There are new bus information displays on both sides of Brentwood High Street and at Brentwood Rail Station
The picture shows the sign on the South side of the High Street
£2 Single Bus Fare Cap until 31 December 2024
£2 bus fare cap that was to end on 31 October 2023 has been extended until 31 December 2024
It is understood that the £2 flat rate cap will still only apply to most single journeys.
Bus consultation
Essex County Council Integrated Transport Unit have just launched a consultation on their Supported Local Bus Services 2024-2028.
The Unit would like to obtain people’s views to help us shape their bus network across the County. Please note this consultation does not include the commercial bus network.
The consultation commences 14 July 2023 and closes 05 October 2023.
They would encourage people to complete the survey online by visiting the web site https://consultations.essex.gov.uk/iptu/2023
If you are unable to complete the consultation online, they can send a hard copy of the consultation on request via passenger.transport@essex.gov.uk or telephoning 0345 743 0430 or 0345 603 7631 to request a copy.
The Unit are keen to hear from as many people as possible..
If you have any further questions, please email passenger.transport@essex.gov.uk
Operator changes
Changes to Brentwood area Bus services July 2023
From Monday 31 st July 2023
Service 32 Chelmsford – Blackmore – Ongar (was First)
This service is now operated by Stephensons of Essex
Service 565 Brentwood – Herongate – West Horndon – Bulphan (was First)
This service is now operated by NIBS Buses
Proposed change postponed :
Service 61 Brentwood – Doddinghurst – Blackmore ( Vectare)
The proposed reduction of buses serving Plovers Mead will not take place as
there have been 2 objections to Essex County Council . The current timetable
will remain the same whilst this matter is reviewed .
First bus timetable changes and service cuts
First to bring in New Timetables on Monday 31st October 2022
Changes to three of First in Essex Brentwood services from Monday 31st.October 2022 .
The no.9 service , Brentwood to Basildon is described by First as a “reduction in the service levels to match the costs and revenue received” . That seems to be something of an understatement , more so when the service was reduced already this year from a 30 minute to hourly frequency . The most concerning aspect of the new timetable is the axing of services used by working customers , only 2 buses leave Brentwood before 9am against a previous 5 and in the evening the last bus now leaves Brentwood Station at 17.30 with the 18.30 and 19.30 services withdrawn . This means there are no buses to The East Ham Estate for commuters leaving London after 5pm. Saturday suffers equally with the first 2 buses in the morning being withdrawn along with the 16.50 service and the last bus on Saturday evening , the last bus to Basildon on Saturday is at 17.50 , 20 minutes later than in the week.
The no.37 Pilgrims Hatch circular sees a 25% reduction in services with a reduction in frequency on weekdays to 20 minutes (from 15 at present ) , This will be acceptable if buses maintain better timekeeping , it is still common to see two buses running round a minute apart . As with the number 9 service the Pilgrims Hatch route sees severe cuts to morning and evening services with a reduction of three before 9am in the morning and 4 in the evening , the last bus now leaves Brentwood Station at 18.39 with the 19.00 ,19.20 , 19.40 and 20.00 services withdrawn . Again this means commuters have a much reduced ability to use the bus as an option .
The 351 Chelmsford service has suffered less , there are timing changes in the teatime peak and again the last bus in both direction is withdrawn .
Let us hope new timetables are displayed at bus stops .
Once again the bus users of Brentwood have seen First reduce their bus services and we seem to be on a pattern of diminishing returns , the less buses there are resulting in a general reduction in the number of passenger journeys overall . Poor reliability also discourages regular users particularly when appointments have to be kept.
Analysis of service reductions :
No 9 to Basildon current services: number of buses on Weekdays 18, Saturdays 13. Buses to Brentwood: Weekdays 20, Saturdays 12
from 31.10.22 number of buses to Basildon: Weekdays 14, Saturdays 9. Buses to Brentwood: Weekdays 15, Saturdays 9
No 37 Pilgrims Hatch current services: Weekdays 55, Saturdays. 31
from 31.10.22 Weekdays 39, Saturdays 28
No. 351 Chelmsford mainly time changes with a bus less each way Monday to Saturday
Service Disruption - Route no.9 now running
The emergency road works in Rayleigh Road have finished, and the no.9 bus service is reinstated.
1st July 2022 Essex County Council Supported Bus Service Tender Updates – Brentwood areas
The following services were up for renewal this year and all have kept the same operator as before with some alterations on two of them , when we have full details of the amendments we will publish them .
The service 61 61A 61C Brentwood to Blackmore
Vectare will continue to operate this service
There will be a minor timetable change
Service 71/72 Warley - Brentwood - Stondon Massey
Stephensons will continue to operate this service .
There will be a revised timetable.
Service 269 Brentwood to Grays
NIBS will continue to operate this service
Timetable unchanged.
Brentwood Bus and Rail Users Association welcome the fact that the same reliable operators will still be running these services for the foreseeable future.
NIBS buses - no.31 cancelled
Information from from NIBS:
The 31 route will be cancelled on 3rd October, but has not been running since September 2020; the alternative is the First 37 bus.
As from August 1st 2022 the 81 Hutton Circular has resumed a 30 minute service Mondays to Fridays .
Here is a link to NIBS updates
This information page is to be updated daily.
First Essex buses timetable changes
From 17th April 2022 there are alterations to First timetables: Changes to Basildon area bus routes (link) no.9 timetable(pdf)
Services affecting Brentwood: route 9 (Basildon to Brentwood) are reduced in frequency to hourly with extra peak journeys at the busiest times.
Our Bus Officer has let the management know that the reduction of services is highly unpopular.
Printed timetables should have been available on First buses on the week beginning 17th April but have not been seen on the no.9 route so far (11/05/2022).
First Essex service update web page
First Essex buses now have a web page showing current bus information. Here is the link to the web page.
Updated information can also be found on twitter
Rumours about 81 bus reductions untrue
NIBS 81 bus service 19th November 2021
Apparently there are a number of rumours on social media that this service is going to reduce to an hourly frequency .
The Association has been in contact with NIBS and they have said that there is NO plan for this to happen.
They did add that there may however be some “on the day” cancellations due to driver shortage which we know to be a national problem at present.
61 and 62 buses back to normal timetable
Vectare ran an emergency timetable for the 61A 61C and 62 buses from 1st November until the 13th November 2021.
We have been informed that the services are now back to normal
No.31 bus cancelled
NIBS have cancelled the 31 Brentwood Station to Pilgrims Hatch Circular .
No.9 bus back through Outwood Common on Nov. 2
First Basildon had problems with the works at Outwood Common and could not send the No.9 buses round there.
Due to the works and parking obstructions they suspended that part of the service.
Services resumed on 2nd November 2021.
Long Ridings road open
Long Ridings road is now open and the 80 and 81 buses can now follow the normal route .
First Bus changes to the 100 service Lakeside to Chelmsford
From 1st September 2021, First Bus will be splitting the Lakeside - Chelmsford route into two parts, from Lakeside to Basildon and from Basildon to Chelmsford.
This will mean that passengers wishing to go to Basildon Hospital who change from the no.9 at Billericay to the 100 bus will need change again at Basildon bus station
First Bus changes to the 351 Brentwood to Chelmsford service
First Bus will be changing the frequency of the 351 service outside of peak hours .
As from 1st September 2021 there will only be an hourly service between 9am and 2pm from Chelmsford replacing the every 30 minutes service times operating up until 31st August. From Brentwood this will be from 9am to 3pm.
The departures are Chelmsford Bus Station : , 10.05 ,11.05,12.05,13.05 and 14.05 , 14.35 then every 30 minutes .
Brentwood Station 09.00 Warley Eagle Way : 10.03 , 11.03 , 12.03 , 13.03 ,14.03 , 15.00 then 15.30 onwards.
The Association has contacted First Bus Chelmsford to complain that no notice of this reduction in services was given on their website and that we were not notified in any way either.
Bus changes on April 12th 2021
First in Essex .
Service 9 Brentwood - Basildon – Revised service but still every 30 minutes .
32 Chelmsford – Blackmore – Ongar returns to school days timetable.
37 Brentwood Station – Pilgrims Hatch – Slightly revised service - every 15 minutes.
80A, 80C, 251 Sundays only – no change
565 Brentwood – Herongate –West Horndon – School days timetable applies
NIBS – Services 21 to Ongar , 81 Hutton Circular.
A full pre-Covid service timetable operates .
Stephensons – 71/72 Brentwood to Stondon Massey.
From Monday 8th March 2021 a full pre-Covid service timetable is operating .
Vectare
61 Brentwood – Blackmore continues a normal timetable .
Tfl London
498 Brentwood – Romford has extra buses at school times (students only services).
School service 608 runs from and to from Gallows Corner (students only).
Brentwood Community Transport 808 hospital shuttle bus is half hourly from April 6th 2021 If anyone experiences or hears about problems in respect of school buses or students' access to scheduled services would they let us know as we can take it up with the relevant company so they can consider taking action.
