Council extends late-night bus services and new Leigh-on-sea to Southend Airport bus route starts

August 21, 2025

From Sunday 31 August, Southend will see more buses running later into the night and a brand new bus service from Leigh-on-sea to Southend Airport.

Three late evening journeys added to Route 6 to and from Garon Park

Two new late services added to Route 2A serving Shoeburyness and East Beach

Saturday-only frequency on Route 9/9A reduced due to low use

Southend’s night time travel options will get a major boost this month, as the Council and Arriva agree to extend late evening bus services across the city.

Subject to traffic commissioners' approval, the new services will launch on Sunday 31 August 2025, with funding secured through grants under Southend’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

Route 6, which runs via Sutton Road and Cluny Square to Garon Park, has already seen success thanks to a council-funded extension earlier this year. That support will now expand to include three new late evening journeys, leaving Southend at 19:35, 20:35 and 21:35, and returning from Garon Park until 22:05.

Route 2A, which runs via Southchurch Road and Thorpe Bay Station to Shoeburyness East Beach will also benefit from two new late-night services. Buses will now depart Southend Bus Station at 23:15 and 00:15, continuing all the way to East Beach, significantly improving the current timetable.

As part of the review, Saturday only buses on routes 9 and 9A will go back to running every 20 minutes instead of every 15, starting Sunday 31 August. This change follows lower than expected passenger numbers.

Also on the 31st August the much awaited bus service between Leigh-on-sea and Southend Airport starts. The new route 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

The new timetable and route map can be found at https://stephensonsofessex.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2025/08/23-TT-31-8-25.pdf