
Note: Monday-Saturday evening journeys will be operated by First Essex as part of new services 407/417.
>>Click here for the new Service 6 Sunday timetable<<
>>Click here for the new Service 6 Sunday map<<
Service 9 (9A)
Blake End > Great Bardfield > Braintree > Great Notley
Service withdrawn.
Essex County Council have made the decision to convert this route to demand-responsive-transport via their Digi-Go service. The last day of operation on service 9 (9A) will be Saturday 27th July.
You can find out more about Digi-Go by clicking here.
Service 14 (14B)
Waltham Cross > Waltham Abbey > Upshire Estate
Service withdrawn.
As part of a planned recast of our Waltham Cross and Waltham Abbey networks service 14 is temporarily withdrawn. It is intended that a small number of journeys will be reinstated from September as part of enhanced area network. We apologise for any inconvenience caused during the temporary service reduction.
Service 16 (16C)
Waltham Cross > Waltham Abbey > Shernbroke Road > Debden > Loughton
We're making enhancements to the timetable as follows:
- Weekday daytime timetable is introduced between Waltham Cross and Shernbroke Road with buses operating generally every 30 minutes from 8am until 5pm with a single late evening journey.
- Saturday daytime frequency is increased from every 60 to every 30 minutes. Buses before 10am will continue to operate hourly but to a slightly revised timetable.
- There are no changes to service 16C on Sundays.
>>Click here for the new Service 16 timetable<<
>>Click here for the Service 16 map<<
Service 17 (17A)
Debden > Loughton
Service 542 (542A) between Debden and Loughton will be renumbered 17 (17A) respectively. There's no change to the timetable except:
- An additional journey will operate on Service 17A from Debden Broadway to Loughton at 1925 each evening.
- A small number of Sunday daytime journeys are introduced.
>>Click here for the new Service 17 (17A) timetable<<
>>Click here for the Service 17 (17A) map<<
We'll also be making changes to some fares on services 17 (17A) with our Epping Forest Zone tickets replacing existing return tickets and will also be valid on other Central Connect services in the area including services 16C (Sundays only) and 18.
Service 18 (18A, 18C)
Ongar > North Weald > Epping > Theydon Bois > Abridge > Debden > Loughton
Existing services 18 (18C), 418 and 418B will be merged into a new service numbered 18.
- Buses will operate to a generally similar timetable to now with daytime buses operating between North Weald and Loughton every 2 hours.
- A small number of morning and early evening journeys will extend to/from Ongar as 18C.
- An additional early morning journey is introduced on Monday-Saturdays between Epping and Debden numbered 18A. This will follow the normal route via Theydon Bois and Abridge but will terminate at Debden Broadway and not continue to Loughton.
- Evening journeys after 8pm and most Sunday journeys will operate between Epping Station and Loughton only. Monday-Saturday late night journeys will offer a guaranteed connection to/from service 20 between Epping and Harlow via Thornwood.
>>Click here for the new Service 18 (18A, 18C) timetable<<
>>Click here for the Service 18 (18A, 18C) map<<
As part of the merger between services, there will be changes to the fare structure on evening and Sunday journeys (previously 418B) with our Epping Forest Zone and North West Essex Zone tickets now available offering access to our larger regional networks.
Service 20 / 21 (22, 22B)
Harlow > Potter Street > Thornwood > Epping > North Weald > Ongar
Existing services 20 and 420 (420A) will be merged into new service 20 which will be supplemented by new services 21 and 22 (22B) providing more journeys and more capacity across the route corridor 7 days a week.
- Weekday buses will generally operate between Harlow and Epping Station at an increased frequency of every 15 minutes alternating between service 20 (via Tendring Road) and service 21 (via Tumbler Road). Service 20 journeys will then continue half hourly to Ongar via North Weald doubling the current daytime service to/from Ongar.
- Saturday buses will generally operate between Harlow and Epping Station at an increased frequency of every 30 minutes alternating between service 20 (via Tendring Road) and service 21 (via Tumbler Road). Service 20 journeys will then continue hourly to Ongar via North Weald.
- Sunday buses will operate hourly as service 20 between Harlow and Ongar via Epping Station and North Weald, doubling the current Sunday service between Epping, North Weald and Ongar.
- At peak times on weekdays, plus early morning and late evening on Sundays, some buses will operate numbered 22. These journeys will operate between Harlow and Epping via North Weald and won't serve Thornwood.
- Between Epping, North Weald and Ongar, the timetable will be supplemented by journeys on services 13C and 18 (18C). During the morning peak these on weekdays the combined services will offer a bus between North Weald and Epping Station generally every 10 minutes.
- Within Harlow, a small number of extra journeys will operate early in the morning and late in the evening to/from Potter Street. Journeys terminating at Potter Street will be numbered 22B.
>>Click here for the new Service 20/21 (22, 22B) timetable<<
>>Click here for the new Service 20/21 (22, 22B) map<<
As part of the merger between services, there will be changes to the fare structure on services 20, 21 and 22 with our zonal tickets covering Harlow, Epping Forest and our full North West Essex network valid.
>>Click here for the new Service 20/21 (22, 22B) fare-chart<<
Service 23
Harlow > Church Langley
We'll be taking over the evening & Sunday operations on service 10 from Arriva, who will continue to operate Monday-Saturday daytimes. Our journeys will be renumbered to 23 and alongside the existing timetable, additional late evening journeys will operate on Monday-Saturdays departing Harlow at 2140 and 2240.
Arriva daytime tickets won't be accepted unfortunately but singles fares will remain capped at £2 until at least December 2024 and we'll be introducing our own great value Harlow Zone tickets across the town.
>>Click here for the new Service 23 evening & Sunday timetable<<
>>Click here for the new Service 23 evening & Sunday map<<
Service 24
Harlow > Edinburgh Way Retail Park > River Way Industrial Estate
We're launching a new service numbered 24 operating Monday-Saturday daytimes between Harlow town centre, Harlow Station, Edinburgh Way retail park and the industrial estate on River Way. Buses will generally operate every 30-60 minutes between 8am and 7pm on weekdays and 9am and 4pm on Saturdays.
>>Click here for the new Service 24 timetable<<
>>Click here for the new Service 24 map<<
Our service 24 fare-chart isn't ready just yet but we'll be offering a great value range of Harlow town tickets valid across our network of local services. Single fares will also remain capped at £2 until at least December 2024.
Service 28
Harlow > Old Harlow
We'll be taking over the evening & Sunday operations on service 8 from Arriva, who will continue to operate Monday-Saturday daytimes. Our journeys will be renumbered to 28.
Arriva daytime tickets won't be accepted unfortunately but singles fares will remain capped at £2 until at least December 2024 and we'll be introducing our own great value Harlow Zone tickets across the town.
>>Click here for the new Service 28 evening & Sunday timetable<<
>>Click here for the new Service 28 evening & Sunday map<<
Service 31
Harlow > Roydon > Epping > Coopersale
Following a change in contract structure service 31 will offer a full range of our zonal fares instead of the just the standard Essex County Council single and returns. This means we will now be able to offer day tickets as well as season passes (including academic), which will also be valid on our other Epping and Harlow services. Single fares will remain capped at £2.
There is no change to the timetable.
The new 31 fare-chart isn't quite ready yet but we'll provide the link here as soon as we can.
Service 59 (590)
Saffron Walden > Audley End
Service withdrawn.
A replacement service run by Stephensons of Essex is already in operation. The last day of our operation will be Friday 19th July.
Service 61 (61C)
Brentwood > Doddinghurst > Hook End > Blackmore
This service will be operated by Nibs from Monday 29th July. Our last day of operation will be Saturday 27th July. We are disappointed to no longer be operating this service as it was our first in Essex but sadly we did not retain the contract on tender. We'd like to thank all our passengers for their custom over the last four years and we wish Nibs success in their operation.
Service 62
Chelmsford > Writtle > Highwood > Blackmore
Service withdrawn.
Service 305
Bishop's Stortford > Takeley > Stansted Airport
A slightly revised timetable is introduced with an additional short journey from Takeley to Stansted Airport at 0618 and an additional short journey from Stansted Airport back to Takeley at 2128.
A revised fare structure will be in place on this route (and services 315 & 325 between Bishop's Stortford and the Hallingburys). All journeys for all passengers at all times will be just £1 single. No return or season tickets will be offered but ENCTS passes will continue to be accepted.
>>Click here for the new Service 305 timetable<<
Service 323
Bishop's Stortford > Takeley > Great Dunmow
This service will be operated by Arrow Taxis from Monday 29th July. Our last day of operation will be Saturday 27th July.
Service 324 (322)
Bishop's Stortford > Takeley > Great Dunmow > Stebbing (Lindsell)
These services will be operated by Arrow Taxis from Monday 29th July. Our last day of operation will be Saturday 27th July.
Service 505
Harlow > Nazeing > Waltham Abbey > Waltham Cross
Following a change in contract structure service 505 will offer a full range of our zonal fares instead of the just the standard Essex County Council single and returns. This means we will now be able to offer day tickets as well as season passes (including academic), which will also be valid on our other Waltham Cross/Abbey and Harlow services. Single fares will remain capped at £2.
There is no change to the timetable at this time, however a change is planned for September 2024, more details to follow soon.
The new 505 fare-chart isn't quite ready yet but we'll provide the link here as soon as we can.
Fare Changes
In addition to the timetable changes there will be changes to fares on some routes as we standardise the fare structure between the previous Vectare and Central Connect operations and convert the remaining Essex County Council to our own fares.
All single fares will remain capped at £2.00 until at least December 2024 and we hope our range of season passes, valid interchangeably across our regional services will offer passengers making more regular journeys better flexibility and value.
Timetable Leaflets
New timetable leaflets and bus guides should be available for all services by mid-august 2024 at the latest.
