Eastbourne Borough Bus Service Improvements
December 2023 update:
Highlights (changes from 23 July unless stated)
Langney and Seaside
- Loop daytime frequency doubled between Langney shopping centre, Priory Road, Asda, Sovereign Centre, Seaside and Eastbourne town centre, to 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and 30 minutes on Sundays.
- Route 1X (Eastbourne town centre-Seaside-Langney-Stone Cross-Hailsham-Roebuck Park). New hourly Monday to Saturday evening and Sunday daytime service.
- New evening journeys on Mondays to Saturdays and new Sunday 2 hourly service on route 6 (Eastbourne-District General Hospital-Polegate-Dittons Wood-Stone Cross-Westham-Langney).
- Later journeys on Monday to Saturday evenings on route 8 (Eastbourne town centre-District General Hospital-Sainsbury’s-Langney-Stone Cross-Westham-Pevensey-Beachlands.
- Additional Monday to Saturday evening route 51 journeys along Seaside.
Sovereign Harbour – New Monday to Saturday evening journeys on route 5,5A (Eastbourne town centre-Bridgemere-Sovereign Harbour North/South.
Seafront (east) – Route 99 (Hastings-Bexhill-Pevensey Bay-Sovereign Centre-Seaside-Eastbourne) – Frequency doubled to half-hourly on Sundays.
Bridgemere – Additional Monday to Saturday evening journeys from Eastbourne town centre (route 5,5A)
Meads – New hourly Monday to Saturday evening service between Meads and town centre (route 3).
Carew Road, Mill Road, Willingdon Park Drive – New evening journeys on Mondays to Saturdays and new Sunday 2 hourly service on route 6 (Eastbourne town centre-District General Hospital-Polegate-Dittons Wood-Stone Cross-Westham-Langney).
Upperton Road – Improved frequencies Monday to Saturday daytime, evenings and Sundays. See new route 28 and routes 51, 54, 98.
District General Hospital.
- New route 28 between Brighton, Lewes, Ringmer, Laughton, Hailsham, Polegate (not via High Street and Hailsham Road in Polegate), District General Hospital and Eastbourne town centre. Every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime. Revised timetable from 7 January 2024 to improve punctuality.
- Route 51/251/252 (Eastbourne-Polegate-Hailsham-Heathfield-Mayfield-Rotherfield-Tunbridge Wells). New hourly Monday to Saturday evening service to/from Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne, which is also increased to hourly on Sundays. Service to be numbered route 51 throughout.
- Route 54 (Eastbourne-Polegate-Hailsham-East Hoathly-Halland-Uckfield) new 2 hourly evening and Sunday service.
- Route 98 (Eastbourne-Polegate-Hailsham-Herstmonceux-Ninfield-Bexhill-Hastings new Monday to Saturday evening journeys. Plus new 2 hourly Sunday service 98 between Eastbourne and Bexhill.
- New evening journeys on Mondays to Saturdays and new Sunday 2 hourly service on route 6 (Eastbourne-District General Hospital-Polegate-Dittons Wood-Stone Cross-Westham-Langney) combined with new Sunday 2 hourly service on route 98 (Eastbourne-District General Hospital-Polegate-Dittons Wood-Hailsham-Herstmonceux-Ninfield-Bexhill) instead of current route 54A.
- Later journeys on Monday to Saturday evenings on route 8 (Eastbourne-District General Hospital-Sainsbury’s-Langney-Stone Cross-Westham-Pevensey-Beachlands.
Eastbourne longer distance services (all serving Eastbourne town centre)
- New route 28 between Brighton, Lewes, Ringmer, Laughton, Hailsham, Polegate (not via High Street and Hailsham Road in Polegate), District General Hospital and Eastbourne town centre. Every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime. Revised timetable from 7 January 2024 to improve punctuality.
- New route 48 running on Tuesdays and Thursdays linking Deanland Wood with Hailsham and Eastbourne. The seasonal section of route via Michelham Priory is withdrawn for the winter period from 30 October, resulting in some timing changes.
- Route 51/251/252 (Eastbourne-Polegate-Hailsham-Heathfield-Mayfield-Rotherfield-Tunbridge Wells). New hourly Monday to Saturday evening service to/from Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne, which is also increased to hourly on Sundays. Service to be numbered route 51 throughout.
- Route 54 (Eastbourne-Polegate-Hailsham-East Hoathly-Halland-Uckfield) new 2 hourly evening and Sunday service.
- Route 98 (Eastbourne-Polegate-Hailsham-Herstmonceux-Ninfield-Bexhill-Hastings new Monday to Saturday evening journeys. Plus new 2 hourly Sunday service 98 between Eastbourne and Bexhill.
- Route 99 (Hastings-Bexhill-Pevensey Bay-Sovereign Centre-Seaside-Eastbourne) – Frequency doubled to half-hourly on Sundays.
See below for route by route summary of changes
|
Service number |
Route |
Changes to current service |
Service provided by |
Date of change |
|
The Loop |
Eastbourne town centre-Lewes Road-District General Hospital-Hampden Park-Winkney Farm-Langney-Sovereign Centre-Town Centre |
Daytime frequency doubled between Langney shopping centre and Eastbourne town centre via Sovereign Centre and Seaside. Over this section of route the frequency is 15 mins Monday to Saturday daytime and 30 mins Sunday daytime |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. The improved frequency is funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July |
|
1,1A |
Langney- town centre-Old Town/ District General Hospital–Hamlands |
No change |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. |
|
|
1X |
Roebuck Park-Hailsham-Stone Cross-Langney-Eastbourne town centre |
New hourly evening and Sunday daytime service. Some evening service 51 journeys continue to serve Roebuck Park. |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. The new evening and Sunday service is funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July |
|
3,3A |
Foot of Beachy Head-Meads-University of Brighton-Compton Street Congress Theatre Complex (3) /Meads Road (3A)-Town Centre-Eastbourne Pier-Sovereign Centre-Birch Road |
New hourly Monday to Saturday evening service. |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. The new evening service is funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July |
|
4 |
Eastbourne town centre-Old Town-Cherry Garden Road-Hill Road (most journeys continue from/to town centre as route 8 serving the District General Hospital) |
No change |
Run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC. |
|
|
5,5A |
Sovereign Harbour North (5)/ Sovereign Harbour South (5A) Bridgemere-Eastbourne town centre
|
Monday to Saturday evening service extended to/from Sovereign Harbour North and Sovereign Harbour South. Monday to Saturday evening frequency from Eastbourne town centre to Bridgemere increased to half-hourly. |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. The new evening service is funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July |
|
6,6A |
Langney Shopping Centre-Westham-Stone Cross-Dittons Wood-Polegate-Wannock-Willingdon-District General Hospital-Carew Road-Eastbourne Town Centre |
Two new Monday to Saturday evening journeys in each direction. New 2 hourly Sunday daytime service, replacing service 54A. See also new Sunday service on routes 54 and 98, which provides an hourly frequency between Dittons Corner and Eastbourne town centre,
|
Run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC. The new evening service is funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. The new Sunday service is funded from Development Contributions. |
23 July |
|
8 |
Eastbourne town centre-Lewes Road-District General Hospital grounds-Sainsbury’s Cross Levels Way-Winkney Farm-Langney-Pennine Way-Stone Cross-Westham-Pevensey-Beachlands |
Two new Monday to Saturday evening journeys in each direction (these additional journeys do not serve Winkney Farm).
|
Run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC. The new evening service is funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July |
|
11X (Sundays and Bank Holidays Seasonal Service) |
Brighton-Saltdean-Peacehaven-Newhaven- Firle turning-Drusillas Zoo-Wilmington-Polegate-District General Hospital-Eastbourne |
This limited stop service on Sundays and public holidays ends its 2023 season on 22 October. |
Commercial service provided by the Brighton & Hove Bus Company. |
23 October |
|
12,12A,12X, N12 |
Brighton-Saltdean-Peacehaven-Newhaven-Seaford-Eastbourne |
Some additional journeys including a new earlier 12X journey towards Eastbourne. Later evening journeys that previously terminated at Newhaven Station have been extended to Denton. Other timetable changes to improve reliability. |
Commercial service provided by the Brighton & Hove Bus Company. |
24 September |
|
13X
|
Brighton-Saltdean-Peacehaven-Newhaven-Seaford-Beachy Head-Eastbourne |
Service frequency reverts to its Autumn and Winter levels. The 3 return journeys on Mondays to Fridays and hourly Saturday service ended on 2 September. The hourly Sunday service continues until 22 October, after which the 13X reverts to the winter timetable of 3 return journeys. |
Commercial service provided by the Brighton & Hove Bus Company.
|
2 September & 22 October |
|
25 (Saturday) |
Lewes-Glynde-Firle-Charleston Farmhouse- Selmeston-Alfriston-Wilmington-Polegate-Wannock-Willingdon village-District General Hospital-Eastbourne |
No change. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
|
|
26 (Sundays and Bank Holidays) |
Seaford-Alfriston-Drusillas Zoo-Wilmington-Polegate-Wannock-Willingdon village-District General Hospital-Eastbourne |
Usual seasonal timetable adjustments (16:50 from Seaford to run to run to Berwick Station instead of Eastbourne, and 18:00 from Eastbourne withdrawn for winter period). |
Cuckmere Buses journeys run without funding from ESCC. |
30 October |
|
28 |
Brighton-Lewes-Ringmer-Broyle Estate-Laughton-Hailsham-District General Hospital-Eastbourne |
Route extended from Ringmer to/from Hailsham and Eastbourne Monday-Saturday peak and daytime (every 30 mins). Revised timetable from 7 January 2024 to improve punctuality.
|
Commercial service provided by the Brighton & Hove Bus Company. The extended route between Broyle Estate and Eastbourne is funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July |
|
36 (Saturday) |
Berwick Station-Polegate-Westham–Langney- Beachlands |
No change |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
|
|
37 (Saturday) |
Beachlands–Langney–Westham- Hailsham
|
No change |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
|
|
41 (Tuesday & Thursday) |
Eastbourne-Wannock-Jevington-Friston-East Dean-Eastbourne |
The journey at 11:40 amended to run 15 minutes later throughout. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
30 October |
|
43 (Monday) |
Berwick-Chalvington-Selmeston-Upper Dicker-Hailsham-Polegate-Stone Cross-Langney-Eastbourne |
No change |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
|
|
44,44A,44B (Tuesday & Thursday) |
Berwick-Wilmington-Polegate-Stone Cross-Langney-Eastbourne |
Revised timetable on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Thursdays the service is renumbered 44A and 44B, with journeys not serving Wannock Glen Close and Polegate Broad Road and St John’s Road numbered 44B. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
30 October |
|
45 (Friday) |
Hailsham (Lion House)–Hailsham-Polegate-District General Hospital-Eastbourne-Morrisons-Sainsbury’s Cross Levels Way |
Service withdrawn due to very low use. Service H1 offers an alternative service from Lion House to Hailsham, from where passengers can also transfer to alternative services to Polegate, District General Hospital and Eastbourne (services 28, 51, 54 and 98). |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC.
|
30 October |
|
46 (Wednesday) |
Eastbourne town centre-Selmeston Road |
Service withdrawn due to very low use. Service 125 offers an alternative Mondays to Fridays journey from Selmeston Road at 09:41 and from Eastbourne Gildredge Road at 13:35. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
30 October |
|
48 (Tuesdays and Thursdays) |
Eastbourne – Polegate – Hailsham – Knockhatch Adventure Park – Michelham Priory -Deanland Wood Park |
New Tuesdays and Thursdays service replacing service 143 in Deanland Wood Park and linking Knockhatch Park, Hailsham, Polegate and Eastbourne. The seasonal section of route via Michelham Priory is withdrawn for the winter period from 30 October, resulting in some timing changes. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses with funding from ESCC.
|
23 July & 30 October |
|
49 (Wednesday Seasonal Service) |
Eastbourne-Langney-Westham-Pevensey-Wartling-Science Centre, Herstmonceux Castle |
This service ends its 2023 season on 29 October. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC.
|
30 October |
|
51, 51X |
Eastbourne-District General Hospital-Polegate-Hailsham-Horam-Heathfield |
Route 251/252 journeys between Heathfield and Tunbridge Wells are renumbered as route 51. New hourly Monday to Saturday evening journeys between Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne, plus new Sunday early evening journeys. Some evening journeys continue to serve Hellingly Roebuck Park, in addition to the new Monday to Saturday evening and Sunday daytime service 1X. Improved hourly Sunday daytime service between Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne (currently 2 hourly north of Heathfield). See Brighton & Hove Buses service 28 for additional 2 journeys per hour on Mondays to Saturdays (peak and daytime) between Hailsham and Eastbourne. |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. The service improvements are funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July |
|
54, 54A |
Eastbourne-District General Hospital -Polegate-Dittons Wood Corner-Hailsham-Uckfield |
New 2 hourly Monday to Saturday evening service between Eastbourne and Uckfield. New 2 hourly Sunday daytime service 54 between Eastbourne and Uckfield, also replacing current hourly service 54A between Eastbourne and Stone Cross. A new 2 hourly Sunday service on route 6, along with new Sunday service 98 journeys also routed via Dittons Wood, maintains a combined hourly service between Dittons Wood and Eastbourne (routes 6 and 54). |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. ESCC provides some funding for the extension of daytime journeys to serve the Nevill Road area of Uckfield. The service improvements are funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July |
|
57, 58 (Schooldays) |
Asda-Beachlands-Pevensey Bay-Westham-Stone Cross-Dittons Wood-Polegate-Willingdon School |
No change |
Service 57 is a commercial service provided by Stagecoach. Service 58 is run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC |
|
|
98 |
Hastings-Pebsham-Bexhill-Sidley-Ninfield-Herstmonceux-Hailsham-Polegate-Eastbourne |
New 2 hourly Monday to Saturday evening service between Hastings and Eastbourne. New 2 hourly Sunday daytime service between Bexhill and Eastbourne, which additionally serves Dittons Wood. |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. The service improvements are funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July |
|
99 |
Eastbourne-Pevensey-Bexhill-Hastings |
Sunday daytime frequency doubled to 30 minutes |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. |
23 July
|
|
125 |
Lewes-Ringmer-Glynde-Firle-Alfriston-Wilmington-Polegate-Wannock-District General Hosp-Selmeston Road-Eastbourne |
Revised route and timetable. In Ringmer the route serves Springett Avenue and Harrison’s Lane in place of service 143 |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC |
23 July |
|
195 (Wednesday) |
Waldron-Heathfield- Bodle Street Green-Herstmonceux-Eastbourne |
No change |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
|
|
196 (Wednesday) |
Rushlake Green-Cowbeech-Herstmonceux-Eastbourne |
No change |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
|
|
197 (Seasonal service) |
Eastbourne Pier- Sovereign Centre-Stone Cross-Pevensey Castle-Pevensey Bay-Sovereign Centre-Eastbourne Pier |
This seasonal service has been withdrawn for the winter period. |
Commercial service provided by Seven Sisters Bus & Coach |
29 August |
|
Eastbourne Sightseeing (Seasonal service) |
Eastbourne Pier-seafront-Beachy Head-Birling Gap-East Dean-town centre-Eastbourne Pier |
The daily half-hourly Summer season timetable runs until 1 October. The Autumn timetable then runs hourly daily (apart from a 2 hour lunch break) until 29 October. From the 30 October to 12 December this seasonal service will on Saturdays and Sundays only, on a half-hourly frequency. Service withdrawn for the winter period, from 13 December |
Commercial service provided by Seven Sisters Bus & Coach |
2 October, 30 October & 13 December |