Colchester Network Changes
20th December 2026
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Register hereA new, coordinated bus network for Colchester – more frequent buses, new connections and simpler journeys across the city.
From Sunday 20 December, First Bus will be running Arriva’s former routes in Colchester as part of a new-look, joined-up network for the city. Some route numbers and timetables are changing, and we’re looking forward to welcoming new customers on board.
Below are details of how the new network and routes will operate. We will be adding timetables and maps soon, so please check back for these updates. If you have an Arriva ticket or pass, it will continue to be valid until the date it expires.
How to travel on your service
Here's what you need to know about your service from 20 December 2026. For full details of every change, scroll down to What's Changing.
Updated maps and timetables will be available soon, please keep an eye on this webpage for changes!
| If you currently travel on Service | Current operator | Now you should |
| 1 | Arriva | Replaced by new service 55 – up to every 11 minutes Monday to Friday. |
| 1A | First Bus | Renumbered as service 55A. Times are not changing. |
| 2 | Arriva | City Centre, St Johns and Highwoods: use new service 58A. Mile End and Horkesley Heath: use service 87. |
| 2A | First Bus | Renumbered as service 58B. Times are not changing. |
| 3 | Arriva | Replaced by new service 55 – up to every 11 minutes Monday to Friday. |
| 8 | Arriva | Replaced by new services 58 and 58A – together a bus up to every 10 minutes between Monkwick and the City Centre. For Colchester Station and Colchester Hospital, use the 58. For St Johns, use the 58A. |
| 16A | First Bus | Keep travelling as you do today! There are no changes to this service. |
| 50, 50A | First Bus | Keep travelling as you do today! There are no changes to these services. |
| 51 | First Bus | New timetable, with later buses on Friday and Saturday nights. |
| 52 | First Bus | New timetable, with buses evenly spaced alongside the 51 and 58. |
| 53, 53A | First Bus | Rowhedge, Old Heath, City Centre and Colchester (North) Station: more buses on the 53, now every 30 minutes during the day Monday to Friday. West Bergholt: use service 104 during the day Monday to Saturday. The 53A continues on Monday to Saturday evenings, and journeys run as service 53B on Sundays. |
| 54 | First Bus | More buses – now up to every 11 minutes Monday to Friday. |
| 55 (Colchester – West Mersea) |
First Bus | Now service 58A. Some journeys continue via St Johns to Highwoods, others finish at Colchester Bus Station (Osborne Street). Please note, the number 55 will now be used for a different route, between Shrub End and Greenstead. |
| 56 | First Bus | Keep travelling as you do today! There are no changes to this service. |
| 57 | First Bus | Keep travelling as you do today! There are no changes to this service. |
| 68, 68A | First Bus | Keep travelling as you do today! There are no changes to these services. |
| 71, 371, X71 | First Bus | Keep travelling as you do today! There are no changes to these services. |
| 75, 375 | First Bus | Keep travelling as you do today! There are no changes to these services. |
| 87 | First Bus | More buses – now every 20 minutes during the day Monday to Friday – and now also serving Defoe Crescent in Mile End. |
| 102 | First Bus | Keep travelling as you do today! There are no changes to this service. |
| 104 | First Bus | Now continues to Colchester Station and West Bergholt, Monday to Saturday. Plus, new service 103 offers quicker journeys to and from Harwich. |
| 320, X20 | First Bus | Keep travelling as you do today! There are no changes to this service. |
| 694 | First Bus | Keep travelling as you do today! There are no changes to this service. |
I have an Arriva ticket, will it be valid on First Bus services?
All Arriva tickets and passes remain valid until expiry. For new ticket purchases, the existing First Bus range of tickets and passes is available to purchase from the First Bus app, website or from our friendly drivers.
From 20th December 2026, you'll be able to use your Arriva tickets on First Bus services by showing them to your First Bus driver or scanning the Arriva ticket QR code on the driver's ticket machine.
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One Network, More Connections
- Up to nine buses an hour between Highwoods, Colchester Hospital, Colchester Station and the City Centre.
- A bus every 5 to 6 minutes in Greenstead.
- New links to Colchester Station from the Harwich Road area and West Bergholt.
- Travel further with First Bus to Chelmsford, Braintree, Maldon, West Mersea and Harwich.
New Services & Routes
New frequent service replacing Arriva services 1 and 3.
From 20th December 2026.
We’re introducing buses up to every 11 minutes Monday to Friday and every 15 minutes on Saturdays. The new service 55 travels between Shrub End, Ambrose Avenue, Colchester City Centre, East Hill, Harwich Road and Greenstead.
Timed to work together with service 54, there’ll be a bus every 5 to 6 minutes in Greenstead on weekdays and every 7 to 8 minutes on Saturdays.
Please note, the service 55 no longer runs to West Mersea. Customers travelling to and from West Mersea should use the new service 58A.
An updated timetable and map will be available soon.
Sunday service 1A has a new number.
From 20th December 2026.
The Sunday service 1A is being renumbered as 55A. The route and times are not changing.
New service replacing Arriva service 8, with direct links to Colchester Station and Colchester Hospital.
From 20th December 2026.
Together with the new service 58A, we’re introducing a bus up to every 10 minutes between Monkwick and Colchester City Centre Monday to Friday, and every 15 minutes on Saturdays.
From the City Centre, service 58 continues every 20 minutes Monday to Friday and every 30 minutes on Saturdays to Colchester Station, Colchester Hospital and Highwoods.
On Sundays and Public Holidays, service 58 runs every 30 minutes between Monkwick and Colchester City Centre.
An updated timetable and map will be available soon.
New service replacing Arriva services 8 and 2 and the service 55 to West Mersea, linking West Mersea, Monkwick, the City Centre, St Johns and Highwoods.
From 20th December 2026.
Together with the new service 58, we’re introducing a bus up to every 10 minutes between Monkwick and Colchester City Centre Monday to Friday, and every 15 minutes on Saturdays.
From the City Centre, service 58A continues every 20 minutes Monday to Friday and every 30 minutes on Saturdays via St Johns to Highwoods.
One bus every hour starts from West Mersea Monday to Saturday. Some of these journeys continue via St Johns to Highwoods, while others finish at Colchester Bus Station (Osborne Street).
On Sundays and Public Holidays, the service to West Mersea continues to be service 68A, running every two hours. Evening and Sunday journeys via St Johns run as service 58B.
An updated timetable and map will be available soon.
Evening and Sunday service 2A has a new number.
From 20th December 2026.
The evening and Sunday service 2A, serving Highwoods, St Johns, Colchester City Centre, Mile End and Horkesley Heath, is being renumbered as 58B. The route and times are not changing.
A new, more direct journey between Colchester and Harwich.
From 20th December 2026.
The new service 103 runs Monday to Saturday, offering a quicker journey to Harwich in the morning and back from Harwich in the early evening – ideal for commuters. A different timetable runs on Saturdays.
An updated timetable and map will be available soon.
Replaced Services
From 20th December 2026.
Replaced by the new First Bus service 55, running up to every 11 minutes Monday to Friday and every 15 minutes on Saturdays, with a bus every 5 to 6 minutes in Greenstead when combined with service 54.
From 20th December 2026.
Renumbered as service 55A. The route and times are not changing.
From 20th December 2026.
Between Colchester City Centre, St Johns and Highwoods, replaced by the new service 58A, running every 20 minutes Monday to Friday and every 30 minutes on Saturdays.
Between Colchester, Mile End and Horkesley Heath, use service 87, which now runs every 20 minutes during the day Monday to Friday and will also serve Defoe Crescent.
From 20th December 2026.
Renumbered as service 58B. The route and times are not changing.
From 20th December 2026.
Replaced by the new First Bus service 55, running up to every 11 minutes Monday to Friday and every 15 minutes on Saturdays.
From 20th December 2026.
Replaced by the new services 58 and 58A, which together run up to every 10 minutes between Monkwick and Colchester City Centre Monday to Friday, and every 15 minutes on Saturdays.
Between the City Centre, Colchester Station, Colchester Hospital and Highwoods, use service 58. Between the City Centre, St Johns and Highwoods, use service 58A. Each runs every 20 minutes Monday to Friday and every 30 minutes on Saturdays.
From 20th December 2026.
Replaced by the new service 58A, with one bus every hour from West Mersea Monday to Saturday. Some journeys continue via St Johns to Highwoods, while others finish at Colchester Bus Station (Osborne Street). The Sunday service 68A continues to run every two hours as today.
Please note, the number 55 will now be used for a different route, between Shrub End and Greenstead.
Service Changes
From 20th December 2026.
We’re introducing a new timetable so that services 51, 52 and 58 are evenly spaced, giving you up to nine buses an hour between Highwoods, Colchester Hospital, Colchester Station and Colchester City Centre Monday to Saturday.
Service 51 continues to run every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sundays and Public Holidays. We’re also adding later journeys on Friday and Saturday nights, with the last buses leaving each end of the route at 23:45.
From 20th December 2026.
We’re introducing a new timetable so that services 51, 52 and 58 are evenly spaced, giving you up to nine buses an hour between Highwoods, Colchester Hospital, Colchester Station and Colchester City Centre Monday to Saturday.
Service 52 continues to run every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sundays and Public Holidays.
From 20th December 2026.
Service 53 will now run between Rowhedge, Old Heath, Colchester City Centre, North Hill and Colchester (North) Station. Buses run every 30 minutes during the day Monday to Friday, and hourly at other times Monday to Saturday.
West Bergholt is now served by service 104 during the day Monday to Saturday, running every hour to Colchester Station and the City Centre.
Service 53A runs between West Bergholt and Old Heath on Monday to Saturday evenings, with some extra journeys from West Bergholt to the City Centre.
On Sundays, journeys continue to run between Rowhedge and West Bergholt as today, renumbered as service 53B.
An updated timetable and map will be available soon.
From 20th December 2026.
We’re introducing more buses, now running up to every 11 minutes Monday to Friday. Timed to work together with the new service 55, there’ll be a bus every 5 to 6 minutes in Greenstead.
On Saturdays, service 54 runs every 15 minutes, giving a bus every 7 to 8 minutes in Greenstead with service 55. On Sundays, service 54 continues to run every 15 minutes.
From 20th December 2026.
We’re introducing more buses, now running every 20 minutes throughout the day Monday to Friday along the whole route, from Horkesley Heath to Brightlingsea. The route in Mile End will also serve Defoe Crescent.
Saturday buses continue to run every 30 minutes, with an hourly service on Sundays. Evening and Sunday journeys to Horkesley Heath, previously service 2A, are now service 58B.
An updated timetable and map will be available soon.
From 20th December 2026.
Service 104 will now continue beyond Colchester City Centre to Colchester Station and West Bergholt Monday to Saturday, creating new direct links to the station from the Harwich Road area. Buses continue to run every hour.
The new service 103 offers a quicker journey to Harwich in the morning and from Harwich in the early evening, Monday to Saturday. Sunday service 102 is unchanged, running every two hours.
An updated timetable and map will be available soon.