Southend-on-Sea City Council is pleased to announce a new agreement with Stephensons of Essex to provide a vital new bus service for residents in the southern part of St Luke’s Ward.
Starting from Monday 28 October 2024, the new Service 62 will run hourly on Monday to Friday mornings and early afternoons, connecting Central Avenue to and from the City Centre. This is a significant boost for the area, which lost its bus service 20 months ago.
Service 62 will link with Service 61, allowing seamless travel between Central Avenue, the Crematorium area, and Fossetts Park. The new route will start at the Heygate Avenue stop at the Travel Centre in the City Centre, head along Southchurch Road, Bournemouth Park Road, and Central Avenue before returning to the City Centre via Hamstel Road and Southchurch Road.
This new service is made possible by funding from the Department for Transport's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) Phase 2 allocation and is part of the Council's ongoing commitment to restoring and enhancing local bus routes.
Cllr Paul Collins, cabinet member for finance, assets, and investments, said: "We're pleased to bring back a bus service for the southern part of St Luke's Ward. This new connection will be a lifeline for many residents, improving access to the City Centre and other key destinations.
"It's part of our broader efforts to restore essential services, encourage bus travel, and reduce the number of car journeys, all of which contribute to better air quality and a more sustainable city."
Timetables for the 62 and 61 services are available online.