Links
Useful Websites
Transport, Timetables and Further Reading
We aim to offer a selection of links to Essex related bus sites. This list is split into a number of discrete headings but, as with any such list, it will never be complete or fully up to date!
The content of sites listed here remains the responsibility of the relevant site owner/publisher. We strongly recommend you ensure you have anti-virus protection on your device when viewing these external sites. We do not accept any responsibility for the content, accuracy or security of any sites listed here.
Journey planners and timetable information
- Traveline – public transport across the UK
- Bus Passenger News – the latest issues of Essex County Council’s monthly update of service changes
- Essex CC Transport & Travel Update service – click here to register
- Essex CC interactive route maps/timetables and X (Twitter) feed
- see also various operator sites listed below
- Timetables are also available from the BusTimes site, select the operator, area or bus stop you require from the landing page for this area.
- Neighbouring local authority sites:
- Hertfordshire – Intalink
- Suffolk – Suffolk On Board
- Transport for London – Buses
Tracking individual buses
The Bus Times web site uses vehicle tracking data and presents it in a variety of formats, including by bus fleet numbers – ideal if you are looking to photograph, cop or ride on a particular bus. Use the links here to access a fleet list for the relevant operator (but be aware that reporting is by the fleet number programmed into the ticket machine, occasionally machines may be on a different bus):
- Arriva Essex operations
- Ensign
- First Essex
- Konect Buses (former Hedingham & Chambers ops)
- Stephensons, NIBS (and group fleet list including Galloway)
- Central Connect
- Transport Made Simple (whole group)
Bus Times live map – all operators in Essex submitting data
Vehicles can also be tracked from Regional Bus Finder by LVF (London Vehicle Finder – no longer just London) – see help page first!
Major Bus Operators & Dealers
- Arriva in Essex, Facebook, X(Twitter)
- Central Connect including KonectBuses
- Ensign Bus, Ensign vintage vehicle hire and Southend seafront service 99
- First Essex
- Ipswich Buses
- National Express
- NIBS Buses, Wickford, Facebook and X(Twitter)
- Stephensons of Essex
- Zero2 Bus Museum/Gt Yeldham Buses
Bus Strategies
How Local Authorities are responding to the Government’s
Bus Back Better national strategy:
Smaller Operators
- A2B Travel, Cambridgeshire
- Acme Transport Services, Takeley
- Advance Mini Buses, Southend
- Amber Coaches, Rayleigh (website still exists although operations have ceased)
- Arrow Taxis, Maldon
- Barker Bus, Harlow
- Brentwood Coaches
- Cooks Coaches, Westcliff
- Crest Coaches, Southend
- Crusader Holidays (Motts Travel), Clacton
- Dons Coaches, Dunmow
- Flagfinders, Braintree
- Fords Coaches, Althorne
- Fourways Coaches, Chelmsford
- Galleon Travel, Roydon/Stansted – coach operations; see Central Connect for bus services
- Golden Boy, Roydon
- Hailstone Travel, Wickford
- Keane Travel, Linford
- Kelly’s of Essex, Nazeing
- Kevendys Travel (Rayleigh Roadways), Wickford
- Kings Coaches, Colchester
- Kirbys Coaches, Rayleigh
- Klarners Executive Travel, Colchester
- Lodge’s Coaches, High Easter
- Marc One Travel, Horndon on the Hill and FB
- Milestone Coaches, Canvey Island
- North Essex Travel
- Peter Godward Coaches/Tours R Us, Basildon
- Reliance Coaches, Benfleet
- SBC Leisure, Southend
- Seaxestravel
- South East Coaches – South Woodham
Community bus schemes
- Brentwood Community Transport
- Coggeshall Community Bus
- Epping Forest Community Transport
- Essex County Council Ugobus
Suppliers and manufacturers in Essex
- Ensign Bus Sales – Britain’s biggest bus dealers
- Marden Commercials, Benfleet – vehicle refinishers and on Facebook
User Groups
- Bus Users UK (BUUK)
- Colchester Bus Users Support Group (C-Bus)
- Chelmsford and South Essex bus users group on FB
- Colchester borough bus users on FB
- Dengie Hundred Bus Users Group on FB
- Southend Area Bus User Group
- Transport Focus
Archives
- Essex Bus Archive
- LOTS publications archive – London
- The Bus Archive – national
Enthusiast sites, museums and societies (last updated 22/8/26)
(primarily Essex related)
- Blackwater Preservation Group – a collection of former Essex buses
- The Bus Archive – combining the archives of the Omnibus Society and the Kithead Trust
- Bus blinds – various Essex operators, presented by Geoff Toon (site now defunct but archived)
- Bus Lists On The Web – searchable records of virtually every UK bus & coach, at least since WW2
- Canvey Island Transport Museum and on Facebook
- Colchester Corporation Trams – uniforms and insignia, Ashley Birch
- Colne Estuary Preserved Buses collection
- EBEG on Facebook
- Essex Bus Boys – blog telling the story of ONO59’s round the world tour
- Harlowride buses in & around Harlow
- Ipswich Transport Museum and on Facebook
- LOTS – the London Omnibus Traction Society and on Facebook
- LOTS very extensive publications archive 0n-line
- M&D and East Kent Bus Club
- The Omnibus Society
- On The Buses Fan Club – featuring the ENOC buses and depot used in the filming of this classic TV sitcom
- ONO59 – the bus that went round the world – various coverage including blog, BBC News, Echo newspaper
- PSV Circle
- Public Transport Services in the Southend-on-Sea District, 1900 – 1955 – an ebook by Richard Hayden
- Rally Calendar – probably the most comprehensive listing on-line of bus rallies etc, thanks to Skyline Aviation
- Route diagrams – Westcliff, Benfleet, Campbells, City, Southend CT – by Richard Hayden
- SCT61 – extensive photo galleries; includes some historical notes, particularly history of Southend Corporation Transport
- Southend Corporation Trams – uniforms and insignia, Ashley Birch
- The Transport Ticket Society
- The story of WNO481 (Eastern National KSW – the Wings Tour Bus) from Radio Jammor, also from owner Tom Jennings
- Working On The Buses – staff stories, including some from Essex
- Zero Two Bus Museum/Gt Yeldham Buses
Photo galleries (last updated 22/8/26)
- Buses in & around Southend (20th century) – a group hosted by David Moth and featuring various photographers
- Colchester Corporation photo gallery (SCT 61 site)
- Dave Arnold – Essex and beyond!
- David Christie – various photo sets including an East Anglian gallery of 44 brilliant shots from 1967-1970
- “Eastbeach68” – John G Lidstone’s excellent photos, regularly updated
- Eastern National extensive photo gallery (SCT 61 site)
- “Eastern National 1982’s gallery” – Dale Pretty
- Essex Bus Photos Google photo group
- Ian Banks photos – plenty of Essex interest, mainly recent shots but some historic views
- Jonathan Bale’s photos – various Essex operators
- Kevin Smith – lots of excellent topical photos, look for sets with Essex interest
- Nick Field’s photos – mostly Eastern National
- Paul Bateson – 1960s Southend CT etc
- Paul Harvey – Essex 1987 etc and many present day shots here
- Paul Redmond – extensive b/w collections, including: Colchester Corporation, Eastern National, Osbornes, Southend Corporation, Super Coaches Upminster, Upminster & District, Tillings Transport
- “Regional Bus Photos” – sets including various Essex area operators
- Shenfield depot – Chris Stewart’s collections, being added to progressively
- Southend Corporation historical notes and extensive photo gallery (SCT 61 site)
- Southend Transport 1974-1976, 25 nostalgic photos by Phil Clarke
- Southend CT – English Electric official photos of tram, 1930s bus and trolleybuses
- Wayne Bell’s photos – various North Essex views (to 2016)
Bus Operators Serving Essex
Timetables and Journey Planning
Enthusiast and History Groups
Publishers and Dealers
Reference and Research
EBEG Website Pages
Important Notice
All links are correct at the time of publication but may change without notice. Inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement by the Essex Bus Enthusiasts Group.