New bus route to Southend airport
Council announces new bus route connecting residents between Leigh-on-Sea and London Southend Airport
Southend City Council has announced a new bus route, connecting residents between Leigh-on-Sea and London Southend Airport, will begin at the end of August.
The new North South Bus Link (23A/23B) bus service will be operated by Stephensons of Essex, and has been funded by the Department of Transports' Bus Service Improvement Plan.
It includes three new, low-emission, single deck buses at a cost of around £600,000.
It will create around seven new jobs for local people.
The service will run for an initial two years with government support, with the aim of becoming a self-sustaining route in the future.
The new service is subject to the Traffic Commissioners approval but is expected to begin on Sunday 31 August.
The new route will run at up to 30 minute intervals, serving key areas including St Laurence, Eastwood Park, Belfairs, Blenheim Park, Leigh and West Leigh.
On Mondays to Fridays the route will alternate between terminating at London Southend Airport (23A) and the Airport Business Park (23B).
It'll begin at Leigh-on-Sea Railway Station, offering new links to schools and workplaces such as Eastwood Academy, Progress Road, Aviation Way and Southend Airport Business Park.
On Saturdays and Sundays the route will operate between Leigh-on-Sea Railway Station and London Southend Airport only (23A).
The service has been developed in response to local feedback, especially the call for a route that doesn’t require changing buses in the city centre.
New and relocated bus stops will be installed along Progress Road and Whitehouse Road.
Cllr Paul Collins, cabinet member for public transport, said: "We know residents want easier, more reliable ways to get to work, school and other key destinations, and this new bus service will help deliver just that.
"It offers a direct route across the city without needing to change buses, connecting communities with places like Leigh-on-Sea, the Airport, and local business parks. The bus route connects with other key bus services across the city.
“It also supports our wider ambitions for a cleaner, greener Southend by giving people a real alternative to car travel. This is a positive step towards a more connected and sustainable city, made possible through government funding and local partnerships.”
Dean Robbie, Managing Director of Stephensons, commented: “We will be investing in three brand new low-emission single deck buses at a cost of around £600,000, which will be especially branded for the 23A/B, and this new venture will create around seven new jobs for local people.”
Full details of the final timetable will be available soon from the Stephensons website and App.