At a Glance
- £8.5 million in dedicated bus funding confirmed for Southend
- Funding spread over three years to support long-term improvements
- Supports reliability, new routes, late-night services and better connections
- Aims to reduce car journeys and enhance the city’s transport network
Southend-on-Sea is set to benefit from £8.5 million in dedicated bus funding over the next three years, helping to improve reliability, provide better connections, and support the city’s growing transport needs for passengers.
Southend-on-Sea City Council will receive:
2026/27 – £2,796,830
2027/28 – £2,833,477
2028/29 – £2,870,123
This multi-year allocation allows the council to plan improvements across the network with confidence. It also enables Southend to build on recent successes, including the new 23A/B bus service from Leigh-on-Sea Railway Station to London Southend Airport route and Airport Business Park and the extension of late-night bus services, which are already giving passengers more choice and flexibility when travelling.
The funding will complement ongoing work to make services more reliable and easier to use, helping more people access jobs, education, leisure, and essential services across the city.
Cllr Paul Collins, Cabinet Member for Finance, Assets and Public Transport, said:
“This is very positive news for Southend. With the introduction of the Leigh Station to London Southend Airport service, improvements to local routes, and our recently extended late-night services, we’ve already started to make a real difference for passengers.
“We need to reduce the use of car journeys, by supporting new and enhanced bus services, and at the times when people need them.”
“This £8.5 million in confirmed, multi-year funding gives us the stability to continue that work, plan ahead, and keep improving the bus network for everyone who relies on it.”
The allocation forms part of a wider funding package for the East of England, designed to support local authorities in enhancing and maintaining their bus services.
For Southend, it represents a significant opportunity to continue strengthening public transport and ensure services remain accessible, sustainable, linked up and fit for the future.