Service Changes from 31st May 2026
We're creating a simpler, easier to understand network in South Essex from 31st May 2026.
We're making it easier to get around by simplifying travel on key corridors into Southend and Basildon. These changes are designed to create a clearer, more consistent service, helping you plan your journeys with confidence.
What's changing?
Between Southend and Rayleigh, the 20 is replaced by service 25 which will follow the same route as the 20 and run at an increased frequency on all days of the week. Service X30 will also provide additional journey opportunities and will call at all stops between Rayleigh and Southend Hospital.
Between Rayleigh and Hullbridge, the 20 is replaced by an amended service 27, which will run between Hullbridge, Rayleigh, Rayleigh Weir, Thundersley (Woodmans Arms), Hadleigh (Victoria House Corner), Kiln Road, Kents Hill Road, Benfleet Station, and Canvey Leigh Beck. Service 27 buses service Hullbridge will run every 20 minutes on weekdays, and every 30 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays.
A schoolday only service 20S will continue to run a return journey between Hullbridge and Southend via Westcliff schools.
The late evening service between Southend, Eastwood, Rayleigh, and Hullbridge will continue to be provided by service 20.
Timetable revised to provide an hourly service between Southend, Southend Hospital, Leigh, Leigh Station, Hadleigh, Benfleet, and Canvey Newlands. At school times, two journeys in the morning and one in the afternoon will run as 21S.
The service has been able to continue thanks to support from Southend-on-Sea City Council, including provision of an hourly Sunday service between Southend and Leigh.
The section of route between Thorpe Bay and Southend will no longer run, with alternative buses provided by Arriva routes 7 and 8.
The section of route via Rushbottom Lane, Manor Road, and Kents Hill Road North will only be covered by schoolday journeys 21S. At other times of day, the 21 will run between Tarpots Corner and the Kents Hill Road/Bread and Cheese Hill junction via the A13.
Revised timetable. Service to run every 20 minutes Monday to Friday, and every 30 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays. Overall combined frequency of every 10 minutes weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends between Canvey and Benfleet via Long Road and Link Road with service 27.
Rerouted between Southend and Rayleigh to run via existing service 20 route via Bridgwater Drive instead of Southbourne Grove/Prince Avenue, and via Clarence Road/Grove Road/Bull Lane instead of Eastwood Road.
Frequency increased to every 15 minutes on Monday to Saturday and every 20 minutes on Sundays. School service 825 to be renumbered as 25S.
Service X30 will be amended to call at intermediated stops between Southend Hospital and Rayleigh, continuing a service over the previous 25 route and provide a 24-hour service along the Southend - Eastwood - Rayleigh corridor.
The 26 is funded by Southend-on-Sea City Council, who have requested that it is combined with service 3A into one through service between Hadleigh, Leigh, Belfairs, Southend Hospital, Southend, Thorpe Bay, and Shoeburyness. The service will run hourly during the off-peak on Monday to Fridays, and hourly on Saturdays.
Carlton Avenue will no longer be served, with buses running via Prittlewell Chase instead, calling at the front of Southend Hospital.
The route between Southend and Southchurch is revised to run via Southchurch Road, to provide a new connection to the hospital.
Most customers use service 27 in two distinct sections, and the service will be rerouted to reflect this pattern of usage.
From Hadleigh Victoria House Corner, the 27 will run to Rayleigh Weir, Rayleigh, and Hullbridge, creating new north-south links between several large communities and offering new journey opportunities.
The section of route between Benfleet, Thundersley, and Southend is replaced by an increased frequency on service 28.
Service 27 buses will run via every 20 minutes on weekdays, and every 30 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays.
The level of service provided by services 22, 27, and 827 in the morning from Canvey to Benfleet is unchanged.
Service continues to provide a coordinated headway with service 22 between Canvey and Benfleet via Long Road and Link Road. Every 10 minutes weekdays and every 15 minutes at weekends.
Evening journeys run between Canvey Leigh Beck and Rayleigh Station, with the late evening service to Hullbridge provided by service 20.
Route unchanged. Service will become the main high frequency London Road service that we provide. The service is being registered "at frequent intervals" which means that additional journeys can be provided at times of high demand if required.
Frequency increased to run every 7 to 9 minutes on Monday to Friday, every 9 to 10 minutes on Saturdays and during the day on school holiday weekdays, and every 12 to 15 minutes on Sundays.
A new hourly overnight service will run on Monday to Saturday nights, departing Basildon and Southend at midnight, 1am, 2am, 3am, and 4am.
Later buses will be provided on Sunday evenings.
Revised Sunday timetable to improve reliability. Buses will continue to run every 30 minutes during the daytime.
The timetable will remain largely similar to that introduced from 12th April 2026. Two early morning and late night journeys (0355 and 0455 from Chelmsford, 2300 from Southend) will call at Southend Airport outside the terminal, providing local connections to the airport at times when other public transport servcies are unavailable.
The stopping pattern will be amended so that buses call at all stops between Southend Hospital and Rayleigh, providing a 24-hour service to stops that had previously not been served by the X30.