Southend-on-Sea City Council is delighted to announce that the new North South Bus Link (23A/23B) bus service will be operated by Stephensons of Essex, following a successful competitive tender process.
The service, funded by the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) Bus Grant, will run for an initial two years with government support, with an option of a third year and the aim of becoming a self-sustaining route in the future. The new service will be subject to the Traffic Commissioners approval.
The new route will begin on Sunday 31 August 2025 and will run at up to 30 minute intervals, serving key areas including St Laurence, Eastwood Park, Belfairs, Blenheim Park, Leigh and West Leigh. On Mondays to Fridays the route will alternate between terminating at London Southend Airport (23A) and the Airport Business Park (23B) from Leigh-on-Sea Railway Station, offering new links to schools and workplaces such as Eastwood Academy, Progress Road, Aviation Way and Southend Airport Business Park. On Saturdays and Sundays the route will operate between Leigh-on-Sea Railway Station and London Southend Airport only (23A).
The route will provide much needed connections between Leigh-on-Sea Rail Station and London Southend Airport, and the Business Park making it easier to travel across the city and helping residents in those areas that currently lack direct services. The service has been developed in response to local feedback, especially the call for a route that doesn’t require changing buses in the city centre and public transport access to the Business Parks around Aviation Way
To support the launch of the new service, brand-new and relocated bus stops will be installed along Progress Road and Whitehouse Road. The route will not only increase public transport access for more residents but also help reduce car journeys, ease congestion, and promote cleaner, greener travel throughout Southend.
Cllr Paul Collins, cabinet member for finance, assets, investments and public transport, said: “We know residents want easier, more reliable ways to get to work, school and other key destinations, and this new bus service will help deliver just that. It offers a direct route across the city without needing to change buses, connecting communities with places like Leigh-on-Sea, the Airport, and local business parks. The bus route connects with other key bus services across the city.
“It also supports our wider ambitions for a cleaner, greener Southend by giving people a real alternative to car travel. This is a positive step towards a more connected and sustainable city, made possible through government funding and local partnerships.”
Dean Robbie, Managing Director of Stephensons, commented: “We are delighted to be chosen to work in partnership with Southend City Council to operate this much-needed new local service. We will be investing in three brand new low-emission single deck buses at a cost of around £600,000, which will be especially branded for the 23A/B, and this new venture will create around seven new jobs for local people. We hope that those who have campaigned long and hard for this new service will be amongst the first to hop on board and give it a try.”
Full details of the final timetable will be available soon from the Stephensons website and App
To find out more about Southend-on-Sea’s BSIP, visit: Southend Bus Service Improvement Plan – Southend Bus Service Improvement Plan and Enhanced Partnership – Southend-on-Sea City Council