Service changes from Sunday 30th August

We're making changes to various services across the Central Connect network from Sunday 30th August, including our relaunched Suffolk network. These changes are designed to better reflect journey patterns and offer new connections. There are also a number of changes in the East of England & Essex to keep services running smoothly in these areas. 

We're still working on finalising our publicity for these changes - check back on this page through the week to find your new timetables and route maps!

East of England Network:

Service 2 (Eaton to Potter Heigham via Norwich City Centre)

Following customer feedback, on weekdays the 06:55 from Wroxham to Potter Heigham will now start from Rackheath at 06:40. On Saturdays, the 06:55 & 08:15 from Wroxham will now both start at Rackheath at 06:40 & 08:00 respectively. 

On Sundays, the service between Eaton & Norwich City Centre will be enhanced to operate every two hours. The timetable between Norwich & Stalham will be unchanged. 

Download your new route 2 timetable here.

Service 4 (Dereham to Norwich via Mattishall & Easton)

To enhance our morning peak-time offering for passengers on service 4, the 07:40 journey from Dereham to Norwich will be revised to depart at 07:30 and will operate 10 minutes earlier throughout. This introduces a convenient pre-09:00 arrival into Norwich and will help to improve access to work and education. 

Download your new route 4 timetable here.

Service 9 (Cringleford to The Plumsteads & Pilson Green via Norwich City Centre)

Following repeated issues related to parking through Thorpe Hamlet, we are modifying the route of service 9 from the route implemented in April. Service 9 will therefore operate via Thorpe Road, Harvey Lane, Pilling Park Road, Wellesley Avenue & Plumstead Road. This introduces new links between Thorpe Road & Lionswood Surgery, where a new stop will be introduced. 

For bus users on Rosary Road, St Leonards Road, Quebec Road & Wolfe Road, OurBus service 32 will be re-routed to cover these areas. Please see the OurBus website for further information on their timetables.

Download your new route 9 timetable here.

Service 10 (Catfield & Stalham to Norwich)

Following passenger feedback, route 10 will be revised within Catfield to serve the stop at the Village Hall. Buses will continue to serve the village on a circuit via the A149, Long Lane, The Street & Sutton Road. As a result of the above changes and some punctuality issues at peak times, a slightly revised timetable will be in operation through the day. 

Download your new route 10 route map here.
Download your new route 10 timetable here.

Service 11/11A (Dereham to Watton & Swaffham)

Through the day, services departing Watton towards Swaffham will operate three minutes earlier than at present. The 11A journeys at school times will have their routes & timings altered to ensure timely arrivals at schools and reduced bus congestion at Dereham Market Place.

Download your new route 11 timetable here.

Service 13 (Swanton Morley to Dereham)

As a result of the change to Route 4 as listed above, the 07:23 from Swanton Morley will instead depart at 07:13 and operate ten minutes earlier throughout. The through connection onto service 4 into Norwich will be maintained. 

Download your new route 13 timetable here.

Service 34 (Easton College & Village to Norwich via Dereham Road)

We are pleased to announce the introduction of new service 34 between Easton College, Festival Park, Easton Village, the Hampden View & Lodge Farm estates & Dereham Road into Norwich. This service will operate Monday to Friday through the day, providing links to new and growing estates while also supporting mid-day student travel to/from Easton College. This will also provide a service to the Marlingford Road stop in Easton, which has been left without a bus service since the start of the A47 works.

Download your new route 34 route map here.
Download your new route 34 timetable here.

Service 35 (The Nest to Carrow Park)

Due to low demand, service 35 will be withdrawn from the end of service on Saturday 29th August. Since the launch of this service in 2023, we have worked to promote the service directly as well as through The Nest, Norwich Airport & Norwich Rail Station but unfortunately despite these efforts, the usage of this  service remains low. Alternative services are available along Cromer Road/Aylsham Road as well as a reduced service from Carrow Park, although there are more frequent services in close walking distance at the Riverside Centre (near Morrisons). The Nest stop will no longer be served by any local bus services.

Service 67 (Swaffham to Downham Market via Marham)

We are pleased to announce the introduction of new service 67, operating Monday to Saturday between Swaffham & Downham Market Rail Station via Narborough, Marham, RAF Marham, Fincham & Crimplesham. This service provides new connections across West Norfolk in an area previously underserved by bus services. Through the day, services are timed to connect with trains to/from Cambridge & London Kings Cross at Downham Market Rail Station, and at peak times services will connect onto FirstBus Excel services towards Norwich. At school times, services will operate to/from the Nicholas Hammond Academy in Swaffham. This service is operated under contract to Norfolk County Council.

Through journeys will be available in the early morning and late evening from/to Dereham via Scarning as service 68.

Download your new route 67 route map here.
Download your new route 67 timetable here.

Service 68 (Dereham to Swaffham via Scarning) 

New service 68 will operate Monday to Saturday between Dereham & Swaffham via Scarning & Little Fransham, operating in the early mornings and late evenings to enhance the offering available to these communites. Please note that FirstBus tickets are not valid on route 68. 

Download your new route 68 route map here.
Download your new route 68 timetable here.

Service 70/70A (Diss to Bury St Edmunds) 

The 0740 from Diss and 1520 from Bury will divert between Thurston and Ixworth via Pakenham to provide additional capacity into Thurston College.

Download your new route 70/70A route map here.
Download your new route 70/70A timetable here.

Service 74/74A (Eye to Ipswich)

This service will be modified within Ipswich to terminate at the Old Cattle Market Bus Station through the day, rather than at Tower Ramparts Bus Station. There will be no change to the timetable as a result of this modification. 

Download your new route 74/74A route map here.
Download your new route 74/74A timetable here.

Service 82/82A/82C (Diss & Harleston to Norwich)

We will be introducing new variant 82A which will operate between Harleston, Long Stratton & Norwich which will replace the current evening journeys on FirstBus 36B, operating on Monday to Saturdays. These journeys will not serve Norwich Bus Station, instead serving St Stephens Street and will operate via Trafford Road & Hall Road as-per the FirstBus 38 route. 

We will also be introducing new journeys on service 82, with a new departure at 17:05 from Roydon operating on weekdays and new departures on Saturdays at 15:35 from Roydon, 16:55 from Norwich (to Long Stratton only) & 17:40 from Long Stratton to Norwich. 

Download your new route 82/82A/82C route map here.
Download your new route 82/82A/82C timetable here.

Service 850 (Little Fransham & Necton to Nicholas Hamond Academy)

New service 850 will be introduced on school days only, providing one journey each way at school times between Little Fransham, Necton & the Nicholas Hammond Academy in Swaffham.

Download your new route 850 timetable here.

Suffolk Network:

Service 41 (Sudbury to Haverhill via Glemsford & Clare)

This service will now be extended from Clare to Haverhill, continuing to operate roughly every 2 hours through the day. Services at school times will operate to the Thomas Gainsborough School in Sudbury, Stour Valley Community School & Samuel Ward School in Haverhill. Some journeys will operate from Sudbury as far as Clare or Glemsford but these will show number 41B. In Glemsford, the route will be reversed - buses will pick up passengers from the opposite side of the road to the current routes. Please check destination screens carefully to ensure you board the correct bus to the correct destination. 

Between Sudbury & Glemsford, a combined hourly service will be provided between service 41 & 47.

Download your new route 41 route map here.
Download your new route 41 timetable here.

Service 42/43 (Sudbury to Colchester via Assington & Nayland)

This service will now operate between Sudbury & Colchester only. Please see service 46 for travel between Sudbury & Bury St Edmunds.

All service 43 journeys will operate via the current 43B route through both Assington & Nayland at an hourly frequency through the day. In the early morning and late afternoon/evening, services will operate as service 42 which will follow the current X43 route. 

On Saturdays, a revised two-hourly frequency will be introduced due to low demand through the day but the evening journeys will continue to operate. 

Download your new route 42/43 route map here.
Download your new route 42/43 timetable here.

Service 44/44A (Colchester to Sudbury via Bures)

A revised timetable will be in place with journeys to/from Colchester extended to operate to Long Melford. There will additionally be short journeys in operation between Long Melford & Sudbury through the day. 

On Saturdays, a revised two-hourly frequency will be introduced due to low demand through the day and the short journeys between Long Melford & Sudbury will not operate. 

Download your new route 44/44A route map here.
Download your new route 44/44A timetable here.

Service 45/45A (Sudbury to Bury St Edmunds via Lawshall)

This service will be enhanced from the current position, with the school-day only peak journey remaining in place but with the shopper bus service now operating every two hours to bring new daytime journey opportunities. There will also be dditional journeys operating in both directions on Saturdays through the day.

Between services 45, 46 & 47, a combined 30 minute service will be provided between Sudbury & Bury St Edmunds off-peak.

Download your new route 45/45A route map here.
Download your new route 45/45A timetable here.

Service 46/46A/46B (Sudbury to Bury St Edmunds via Lavenham)

This new service will replace service 43 between Sudbury & Bury St Edmunds via Lavenham, following the same route. Services will operate hourly through the day, with evening journeys maintained. School service 707 will be integrated into the 46 corridor, with these buses via Ormiston Sudbury Academy numbered as 46A. Certain journeys from Sudbury will operate as far as Great Waldringfield and will be numbered as 46B.

Between services 45, 46 & 47, a combined 30 minute service will be provided between Sudbury & Bury St Edmunds off-peak.

Download your new route 46/46A/46B route map here.
Download your new route 46/46A/46B timetable here.

Service 47 (Sudbury to Bury St Edmunds via Glemsford)

Service 47 will be revised from the current route to Clare, and will instead operate between Sudbury & Bury St Edmunds via Glemsford. This will operate every two hours through the day. At school & peak times, journeys will operate as route 47A which will operate between Sudbury & Clare via Glemsford. 

Between services 45, 46 & 47, a combined 30 minute service will be provided between Sudbury & Bury St Edmunds off-peak.

Download your new route 47 route map here.
Download your new route 47 timetable here.

Service 48 (Sudbury to Bury St Edmunds via Stanningfield)

This new service will replace existing school/peak time journeys on route 42A between Sudbury & Bury St Edmunds. 

Download your new route 48 route map here.
Download your new route 48 timetable here.

Service 49 (Sudbury Town Service)

A small number of additional journeys will operate, mostly on Saturday mornings to remove existing service gaps.

Download your new route 49 timetable here.

Service 50 (Sudbury to Hadleigh & Ipswich)

A revised Monday to Saturday timetable will be introduced with additional running time and new peak time journeys on weekdays.

On Mondays to Saturdays, there are no direct buses between Sudbury and Ipswich. Passengers wishing to make this journey need to take Central Connect route 50 from Sudbury to Hadleigh, and change onto Beestons route 91 from Hadleigh to Ipswich. These connections are not guaranteed, because buses cannot wait in Hadleigh if connecting bus services are delayed. Passengers considering alternative routes may find our new route 51 useful, offering a direct link from Hadleigh to Stowmarket Railway Station, for train connections towards Norwich, London, Peterborough and Cambridge.

On Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, Central Connect route 50 operates as a through service between Sudbury and Ipswich, via Hadleigh and passengers should remain on the one vehicle for the full length of the journey. 

Download your new route 50 timetable here.

Essex Network: 

Service 4 (Harlow to Latton Bush)

Monday to Saturday evening journeys which are currently operated by First Essex, will now be operated by Central Connect at the same times.

Download your new service 4 timetable here. 

Service 13/13A (North Weald to Waltham Cross via Epping)

The 07:42 from North Weald and 14:30 from Waltham Cross will now operate with two buses between Epping St Johns & North Weald in order to provide additional capacity for St Johns School. These buses will both operate to the same timetable. 

School 40 (Witham Town Service)

The route for this service will be modified to serve Aldi via the Howbridge Estate, with new off-peak journeys introduced on Tuesday, Thursday & Friday. Peak journeys will continue to operate on Mondays, Wednesdays & Saturdays only.

Download your new service 40 route map here.
Download your new service 40 timetable here. 

Service 83A (Aldham to Colchester via Stanway)

This new service will be introduced, operating twice on a weekday morning from Aldham & Eight Ash Green to Stanway, then following the route of service 84 to Colchester & Colchester North Rail Station to provide new journey opportunities and connections for these communities.

On Saturdays, buses will operate hourly through the day with the first and last buses extended to/from Aldham & Colchester North Rail Station.

Download your new service 83A route map here.
Download your new service 83A timetable here. 

Service 85/86/86B (Sudbury to Braintree via Halstead)

This service will replace services 42 & 60, operating generally every two hours on Monday to Saturdays. Some short journeys will operate from Braintree to Halstead numbered 86B. One weekday journey in each direction will operate via Gosfield and Conies Road numbered 85. These journeys will serve Hedingham School and will run with two buses between Hedingham School and Conies Road to provide additional capacity.

Between services 86 & 87, an hourly service will be operated between Castle Hedingham, Halstead & Braintree through the day. 

Download your new route 85/86/86B route map here.
Download your new route 85/86/86B timetable here.

Service 87/87A (Great Yeldham to Braintree via Halstead)

This service will operate every two hours on weekdays only to enhance the frequency along this corridor. One bus each way per day will serve Hedingham School as route 87A.

Between services 86 & 87, an hourly service will be operated between Castle Hedingham, Halstead & Braintree through the day. 

Download your new route 87/87A route map here.
Download your new route 87/87A timetable here.

Service 88/88A (Halstead to Colchester)

Service will be revised to operate hourly Monday to Saturday, with journeys on service 89 combining to provide a half-hourly service between Halstead & Colchester. Evening and Sunday 88A journeys currently operated by First Essex will now be operated by Central Connect, with some additional journeys operating through the day on Sundays compared to the current timetable.

Download your new route 88/88A route map here.
Download your new route 88/88A timetable here.

Service 89/89A (Great Yeldham to Colchester via Halstead)

Service will be extended from Halstead to Colchester, with journeys on service 88 combining to provide a half-hourly service between Halstead & Colchester. This introduces direct daytime links from Great Yeldham & The Hedinghams through to Colchester with no change of bus required. Journeys on route 89 will not serve the Conies Road area of Halstead. One weekday journey in each direction will operate via Ramsey School to replace the old Flagfinders 817 service. 

Additional journeys will operate on schooldays only to/from Colchester to provide additional capacity for the Colchester Schools in place of the old Flagfinders 826 service. A limited number of Saturday journeys will operate as service 89A which will serve the Conies Road area of Halstead. 

Download your new route 89/89A route map here.
Download your new route 89/89A timetable here.

Service HL1 (High Leigh to Broxbourne Station)

The timetable for this service will remain the same, however within the High Leigh development, services will now operate as far as Nathan Drive.

Download your new route HL1 route map here.