Public Transport

Bus Travel

Colchester has a comprehensive bus network provided by three main operators, First, Arriva and Hedingham Omnibuses. These companies also offer a travel pass (Colchester Borough Card) allowing travel on all three services in an inner and outer zone.

There are many areas of Colchester that are covered by services running up to every ten minutes throughout the day, including at peak periods. On the main routes through town you'll only have to wait for a few minutes to catch a bus with a number of services coming past on their way into or out of town. Many services also run late into the evening. If you are new to bus travel and would like some journey planning advice please email travel.plan.club@colchester.gov.uk or call 01206 506476. The link below shows the main bus routes with regular services of up to an hour frequency.

Colchester commuters bus network map.

Where to catch your bus in the town centre.

Trains

The main station is Colchester North Station about a mile north of the town centre which has regular trains (up to every 15 minutes) to and from London, Norwich, Clacton, Harwich and stations in-between. The town is also served by Colchester Town and the Hythe stations.

Bus and Train Timetable information

• Traveline
  For public transport information open between 07.00 - 22.00. Calls charged at National Rates.
  tel 0871 200 22 33
• Transport Direct
  www.transportdirect.info
  Door to door journey planning service, maps and live traffic updates.
• North East Essex bus and train timetable booklet
  Published every six months, Available for £1 from Colchester Borough Council Customer Service Centre, High Street, First Travel Centre, Queen Street or High St. newsagents.
• First timetables, season passes and Colchester Borough Cards (including hourly service to Stanstead airport)
  First Travel Centre, Queen St.
  Online at www.firstgroup.com
  tel: 01206 366911
• Arriva timetables and information
  Direct from depot in Magdelen St.
  tel: 01206 764029.
• Hedingham Omnibuses
  tel: 01787 460621
• HC Chambers & Son
  tel: 01787 227233
• Cedric Coaches
  tel: 01206 824363
• National Train Journey Planning
  www.nationalrail.co.uk
  tel: 08457 484 950
• National Express East Anglia
  www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com
  tel: 0845 6007245
• National Express
  www.nationalexpress.com
  tel: 08705 808080
  To London from Walton via Frinton, Clacton, St Osyth, Essex University, Colchester and return
  To Liverpool from Clacton, Essex University, Colchester via Cambridge, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester and return

Colchester Bus Users Support Group (C-BUS)

C-BUS is an active local independent group that was formed in 2003 to represent the needs of local bus users. Its aims are to:

• Help current and future bus users.
• Raise public awareness about different aspects of the bus industry.
• Campaign for improved bus facilities in the Borough.

Membership of C-BUS costs only £3.00 for the year October 2007 - September 2008.

To join, send a cheque for £3.00, payable to 'Colchester Bus Users Support Group', to the Treasurer Peter Lawson 40 Compton Road CO4 0DZ.

For more information visit Colchester Bus Users Group