Lewes District Bus Service Improvements
December 2023 update:
Highlights (from 23 July unless stated)
Ditchling, Westmeston and East Chiltington – route 167 timetable revised from 18 December to improve punctuality. The first Tuesday and Thursday only journeys in each direction (towards Burgess Hill and towards Lewes) now serve Spatham Lane, Folders Lane East and Common Lane without the need for pre-booking.
Kingston, Rodmell and Newhaven – new 2 hourly Sunday service 123 to and from Lewes (started 30 July). New additional Monday to Friday journeys at 09:10 from Newhaven South Way to Lewes; and 13:35 Lewes bus station to Newhaven (started 4 September).
Lewes services
- Routes 28,29,29A and 29B revised timetables from 7 January 2024 to improve punctuality.
- Route 28 (Brighton-Lewes-Ringmer) extended to/from Hailsham and Eastbourne, every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime. Hourly evenings and Sundays to/from Hailsham. Together with services 29/29A, Sunday daytime Lewes-Brighton frequency improved to 20 minutes.
- Route 29 (Brighton-Lewes-Uckfield-Crowborough-Tunbridge Wells) Monday to Saturday daytime frequency increased to 30 minutes throughout.
- New seven days a week route 29A linking Brighton, Lewes, Uckfield, Blackboys and Heathfield. Hourly, including up to mid evening on Mondays to Saturdays.
- Route 29B (Tunbridge Wells-Crowborough-Uckfield-Ringmer-Lewes-Brighton) one return journey. Revised timetable and route from 7 January, no longer serving Broyle Estate and running in Lewes via Malling Hill instead of Church Lane and Tesco.
- Route 121(Lewes- Chailey-Newick) frequency increased to hourly on weekdays. Improved Saturday service, also serving Sheffield Park Garden and Bluebell Railway. New Sunday service offering up to 4 return journeys, also serving Sheffield Park Garden and Bluebell Railway.
- Route 123 (Lewes-Kingston-Rodmell-Newhaven) new 2 hourly Sunday service. Extra Monday to Friday journeys from 4 September.
- Improved Monday to Saturday 30 minute daytime frequency for Lewes Nevill (route 128) and 3 return journeys for Wallands Park on 6 days a week (route 129).
- From 18 December Lewes town route 127 revised to serve Malling and Tesco hourly during the main part of the day, in place of route 129 in Malling. Landport will continue to be served twice hourly. No change to the 40 minute peak time frequency serving Landport, Tesco and Malling. Route 129 revised timetable from the same date, which will continue to serve Spences Lane, Tesco, Wallands Park and Winterbourne.
- Route 166 (Lewes-Plumpton-Wivelsfield Green-Burgess Hill) new 2 Saturday service.
- Route 167 (Lewes-Ditchling-Keymer-Hassocks-Burgess Hill) revised timetable from 18 December to improve punctuality.
Newick, North Chailey, South Chailey and Cooksbridge – improved hourly Monday to Friday daytime service on route 121 to Lewes, plus more Saturday journeys and a new 2 hourly service on Sundays (started 24 July).
Peacehaven – improved 15 minute Monday to Saturday daytime frequency to Brighton through route 14/14C, plus more journeys to Newhaven (started 11 June).
Plumpton and Wivelsfield Green – new Saturday service on route 166 to Lewes and Haywards Heath, plus route 168 to Burgess Hill (also serving Ditchling and East Chiltington) to run on an additional day of the week (started 23 July).
Ringmer, Broyle Estate - route 28 extended to Hailsham and Eastbourne via Laughton, every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime. Hourly evenings and Sundays to/from Hailsham (started 23 July). Timing changes from 7 January 2024 to improve timekeeping.
Seahaven Academy, Newhaven – new schoolday routes 492 and 494 from 4 September. These replace previous routes 492, 493 and 494.
See below for route by route summary of changes
|
Service number |
Route |
Changes to current service |
Service provided by |
Date of change |
|
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-Seven Sisters Park-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.
|
3 September and 23 October |
|
14,14A,14B, 14C, N14 |
Brighton-Saltdean-Peacehaven-Newhaven |
Minor timetable changes. |
Commercial service provided by the Brighton & Hove Bus Company. The improved frequency between Peacehaven and Brighton is funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
24 September |
|
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). |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses 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), and to/from Hailsham evenings and Sunday daytime (hourly). One of the four service 28 Monday to Saturday daytime journeys per hour between Brighton and Lewes replaced by new hourly service 29A (see below). Sunday daytime combined 28,29 and new 29A frequency of service between Lewes and Brighton increased from 30 mins to 20 mins. The current section of route 28 between Broyle Estate and Uckfield via Raystede Centre and Halland (including some journeys to/from Tunbridge Wells) is withdrawn except for two Monday to Friday journeys numbered 29B (see below). Otherwise, on Mondays to Saturdays, journeys are largely replaced by additional service 29 journeys whilst on Sunday daytime two buses per hour will continue to be provided between Brighton and Uckfield by way of route 29 and new route 29A (see also below). Revised timetable from 7 January 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 & 7 January |
|
29, 29A,29B, 29X |
Brighton-Lewes-Uckfield-Crowborough-Tunbridge Wells (29,29X) Brighton-Lewes-Uckfield-Framfield-Heathfield (29A)
|
Route 29 frequency to/from Tunbridge Wells increased to 30 mins throughout, Monday to Saturday daytime. New route 29A linking Heathfield, Blackboys and Framfield with Brighton and Lewes, via Uckfield. Hourly daily including until mid-evening on Monday to Saturday. One morning and afternoon journey on Monday to Fridays, numbered 29B, will run via Halland and Ringmer King’s Academy in place of current service 28 journeys. Monday to Saturday daytime frequency between Uckfield and Lewes increased from 2 per hour to 3 per hour (routes 29,29A), as above. Revised timetable from 7 January to improve punctuality. Route 29B changed from the same date so to no longer serve Broyle Estate and re-routed in Lewes via Malling Hill instead of Church Lane and Tesco. |
29 and 29X are commercial services provided by the Brighton & Hove Bus Company. Service 29A to and from Heathfield is funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July & 7 January |
|
30 |
Lindfield-Haywards Heath-Ashenground-Colwell Road– Princess Royal Hospital-Ridgeway |
No change |
Run by Compass Travel with a development contribution for the Ridgeway extension. |
|
|
31, 31A, 31B |
Cuckfield-Haywards Heath –Princess Royal Hospital-Newick-Maresfield-Uckfield |
No change
|
Funded by ESCC with a contribution from West Sussex County Council for the section of route in West Sussex. |
|
|
39 |
Ridgeway (one journey)- Princess Royal Hospital-America Lane–Haywards Heath-Bolnore |
No change |
Run by Compass Travel with a development contribution for the Ridgeway extension. |
|
|
40 (Tuesdays and Fridays) |
Berwick-Wilmington-Litlington-Charleston Manor-Exceat-Seaford |
No change
|
Provided by Cuckmere Buses with funding from ESCC.
|
|
|
47 (Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays Seasonal Service) |
Berwick-Alfriston-Seaford-Litlington-Wilmington-Berwick (circular service) |
This service ends its 2023 season on 29 October |
Service run by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC |
30 October
|
|
47,47A, 57
|
East Saltdean-Brighton-Hove |
New hourly Monday to Saturday evening service introduced. Service 57 journeys via Ovingdean replaced by a Sunday service 47 providing more direct journeys from East Saltdean to/from Brighton. Minor timing changes from 29 October, plus eastbound route in Brighton Kemptown changed from Abbey Road to Paston Place. |
Run by The Big Lemon and funded by Brighton & Hove City Council with a financial contribution from ESCC. |
24 April and 29 October |
|
76A (Schooldays) |
Peacehaven-East Saltdean-Brighton Longhill School |
No change |
Run by Brighton & Hove Bus Company and funded by Brighton & Hove City Council |
|
|
79 (Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays) |
Brighton–Ditchling Beacon |
Usual seasonal adjustment with introduction of Winter timetable. The frequency continues to be hourly on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, but with the last journeys being 16:30 from Brighton Old Steine and 17:10 from Ditchling Beacon car park. |
Run by Brighton & Hove Bus Company and funded by Brighton & Hove City Council |
24 September |
|
92 |
Peacehaven-Newhaven- Seaford Sutton Corner for Seaford Head School |
No change |
Commercial service provided by the Brighton & Hove Bus Company.
|
|
|
119 |
Seaford local service (including certain journeys to/from Alfriston) |
Improved weekday afternoon service.
|
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC |
23 July |
|
120 |
Seaford local service |
No change |
Monday to Friday and Saturday morning services provided commercially by Cuckmere Buses. Saturday afternoon service run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC |
|
|
121 |
Lewes-Offham-Cooksbridge-Chailey-Newick (& Sheffield Park on Saturdays with peak journeys also serving Barcombe) |
Improved hourly frequency, Monday to Saturday daytime. Saturday frequency improved to approximately 75 mins. New 2 hourly Sunday service introduced from 30 July. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC. The new Sunday service, along with the Monday to Saturday improvements, are funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July |
|
122 |
Lewes-Offham-Cooksbridge-Barcombe-Barcombe Mills loop
|
Revised 2 hourly timetable with most journeys running as a loop between Barcombe and Lewes via either Cooksbridge or Barcombe Mills. Service 124 journeys on Saturdays replaced by additional service 122 journeys. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC. |
23 July |
|
123 |
Newhaven-Piddinghoe-Rodmell-Kingston-Lewes (one schooldays journey starts from East Saltdean) |
Revised 2 hourly timetable from 23 July. The morning journey from Saltdean no longer serves Seahaven Academy due to the school’s changed times (see route 494 for replacement service). Journeys from Newhaven towards Lewes now depart from South Way, not Lower Place. Additional Monday to Friday journeys from 4 September, departing at 09:10 from Newhaven South Way to Lewes and 13:35 from Lewes bus station to Newhaven. New Sunday service from 30 July, running approximately 2 hourly. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC. Some Sunday journeys are provided by CTLA. The new Sunday is funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July and 4 September |
|
124 (Saturdays) |
Lewes-Offham-Plumpton-South Chailey -Barcombe-Barcombe Mills-Lewes |
Replaced by new Saturday service 166 and additional journeys on service 122. |
|
23 July |
|
125 |
Lewes-Ringmer-Glynde-Firle-Alfriston-Wilmington-Polegate-Wannock-District General Hosp-Selmeston Road-Eastbourne |
Revised route and timetable, including a new earlier journey from Alfriston to Lewes on non-schooldays. In Ringmer the route serves Harrison’s Lane and Springett Avenue, in place of service 143. Concessionary passes are valid at all times on service 125, except for passengers boarding at bus stops from Ringmer Old Post Office onwards on the first journey towards Lewes. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC |
23 July |
|
126 |
Seaford-Alfriston-Drusillas Zoo-Wilmington-Polegate-Wannock-Willington-District General Hospital-Eastbourne |
No change
|
Cuckmere Buses journeys run without funding from ESCC. Compass Travel journeys on Mondays to Saturdays are provided with funding from ESCC |
|
|
127 |
Lewes-Landport-Malling-Tesco |
Revised timetable. From 18 December off-peak Malling journeys will again be provided by service 127, instead of service 129. The daytime frequency of the Landport service will be twice-hourly with Malling and Tesco served hourly, as before 23 July. There will continue to be a 40 minute frequency for Landport, Tesco and Malling at peak times. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC. Funding also provided by Lewes Town Council. |
23 July & 18 December |
|
128 |
Lewes-Nevill-Tesco |
Revised timetable. Frequency improved to 30 mins for most of the day (currently 45 mins) and will replace the current service 129 journeys in Nevill. Tesco will be served hourly. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC. Funding also provided by Lewes Town Council. |
23 July |
|
129 |
Lewes-Spences Lane-Malling-Tesco-town centre-Wallands Park-Winterbourne-town centre |
New revised route providing an improved service for Wallands Park. From 18 December the route in Malling is replaced by service 127 (see above). Route 129 will continue to serve Spences Lane, Wallands Park and Winterbourne, on a revised timetable providing four return journeys on Mondays to Saturdays. See route 128 for improved service for Nevill. |
Run by CTLA with funding from ESCC. Funding also provided by Lewes Town Council. |
23 July & 18 December |
|
131 (Mon, Wed & Fri) |
Lewes-Wallands Park |
Replaced by revised route 129 (see above), providing a much improved Monday to Saturday service. |
|
23 July |
|
132 (Sundays) |
Lewes-Malling-Landport-Nevill- Winterbourne, and Newhaven-Lewes |
No change |
Run by Community Transport for the Lewes Area with funding from Lewes Town Council |
|
|
142 (Schooldays) |
Polegate-Hailsham-Golden Cross-East Hoathly-Ringmer-Lewes |
Replaced by extended route 28 (see above) and in East Hoathly by revised route 318. |
|
23 July |
|
143
|
Lewes-Ringmer-Laughton-Deanland Wood-Hailsham |
Replaced by extended route 28 (see above) |
|
23 July |
|
145 |
Newhaven local service |
Revised timetable with all journeys running earlier. Though the first journey from the Western Road/ Gibbon Road area will now be before 09:30, concessionary passes will be accepted on this part of the route. Journeys from South Heighton and Denton will no longer stop at Newhaven Lower Place, so passengers should alight at South Way instead. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC |
23 July |
|
149 (Schooldays) |
Scaynes Hill-Princess Royal Hospital-Haywards Heath-Lindfield-Fox Hill-Wivelsfield Green-Chailey School |
No change. ESCC has stepped in to fund this service as the operator was no longer able to provide it on a commercial basis. |
Run by The Big Lemon with funding from ESCC |
|
|
150 (Schooldays) |
Withyham-Hartfield-Upper Hartfield-Forest Row-Chelwood Gate- Danehill-Chailey School |
No change. ESCC has stepped in to fund this service as the operator was no longer able to provide it on a commercial basis. |
Run by The Big Lemon with funding from ESCC |
|
|
166 |
Lewes-Plumpton-Wivelsfield Green-Princess Royal Hospital- Haywards Heath |
Revised timetable, including a new Saturday service |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC. The new Saturday service is funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July |
|
167 |
Lewes-Plumpton-Ditchling- Burgess Hill |
The first journey to Burgess Hill is extended to start from Lewes at 07:20. There is a new later journey at 17:10 from Burgess Hill to Lewes. Off-peak journeys now run on Tuesdays and Thursdays instead of Mondays and Thursdays. The timetable has been revised from 18 December to improve punctuality. Passengers on Spatham Lane, Folders Lane East, Common Lane (including South View) need to pre-book their journey by calling 01273 078203, apart from the first journey in direction (to Burgess Hill and to Lewes) which now serve these roads as part of the timetable. Other minor timing changes. Oak Hall Park in Burgess Hill is no longer served. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC. The improvements are funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July & 18 December |
|
168 |
Village Rider circular service linking Burgess Hill-Ditchling-Plumpton-Wivelsfield Green |
Off-peak journeys now run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays instead of Tuesdays and Fridays. Passengers boarding on Spatham Lane, Folders Lane East, Common Lane (including South View) and Lewes Road (between Spatham Lane and Ditchling crossroads), or at Wivelsfield Green Village Hall, now need to pre-book their journey by calling 01273 078203. This new arrangement offers more choice of service 168 journeys. Pre-booking is not required on the 10:00 journey from Burgess Hill, which will continue to serve Common Lane and South View as normal, as well as Long Park Corner. Minor timing changes. Oak Hall Park in Burgess Hill is no longer be served. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC. The improvements are funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
23 July |
|
246 (Tue & Thu)
|
Uckfield-Chelwood Gate-Sheffield Park-Fletching-Uckfield |
Now runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays (previously Thursdays only). Revised timetable. |
Run by CTLA with funding from ESCC. |
23 July |
|
271 |
Crawley-Handcross-Cuckfield-Haywards Heath-Wivelsfield-Burgess Hill-Hassocks-Brighton- Royal Sussex County Hospital |
No change |
Commercial service provided by Metrobus |
|
|
272 |
Crawley-Ardingly-Haywards Heath-Lindfield-Princess Royal Hospital-Wivelsfield-Burgess Hill-Hassocks-Brighton-Royal Sussex County Hospital |
New earlier Saturday morning journeys between Copthorne and Brighton Royal Sussex County Hospital, and Brighton Royal Sussex County Hospital and Haywards Heath. |
Run by Metrobus with some funding from West Sussex County Council |
3 June |
|
318 (Schooldays) |
East Hoathly-Whitesmith-Chiddingly-Muddles Green-Golden Cross-Laughton-Ringmer King’s Academy |
New route and timetable serving East Hoathly, Whitesmith, Chiddingly, Muddles Green, Golden Cross and Laughton. The afternoon journey serves East Hoathly first. Pupils who used the previous 318 route from/to Uckfield and Halland are now served instead by Brighton & Hove Buses' service 29B. The very small number of pupils who travelled on the previous 318 route serving Heathfield now need to travel instead on new Brighton & Hove Buses' service 29A to Uckfield bus station and change there to service 29B. There is a suitably timed afternoon connection at Uckfield bus station. |
Run by The Big Lemon with funding from ESCC
|
23 July |
|
468 (Schooldays) |
Ditchling-Westmeston-Plumpton-Chailey School |
New bus operator is Compass Travel. No change to timetable. |
New operator is Compass Travel, with funding from ESCC |
23 July |
|
492,493,494 (Schooldays) |
Seahaven Academy services |
Seahaven Academy’s school bus services have been replaced by new route 492 (serving Newhaven Paradise Park, Denton Corner and Newhaven Station) and route 494 (serving East Saltdean, Telscombe Cliffs and Peacehaven). Both services run mornings and afternoons. Due to the additional service costs in fitting in with Seahaven Academy’s new times, it is much more cost-effective to use a double deck bus on route 492 to replace previous routes 492 and 493. This means South Heighton and the estate roads to the east of Avis Road can no longer be served. |
Run by Brighton & Hove Buses with funding from ESCC |
4 September |