Where to buy

You can buy tickets for travel in a variety of simple, convenient ways.

You'll find prices for all tickets for a day or longer on our Online Fare Finder >>

1) On the FREE First Bus App

Buying an mTicket on the First Bus App is the most convenient way to buy tickets, and can even save you money too. Tickets are available for purchase 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so you can buy before you travel, and just validate the ticket when you board the bus.

The First Bus App also has our widest range of tickets, from days or groups to weekly, monthly and multi-journey tickets, simply scan your mobile ticket when you hop on board, and you’re ready to go.

Find out more about buying tickets on the First Bus App and get started here >>

2) Online

Some tickets can be sent to your mobile, your email address or by post. We also offer direct debit subscriptions for some longer-term tickets.

Sending tickets to your mobile using the First Bus App is the quickest option, and could even save you money.

More about the First Bus App >>

3) On the Bus

Contactless payments >>, Apple pay, Google pay and cash are accepted on our buses.

Service Changes from Sunday 5th January 2025

From Sunday 5th January 2025, we will be introducing changes to services across our Essex network.

Here are the key details:

Airlink
Service:	Journey:	What's changing?
X10	Basildon to Stansted Airport	Revised daily timetable - Majority of journeys to serve Great Dunmow.
X30	Southend to Stansted Airport	Revised daily timetable, to improve punctuality. The daytime service, via Great Dunmow, will instead be provided by the X10 service. The X20 service will continue to serve Great Dunmow throughout the day; as will the X30 service in the early morning and late evening.
Mid & North Essex
Service:	Journey:	What's changing?
70\|170\|370	Chelmsford to Braintree	An additional journey will run on schooldays, departing from Youngs End at 0735 and arriving at Chelmsford at 0819. No change to the Saturday or Sunday / Public Holiday timetable.
75	Colchester to Maldon	An additional early morning journey from Tiptree and the daily timetable has been re-timed to improve punctuality.
621	Roxwell to Ingatestone	This service has been withdrawn and will no longer operate.
South Essex
Service:	Journey:	What's changing?
B1	Basildon to Laindon	Minor timetable change to the Monday to Friday AM timetable. No change to the Saturday or Sunday / Public Holiday timetable.
21\|21A\|21S	Great Wakering to Canvey Island	Revised Monday to Friday timetable. Minor change to the Saturday timetable and no change to the Sunday / Public Holiday timetable.
22	Basildon to Canvey Island	Minor change to the Monday to Friday timetable. No change to the Saturday or Sunday / Public Holiday timetable.
27	Southend to Canvey Island	Revised Monday to Friday timetable. No change to the Saturday or Sunday / Public Holiday timetable.
28	Southend to Basildon	Revised Monday to Friday timetable, with more journeys from Basildon towards Southend in the AM peak period. No change to the Saturday or Sunday / Public Holiday timetable.
200	Basildon to Grays	Minor change to the Monday to Friday timetable - early evening journeys. No change to the Saturday timetable.
625	Chelmsford to Southend Schools	Revised timetable.

All NEW & REVISED timetables are available to view / download here:

Service 31/331/332 | Mundon Road/Limebrook Way, Maldon | OVERNIGHT road closures

Mundon Road, Maldon is closed for overnight roadworks from Thursday 19th December to Sunday 22nd December 2024.

Mundon Road, Maldon will be closed to traffic from 20:00hrs and will re-open from 05:00hrs the next morning:

20:00hrs 19/12/2024 to 05:00hrs 20/12/2024
20:00hrs 20/12/2024 to 05:00hrs 21/12/2024
20:00hrs 21/12/2024 to 05:00hrs 22/12/2024

Due to the location of the road closure, the 31/331/332 services will divert in both directions via Cross Road, Fambridge Road and Burnham Road.

The following bus stops will not be served in both directions:

Cups Corner
Mundon Road
Shakespeare Drive
Milton Road
Limebrook Way West
Limebrook Way East
Park Drive
South House Chase
The Cottages
Stud Farm
Victory Hall
Coal Yard
Rydal Drive

We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.

Harlow Temporary Bus Station from Sunday 1st December 2024

Harlow Bus Station will be closing on Saturday 30th November 2024 due to the next step in the redevelopment of Harlow Town Centre.

From Sunday 1st December 2024, a temporary bus station will be opened at Post Office Road car park.

Where To Catch Your Bus

Bus Stand	Service(s)
Stand A	4 to Latton Bush	19 to Chelmsford	19A to Chelmsford
Stand D	4 to Town Centre	:::::	:::::
Stand E	14 to Pinnacles	407 to PAH	:::::
Stand F	59 to Chelmsford	407 to Old Harlow	417 to Old Harlow

Harlow Bus Services - Revised Timetables from Sunday 1st December 2024

Due to the location of the temporary bus station, we will be making some minor changes to the timings of the following services:

4, 14, 19/19A, 407 and 417

Service	Journey	What’s changing?
4	Harlow to Latton Bush	Revised Monday-Saturday timetable – evening journeys. Minor timing changes to reflect the move of the bus station. There is no change to the number of journeys provided.
14	Harlow to Pinnacles	Revised Monday-Saturday timetable – morning and late afternoon journeys. Minor timing changes to reflect the move of the bus station. There is no change to the number of journeys provided.
19/19A	Chelmsford to Harlow	Revised Monday-Friday timetable – morning and late afternoon journeys. Minor timing changes to reflect the move of the bus station. There is no change to the number of journeys provided.
407/417	Harlow to Old Harlow	Revised Monday-Saturday timetable – Minor timing changes to reflect the move of the bus station. There is no change to the number of journeys provided. However, some journeys will depart a few minutes earlier than they do currently. For punctuality - the Monday–Friday departures 17:10 and 18:10 from Old Harlow will not serve Princess Alexandra Hospital and will instead terminate at Harlow Bus Station. Service 417 – departing Harlow Bus Station will divert and serve Princess Alexandra Hospital.

To find out more and to keep up-to-date regarding the next phase of the Harlow Transport Interchange - please visit the Travel Essex website - Next phase of Harlow transport interchange moving ahead | Travel Essex

The revised timetables are available to view / download here:

Christmas & New Year Bus Services

Over the festive season, our services will run on a revised timetable.

Please find the details and special timetables below:

South Essex
Day	Date	Service Level	Exceptions / Details of Special Service
Sunday	22/12/2024	Sunday service
Monday	23/12/2024	Monday to Friday
Tuesday Christmas Eve	24/12/2024	Saturday service except:	Route 21C runs to a Monday to Friday timetable. X10, X30 revised late evening timetables. Last X10 from Stansted runs at 2235 and last X30 at 2105. Z3, Z4 afternoon journeys to Amazon do not operate. Last journey from Tilbury is at 1615. Earlier last bus times as follows: 20 – 2030 to Hullbridge 21 – 2210 to Canvey 27 – 2110 to Canvey 28 – 2025 to Basildon 28 – 2055 to Southend 100 – 2030 to Lakeside 100 – 2130 to Basildon 300 – 2030 to Chelmsford 300 – 2130 to Basildon
Wednesday Christmas Day	25/12/2024	No Service
Thursday Boxing Day	26/12/2024	No Service except:	X10 – Sunday timetable X30 – First journey 0500 from Southend then Sunday timetable. Z3, Z4 - the morning journeys from Tilbury will not operate. Ensign Bus will be operating service X1, X2 Southend & Basildon to Lakeside (X1) or Upminster (X2) via Laindon B1 route. For more info, please visit https://www.ensignbus.com/.
Friday	27/12/2024	Saturday service except:	Route 21C runs to a Monday to Friday timetable. A Friday service runs on routes 63 and 201. 21 – last journey from Canvey runs at 2115.
Saturday	28/12/2024	Saturday service
Sunday	29/12/2024	Sunday service
Monday	30/12/2024	Saturday service except:	Route 21C runs to a Monday to Friday timetable. A Monday service runs on route 201. 21 – last journey from Canvey runs at 2115.
Tuesday New Year's Eve	31/12/2024	Saturday service except:	Route 21C runs to a Monday to Friday timetable. 21 – last journey from Canvey runs at 2115. Z3, Z4 afternoon journeys to Amazon do not operate. Last journey from Tilbury is at 1615.
Wednesday New Year's Day	01/01/2025	No Service except:	X10, X30 run to a Sunday timetable.
Thursday	02/01/2025	Monday to Friday	Z3, Z4 - the morning journeys from Tilbury will not operate.
Friday	03/01/2025	Monday to Friday
Saturday	04/01/2025	Saturday service

Mid and North Essex
Day	Date	Service Level	Exceptions / Details of Special Service
Sunday	22/12/2024	Sunday service
Monday	23/12/2024	Monday to Friday
Tuesday Christmas Eve	24/12/2024	Saturday service except:	Routes C6, 4, 14, 15, 50, 50A, 69, 69A, 322, 323, 324, 407 and 417 run to a normal Tuesday timetable. An amended Saturday service runs on routes 13,13A,13B. Last buses on routes 1A, 2A, 31, 68, 88, 102, 336, 370, C3, C4, C5, C7, C8, C11, S3, S4, S6, S7 and S9 run as per a Monday to Friday timetable. X10, X20, X30 revised late evening timetables. Last buses from Stansted: X10 - 2235 X20 2120 X30 - 2105 Earlier last bus times as follows: C2 – 2139 to Skerry Rise C9 – 2105 to Beaulieu C10 – 2150 to Channels S1 – 2145 to Highwoods S1 – 2146 to Wivenhoe S2 – 2159 to Stanway 87 – 2125 to Brightlingsea 100 – 2130 to Basildon 71/X71/371/372 will run to a Saturday timetable all day except: 2230 71 from Chelmsford to Colchester will not run. 2315 X71 Colchester to Chelmsford will not run.
Wednesday Christmas Day	25/12/2024	No Service
Thursday Boxing Day	26/12/2024	No Service except:	X10 – Sunday timetable X20 – First journey 0450 from Colchester then Sunday timetable. X30 – First journey 0500 from Southend then Sunday timetable. Special timetables run on services C1, S1 and S4.
Friday	27/12/2024	Saturday service except:	Routes C6, 4, 14, 15, 50, 50A, 79, 322, 323, 324, 407 and 417 run to a normal Friday timetable. An amended Saturday service runs on routes 13,13A,13B. Last buses on routes 1A, 2A, 31, 68, 88, 102, 336, 370, C3, C4, C5, C7, C8, C11, S3, S4, S6, S7 and S9 run as per a Monday to Friday timetable. 71/X71/371/372 will run to a Saturday timetable all day except: 2230 71 from Chelmsford to Colchester will not run. 2315 X71 Colchester to Chelmsford will not run.
Saturday	28/12/2024	Saturday service
Sunday	29/12/2024	Sunday service
Monday	30/12/2024	Saturday service except:	Routes C6, 4, 14, 15, 50, 50A, 50B, 322, 323, 324, 407 and 417 run to a normal Monday timetable. An amended Saturday service runs on routes 13,13A,13B. Last buses on routes 1A, 2A, 31, 68, 88, 102, 336, 370, C3, C4, C5, C7, C8, C11, S3, S4, S6, S7 and S9 run as per a Monday to Friday timetable. 71/X71/371/372 will run to a Saturday timetable all day except: 2230 71 from Chelmsford to Colchester will not run. 2315 X71 Colchester to Chelmsford will not run.
Tuesday New Year's Eve	31/12/2024	Saturday service except:	Routes C6, 4, 14, 15, 50, 50A, 69, 69A, 322, 323, 324, 407 and 417 run to a normal Tuesday timetable. An amended Saturday service runs on routes 13,13A,13B. Last buses on routes 1A, 2A, 31, 68, 88, 102, 336, 370, C3, C4, C5, C7, C8, C11, S3, S4, S6, S7 and S9 run as per a Monday to Friday timetable. 71/X71/371/372 will run to a Saturday timetable all day except: 2230 71 from Chelmsford to Colchester will not run. 2315 X71 Colchester to Chelmsford will not run.
Wednesday New Year's Day	01/01/2025	No Service except:	X10, X30 – Sunday timetable X20 – First journey 0450 from Colchester then Sunday timetable. Special timetables run on services C1, S1 and S4.
Thursday	02/01/2025	Monday to Friday	Routes 85 and 92 run to a Wednesday timetable.
Friday	03/01/2025	Monday to Friday
Saturday	04/01/2025	Saturday service

Discover things to do this Christmas in Essex here.

We would like to wish all our customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

You can find the latest timetables for all services on our timetables page.

Please see below for special timetables during the festive period:

Where to buy

Stay updated

You can buy tickets for travel in a variety of simple, convenient ways.

1) On the FREE First Bus App

2) Online

3) On the Bus

Airlink

Mid & North Essex

South Essex

South Essex

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

Boxing Day

New Year's Eve

New Year's Day

Mid and North Essex

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

Boxing Day

New Year's Eve

New Year's Day