Bus fares for commerically operated bus services are set by the operator. Essex County Council set the fares for contracted bus services taking into account fares charged on similar commerical bus services.

Single and return fares are available and many operators offer weekly, monthly and annual tickets.

Fares Enquiries

Contact the bus operator for details of fares.

Unlimited bus travel for £8!

Essex Saver tickets allow users unlimited same day travel on every registered local bus service within the administrative boundary of Essex County Council, and also into neighbouring counties, providing the journey starts or finishes in Essex and no change of bus is made outside of Essex (exceptions apply).

The Essex Saver will be issued Monday to Saturday inclusive on all non exempt registered local bus services.  The ticket will only be issued on services operating in the administrative boundary of Essex County Council.

Essex Saver tickets will be accepted at all times of day, on the day of issue on:

• all registered local bus services provided by operators, with the exception of those listed below
• all registered local bus services operated under contract to Essex County Council, with the exception of those listed below
• community transport or demand responsive based services being used to replace or supplement registered local bus services (accepted but not issued).

Exempt services:

• Coach or National Express Coach services
• Tickets will be valid but not issued on Transport for London bus services starting or finishing in Essex
• X22 Stansted – Colchester
• X30 Stansted – Southend (operated by First Essex Buses)
• 724 Harlow – Heathrow (operated by Arriva East Herts)
• X5 Stansted – Ipswich (operated by Excel)

For further information. telephone 0845 6000 110 or email publictransport@essex.gov.uk

Unlimited Sunday bus travel for just £2.80!

The Sunday Saver ticket is an all day ticket valid for any Sunday bus journey or combination of journeys within the administrative boundary of Essex. So make the most of Essex this Sunday with the Sunday Saver.

Adult....£2.80

Child....£1.40

Family....£5.50 (2 adults and 2 childrens or 1 adult and 3 children)

Scholar's Season Ticket

Are you under 19 and still at school or college?

The Scholar's Season ticket can be used on most Essex County Council contracted local bus services and will save you needing to find the money each day to pay the driver. You can use it for 1 return journey each day, at any time, to or from school or college. It cannot be used during holidays.

The price is based on the cheapest child rate return fare. This is then multiplied by the number of days per term and a discount of 10% is taken off termly tickets and 20% discount for annual tickets.

Complete the application form or call Passenger Transport Local Bus team on 0845 603 7631 for further information.

Alternatively, if you would like to pay by credit card, please call the Local Bus team before you complete the application form.

The BusCard

Are you aged between 16 and 24?

Buy the BusCard today and you could benefit from child rate fares on a number of Essex County Council contracted services, including VillageLink branded routes.

The BusCard costs just £10 so the more you use it, the sooner it pays for itself!

Complete the BusCard application form or call Passenger Transport Local Bus team on 0845 603 7631 for further information.

Please do not forget to provide copy documentation of proof of age as failure to do so will delay issue (see application form for details).

Multi-journey ticket allowing you to make 10 journeys on a VillageLink bus for the price of 8. This ticket is valid for purchase onboard the bus. 

Allows unlimited travel for a day on the VillageLink network.  This ticket is available for purchase onboard the bus.  Also valid on services 133 (Braintree - Stansted Airport), 301/302 (Saffron Walden - Bishops Stortford), 312/313 (Saffron Walden - Great Dunmow), 314 (Great Dunmow - Braintree), 315 (Great Dunmow - Stebbing), 317 (Elsenham - Bishops Stortford) and 318 (Thaxted - Bishops Stortford).

Adult......£4.40

Child......£2.30

Provides unlimited travel all day on Sundays and Holiday Mondays.  This ticket is available for purchase onboard the bus

Adult....£2.00

Child....£1.00

Provides unlimited travel in Chelmsford in the evening from 1900 and all day Sundays and Holiday Mondays.  This ticket is available for purchase onboard the bus.

Provides unlimited travel in Colchester in the evenings from 1900 and all day on Sunday and Holiday Mondays.  This ticket is available for purchase onboard the bus.