Fares review from Sunday 30th August
2 weeks ago
As a part of the ongoing integration of Konectbus, Konectbuses, Simonds and Flagfinders into Central Connect, we’ve undertaken a full review of our fare structures with the intention of simplifying our offering with consistent and simple zones.
Our current fares have overlapping zones and variable product ranges based on the legacy operator. From Sunday 30th August 2026 our existing zones and fare structure will be recast. There will be changes to a large number of fares at the same time to remove current disparity and to reflect the increasing costs of providing bus services.
We appreciate there may be a short period of disruption whilst we transition fares to the new structure and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience that may cause. This will include Month, 3 Month and Year passes in some zones becoming temporarily unavailable to purchase.
Fares on Novus Leicester, on routes 23, 24, 25 and 26 in Peterborough and on route 100 in Cambridge have not been included in our fares review due to their isolation from the rest of the network and will remain unchanged.
Any tickets that have been purchased before the fares review will continue to be valid until the expiration date of the ticket, from which point you should purchase a ticket from our new product range.
Route Fares
All our routes will continue to offer single fares available on the bus from the driver. These will vary route by route but will all be capped in line with the National Bus Fare Cap funded by HM Government.
Return fares will be withdrawn across most routes in favour of zonal day and season passes and as a reflection that two single fares in many places would be cheaper than a return due to the National Bus Fare Cap.
In a small number of cases, we provide services on behalf of the local transport authority under an arrangement where they set the fares, and on those services return fares will continue to be available. As of August 30th 2026, this applies to routes 7/7A, 40 and 122 in Essex, route 14 in Ipswich and Sunday routes 20/21 in Leicester only.
Local Network Zones
We’ll be offering local network zonal fares around our larger more concentrated networks with Day, Week, Month, 3 Month and Annual passes available on an individual basis, as well as a ‘Group Day’ ticket to cover travel for groups. Day, Week and Group tickets will be available to purchase on the bus or via the Central Connect app. Month, 3 Month and Annual passes will be available via the Central Connect app only.
Hertford Zone
Valid on all Central Connect services within Hertford, including the 'H' Network. Valid on services 35/38 as far as the A10 Chadwell Viaduct stops.
The prices & product ranges for tickets valid in this zone will be:
| Adult | Youth (18 & under) | Group | |
| Day | £4.80 | £3.50 | £10.00 |
| Week | £22.00 | £14.00 | |
| Month | £70.00 | £46.00 | |
| 3 Month | £185.00 | £125.00 | |
| Year | £720.00 | £480.00 |
Harlow Zone
Valid on all Central Connect services within Harlow, including the full length of services 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 23, 24, 27, 28 & 407. The boundary stops for this ticket on other services in the Harlow area will be: Allende Avenue (25/33A), Hastingwood McDonalds (20/21), Hastingwood Garden Centre (22), Water Lane (15/32), Kingsmead Close (31/32A).
The prices & product ranges for tickets valid in this zone will be:
| Adult | Youth (18 & under) | Group | |
| Day | £5.50 | £3.90 | £11.00 |
| Week | £25.00 | £16.00 | |
| Month | £80.00 | £52.00 | |
| 3 Month | £210.00 | £140.00 | |
| Year | £810.00 | £530.00 |
Abbey Zone
Valid on all Central Connect services within Waltham Cross & Waltham Abbey, including the full length of services A1, A2 & A3. The boundary stops for other services in the Abbey area will be: Upshire Shops (13), Hayes Hill Farm (15), Skillet Hill Farm (16C), The Roman Urn PH (25C/242).
The prices & product ranges for tickets valid in this zone will be:
| Adult | Youth (Under 19) | Group | |
| Day | £4.80 | £3.50 | £10.00 |
| Week | £22.00 | £15.00 | |
| Month | £70.00 | £47.00 | |
| 3 Month | £185.00 | £125.00 | |
| Year | £720.00 | £480.00 |
Epping Forest Zone
Valid on all Central Connect services within Epping Forest, including Epping, Loughton, North Weald, Abridge & Upshire. The boundary stops for services in the Epping Forest area are: Horseshoes Farm (20/21), The Phoenix (13C/18C/20), Crowther Nurseries (19), The Woodbine (16C), Upshire Village Hall (13), Green Close (31).
The prices & product ranges for tickets valid in this zone will be:
| Adult | Youth (Under 19) | Group | |
| Day | £5.50 | £3.90 | £11.00 |
| Week | £25.00 | £16.00 | |
| Month | £80.00 | £52.00 | |
| 3 Month | £210.00 | £140.00 | |
| Year | £810.00 | £530.00 |
Tendring Zone
This ticket remains unchanged since introduction, so you can keep travelling as you currently do. Valid on all Central Connect services *within* Tendring District, including Clacton, Walton, Harwich, Brightlingsea, Alresford & Elmstead Market. Boundary stops for services in the Tendring area are: Marsh Farm Corner (74), Frating Church Road (76/77), Cherry Tree Farm (105/107), The Wooden Fender (102).
The prices & product ranges for tickets valid in this zone will be:
| Adult | Youth (18 & under) | Group | |
| Day | £5.00 | £3.80 | £7.50 |
| Week | £18.00 | £14.00 | |
| Month | £65.00 | £50.00 | |
| 3 Month | £175.00 | £140.00 | |
| Year | £680.00 | £530.00 |
Sudbury Zone
Valid on all Central Connect services within Sudbury town, including Long Melford & Great Cornard. Boundary stops for services in the Sudbury zone are: Long Melford Black Lion (41/47), Long Melford High Street Farm (45/46A), Long Melford Bull Lane Farm (46), Grantham Avenue (44), Northern Road (42/43/50).
The prices & product ranges for tickets valid in this zone will be:
| Adult | Youth (Under 20) | Group | |
| Day | £4.80 | £3.50 | £7.00 |
| Week | £22.00 | £14.00 | |
| Month | £70.00 | £46.00 | |
| 3 Month | £185.00 | £125.00 | |
| Year | £720.00 | £480.00 |
Ipswich Zone
Valid on all Central Connect services 14, 50 (Sundays) & 74/74A within Ipswich, including Claydon & Edinburgh Gardens. Boundary stops for services in the Ipswich Zone are: Kirkby Rise (74) and Burstall Lane Wild Man (50).
| Adult | Youth (Under 20) | Group | |
| Day | £5.00 | £3.90 | £11.00 |
| Week | £22.50 | £16.00 | |
| Month | £72.50 | £52.00 | |
| 3 Month | £190.00 | £140.00 | |
| Year | £740.00 | £530.00 |
Norwich Zone
Valid on all Central Connect services within Norwich, in line with the Norfolk Fusion Norwich Inner Zone - which includes Costessey, Easton, the N&N Hospital, Hethersett, Newton Flotman, Surlingham, Salhouse, Rackheath & Thorpe Marriott. On a trial basis, this zone will also include all stops on service 8 between Norwich, Dereham & Toftwood.
| Adult | Youth (Under 20) | Group | |
| Day | £5.00 | £3.90 | £9.40 |
| Week | £20.00 | £14.00 | |
| Month | £62.00 | £45.00 | |
| 3 Month | £190.00 | £140.00 | |
| Year | £740.00 | £530.00 |
Dereham Zone
Valid on all Central Connect services within Dereham including Toftwood, Quebec Hall, Eckling Grange & Sandy Lane/Brooks Drive. Boundary stops for services in the Dereham Zone will be: Holland Court (3/8/11), Westfield Lane (4/17), Quebec Hall (18/21/22), Grange Farm (8/19).
| Adult | Youth (Under 20) | Group | |
| Day | £3.90 | £2.80 | £6.00 |
| Week | £15.00 | £11.00 | |
| Month | £47.00 | £34.00 | |
| 3 Month | £150.00 | £105.00 | |
| Year | £580.00 | £400.00 |
Regional 'Everywhere' Zones
We’ll be offering regional zonal fares across our larger county areas with Day, Week, Month, 3 Month and Annual passes available on an individual basis, as well as a ‘Group Day’ ticket. We will offer four regional zones as follows:
- Norfolk
- Suffolk
- Essex (including Thurrock)
- Hertfordshire
These tickets will be branded ‘Everywhere’ and will include all local bus services operated by Central Connect within their county area except those running primarily to transport school children (see below). We also recognise that services overlap between county areas and as such there will be additional validities on some services as listed.
Day, Week and Group tickets will be available to purchase on the bus or app. Month, 3 Month and Annual passes will be available via the app only.
Everywhere Norfolk
Valid on all Central Connect services in Norfolk, including the full length of service 81 between Diss & Beccles, travel between Diss & Eye on services 72, 75, 75A & 482. This does not include travel on school services numbered 8xx. Please see this link for information on schools ticketing.
The prices & product ranges for tickets valid in this zone will be:
Adult | Youth (Under 20) | Group | |
Day | £9.00 | £6.30 | £12.80 |
Week | £31.00 | £23.00 | - |
Month | £95.00 | £67.00 | - |
3 Month | £295.00 | £210.00 | - |
Year | £1,110.00 | £829.00 | - |
Everywhere Suffolk
Valid on all Central Connect serices in Suffolk, including the full routes of service 70, 70A, 72, 75, 75A, 81 & 482 to/from Diss, travel between Scole & Diss on services 81, 82, 82C & 84, the full length of new services 42, 43 & 44 to/from Colchester & new services 85 & 86 between Braintree, Halstead & Sudbury. This does not include travel on school or college services numbered 7xx, 973 or prefixed 'O' or 'B'. Please see this link for information on schools ticketing.
The prices & product ranges for tickets valid in this zone will be:
Adult | Youth (Under 20) | Group | |
Day | £9.00 | £6.30 | £15.00 |
Week | £36.00 | £26.00 | - |
Month | £110.00 | £78.00 | - |
3 Month | £295.00 | £210.00 | - |
Year | £1,110.00 | £829.00 | - |
Everywhere Essex (inc. Thurrock)
Valid on all Central Connect services in Essex, including the full route of services 85 & 86 between Braintree, Halstead & Sudbury, all services to/from Bishop's Stortford, Broxbourne, Hoddesdon & Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire & service 375 in Thurrock. It will also be accepted (but not sold on) services 7, 7A, 40 & 122 & Park&Ride service 701 in Chelmsford. It is not valid on school services M1-M3, HD1-7, TL1-7, TU1-2, PL1, 2, 5 & 6, 109-112 and all 8xx & 9xx routes, with the sole exception of service 816 which it will be valid on. Please see this link for information on schools ticketing.
The prices & product ranges for tickets valid in this zone will be:
Adult | Youth (Under 19) | Group | |
Day | £9.00 | £6.30 | £15.00 |
Week | £36.00 | £26.00 | |
Month | £110.00 | £78.00 | |
3 Month | £295.00 | £210.00 | |
Year | £1,110.00 | £829.00 |
Everywhere Hertfordshire
Valid on all Central Connect services in Hertfordshire, including the full route of services 25, 25B, 25C, 33A, 32 & 32A to/from Essex, as well as service 836 to Edwinstreet Middle School and Freman College.
The prices & product ranges for tickets valid in this zone will be:
Adult | Youth (Under 19) | Group | |
Day | £9.00 | £6.30 | £15.00 |
Week | £36.00 | £26.00 | |
Month | £110.00 | £78.00 | |
3 Month | £295.00 | £210.00 | |
Year | £1,110.00 | £829.00 |
TMS Connect tickets
We’ll be offering TMS Connect tickets for those who travel over a wider area and wish to utilise our services in different regions. TMS Connect tickets will be available as an individual Day, Week or Year or a Group Day only. There are no youth discounts on this ticket range.
TMS Connect tickets are valid on any local bus services operated by Central Connect, excluding private works services, tours/holidays, rail replacement services, special services and services operated on behalf of partners (e.g. Flixbus & Leger). This includes our open school bus network services.
Adult | |
Day | £15.00 |
Weekly | £59.00 |
Year | £1485.00 |
Group Day | £30.00 |
Young Persons Fares Information
We’ll be continuing to offer discounted fares for younger travellers across all of our services, but the age boundaries may vary based on the general policy adopted by the relevant local travel authority.
The following zones offer Young Person fares for those aged 19 and under:
- Everywhere Norfolk
- Everywhere Suffolk
- Norwich Zone
- Ipswich Zone
- Sudbury Zone
- Dereham Zone
The following zones offer Young Person fares for those aged 18 and under:
- Everywhere Essex
- Everywhere Hertfordshire
- Abbey Zone
- Epping Forest Zone
- Harlow Zone
- Hertford
- Tendring Zone
- Cambridge Zone
- Peterborough Zone
- Novus Leicester (except Leicester Flexi which is for those aged 15 and under)
Those aged 4 and under travel free at all times.
The purchase of Young Persons fares on the Central Connect app requires age verification after the first purchase before tickets can be used. This may take up to 48 hours to be approved, so please verify yourself in good time before travel.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Will multi-operator tickets still be accepted?
Yes, all multi-operator tickets will continue to be accepted under their current age and geographic validities.
How many days do I get with the 1 Month and 3 Month options?
Our month product is 31 days regardless of when you buy it, even though some months are shorter than this. Likewise our 3 month product is always 93 days.
How many passengers constitutes a group?
Five people of any age. This can be any mix of adults and young people - and we can guarantee a group ticket will always be cheaper than three adults purchasing individual equivalent day tickets. Please note that if there’s just two people travelling, it may be better value to purchase two day tickets or single tickets - depending on the zone you travel in.