Rother District Bus Service Improvements

September 2023 update:

Highlights (changes from 23 July unless stated)

Bexhill

• Route 98 Monday to Saturday daytime frequency between Bexhill town centre, Pebsham and Hastings improved to 20 minutes. New hourly Monday to Saturday evening service between Sidley, Bexhill, Pebsham and Hastings, plus 2 hourly to/from Hailsham and Eastbourne. Earlier journeys on Sundays (Sidley-Hastings), plus new Sunday 2 hourly service between Bexhill, Sidley, Hailsham and Eastbourne.
• Route 99 Sunday service doubled to half-hourly.
• Route 95 on Saturdays (Bexhill-Catsfield-Battle) revised and extended to and from Conquest Hospital on a 2 hourly frequency.

Battle

• Route 254/304/305 (Hastings-Battle-Robertsbridge-Hurst Green-Hawkhurst-Flimwell-Ticehurst-Wadhurst-Frant-Tunbridge Wells) new later evening journeys plus new 2 hourly Sunday service. Service renumbered to Route 1066.
• Route 95 on Saturdays (Bexhill- Catsfield -Battle) revised and extended to and from Conquest Hospital on a 2 hourly frequency.

Flimwell, Hurst Green, Robertsbridge, John’s Cross, Mountfield, Whatlington – Route 254/304/305 to and from Tunbridge Wells, Hawkhurst, Battle and Hastings improved with new later evening journeys plus new 2 hourly Sunday service. Service renumbered to Route 1066

Etchingham, Burwash – Route 231 (currently Etchingham-Burwash-Broad Oak-Heathfield-Blackboys-Framfield-Uckfield) revised to run locally between Etchingham and Heathfield to an improved frequency. Hourly/2 hourly on Monday to Fridays plus new Saturday service. Connections are available at Heathfield to/from new 29A for Uckfield, Lewes and Brighton. Route 231 also serves Burwash, Batemans on a pre-booked basis.

Westfield, Brede, Broad Oak – Route 29 new later Monday to Saturday evening journeys to/from Northiam, Conquest Hospital and Hastings, plus new Sunday service also extending to Tenterden.

 Northiam

• Route 29 new later Monday to Saturday evening journeys to/from Conquest Hospital and Hastings, plus new Sunday service also extending to Tenterden.
• Route 313 (Northiam-Beckley-Peasmarsh-Playden-Rye-Rye Harbour) new evening Monday to Saturday evening journeys, plus new Sunday service.

Beckley, Peasmarsh, Playden, Iden,

• Route 312 (Tenterden-Iden-Playden-Rye) – new Sunday service.
• Route 313 (Northiam-Beckley-Peasmarsh-Playden-Rye-Rye Harbour) new evening Monday to Saturday evening journeys, plus new Sunday service.

Rye, Rye Harbour

• Route 312 (Tenterden-Iden-Playden-Rye) – new Sunday service.
• Route 313 (Northiam-Beckley-Peasmarsh-Playden-Rye-Rye Harbour) new evening Monday to Saturday evening journeys, plus new Sunday service.
• Route 100 (Rye-Winchelsea-Icklesham-Hastings) – improved Monday to Saturday evening service.
• Route 101 (Rye-Winchelsea Beach-Pett Level-Fairlight-Hastings) - improved Monday to Saturday evening service.

Camber

• Route 102 (Rye-Camber-Lydd-New Romney-Folkestone-Dover) revised from 3 September to run between New Romney and Dover. From this date the route of service 100 (Hastings-Icklesham-Winchelsea-Rye) will be extended to serve Camber, Lydd and New Romney.

Winchelsea, Icklesham – Route 100 (Rye-Winchelsea-Icklesham-Hastings) – improved Monday to Saturday evening service.

Winchelsea Beach, Pett Level, Fairlight – Route 101 (Rye-Winchelsea Beach-Pett Level-Fairlight-Hastings) - improved Monday to Saturday evening service. Stagecoach’s commercial Monday to Saturday daytime service was revised from 3 September with journeys at these times no longer serving Conquest Hospital.

See below for route by route summary of changes

Service number	Route	Changes to current service	Service provided by	Date of change
11, 11A	Bexhill town service: town centre-Little Common.	No change	Provided by Bexhill Community Bus without funding from ESCC
12	Bexhill town service: town centre-Pebsham	No change	Provided by Bexhill Community Bus without funding from ESCC
13, 13A	Bexhill town service: town centre-Little Common & Cooden Beach	No change	Provided by Bexhill Community Bus without funding from ESCC
14	Bexhill town service: town centre-De La Warr Parade & Sutton Place	No change	Provided by Bexhill Community Bus without funding from ESCC
29	Hastings-St Helen’s-Conquest Hospital-Westfield-Broad Oak-Northiam-Tenterden	New Monday to Saturday evening journeys between Northiam and Hastings.                                                       New 2 hourly Sunday daytime service between Hastings and Tenterden. From 14 August the Monday to Friday only 05:53 journey from Silverhill to Tenterden is withdrawn. From the same date the 08:55 Tenterden to Hastings journey will be revised to run 10 minutes later.	Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. Additional journeys between Hastings and Northiam funded by ESCC. The service improvements are funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding	23 July and            14 August
70 (College Days)	Rye-Bexhill College (am) Bexhill College-Lydd (pm)	The afternoon journey will terminate at Rye and no longer serve Camber and Lydd. The few passengers who travel on this journey beyond Rye will have the opportunity to transfer at Rye to a service 100 journey (see changes to service 100 below).	Commercial service provided by Stagecoach.	3 September
95	Little Common (school journeys)-Bexhill-Battle-Conquest Hospital	The Saturday service is extended to/from Conquest Hospital on a revised 2 hourly timetable, to match the Monday to Friday service.	Run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC.	23 July
96	Little Common- Cooden Beach-Bexhill-Ridgewood Gardens	No change	Run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC.
97	Bexhill-Glenleigh Park–Sidley-Hooe	No change	Run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC.
98, 98A	Hastings-Pebsham-Bexhill-Sidley, then either Ninfield-Herstmonceux-Hailsham-Polegate-Eastbourne or via Combe Valley Way to Hollington and Conquest Hospital	Improved 20 minute Monday to Saturday daytime frequency between Hastings and Bexhill (currently 30 minutes). New hourly Monday to Saturday evening service between Hastings and Sidley, plus 2 hourly beyond Sidley to 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	Hastings-Bexhill-Pevensey-Eastbourne	Sunday daytime frequency doubled to 30 minutes	Commercial service provided by Stagecoach	23 July
100	Conquest Hospital-Hastings-Guestling-Icklesham-Winchelsea-Rye	New Monday to Saturday evening journeys. From 3 September the service 100 route is extended to Rye, Lydd and New Romney, in place of service 102. The timetable is also be revised.	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 and    3 September
101	Conquest Hospital-Hastings-Fairlight-Winchelsea Beach-Rye	New Monday to Saturday evening journeys. From 3 September the service is revised on Mondays to Saturdays, with the daytime journeys no longer serving Conquest Hospital, Sedlescombe Road North, Silverhill and Battle Road. The newly introduced Monday to Saturday evening journey from Conquest Hospital continues to run, departing the hospital at 20:45, though routed via Harrow Lane instead of Sedlescombe Road North. A revised timetable was introduced from 3 September, including changes to provide for the revised school session times at Rye College. Service 101 journeys on Sundays continue to serve Conquest Hospital, though from 3 September routed via Harrow Lane instead of Sedlescombe Road North. Service 349 provides an alternative service for Sedlescombe Road North.	The Monday to Saturday service is operated commercially by Stagecoach with the Sunday service funded by ESCC. The service improvements are funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding.	23 July and     3 September
102	Rye-Camber-Lydd-New Romney-Folkestone-Dover	This route no longer serves Camber and Lydd. Instead the service 100 route is extended to New Romney via these communities.	Commercial service provided by Stagecoach.	3 September
225 (Tuesday & Thursday)	Crowborough-Rotherfield-Heathfield-Rushlake Green-Brightling-Netherfield-Battle	No change. (See Wealden District document for details of a new Saturday service between Heathfield and Rushlake Green).	Run by North Wealden Community Transport Partnership with funding from ESCC.
231,331	Uckfield-Framfield-Blackboys-Heathfield-Etchingham-(Hurst Green– 331 schooldays only)	Section of route between Heathfield and Uckfield replaced by an improved hourly service, including new evening and Sunday provision (see Brighton & Hove service 29B). Service 231 revised to run between Heathfield and Etchingham as a 2 hourly route, including a new Saturday service. Passengers boarding at Burwash Strand Meadow, except on journeys towards Heathfield before 10:00 on weekdays, need to pre-book their journey by calling 01273 078203. Through this new arrangement more 231 journeys are able to serve Strand Meadow when requested. It also saves time and fuel by making this diversion only when there are no passengers to pick up.  The route additionally serves Burwash Bateman’s during opening times, on a pre-booked basis, by calling 01273 078203.    Revised timetable for schooldays only service 331, which is now operated by Compass Travel and also renumbered 231.	Services 231 and 331 run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC. The service improvements are funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding.	23 July
254	Hawkhurst-Flimwell-Wadhurst-Ticehurst-Tunbridge Wells (Most journeys start from or continue to Hastings as route 304/305).	Services 254,304,305 are now numbered 1066 and include new evening and Sunday journeys (see route 1066 below).	Service run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC and a contribution from Kent County Council.	23 July
293                      (Schooldays)	Lydd -Camber-Rye-Iden-Wittersham-Small Hythe-Tenterden (Homewood School)	No change	Run by Stagecoach and funded by Kent County Council
294 (Schooldays)	Peasmarsh-Beckley-Northiam-Tenterden (Homewood School)	No change	Run by Hams Travel and funded by Kent County Council
304 (Schooldays)	Hastings-Battle-Claverham Community College	Now renumbered route 1066. See route 1066 (below) for changes to the main 304/305 service.	Replaced by Stagecoach from 2 May with funding from ESCC	23 July
304,305	Hastings-Battle-Mountfield or Whatlington-Robertsbridge- Hurst Green-Hawkhurst (Most journeys start from or continue to Tunbridge Wells as route 254)	Services 304,305 now renumbered 1066 (see route 1066 below). From 1 September the replacement 1066 journeys will no longer call into  Robertsbridge Community College’s grounds on schooldays. Pupils will need to walk to/from the bus stops on George Hill instead. This change is due to bus being significantly delayed due to traffic congestion in the vicinity of the school.	Service run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC and a contribution from Kent County Council.	23 July and 1 September
312	Rye-Playden-Iden-Wittersham-Tenterden	New 2 hourly Sunday daytime service.	Service run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC. The service improvements are funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding.	23 July
313	Rye Harbour-Rye-Playden-Peasmarsh-Beckley-Northiam	Afternoon journey used by Rye College pupils to Rye Harbour retimed to cater for new school session times. New Monday to Saturday evening journeys. New 2 hourly Sunday daytime service.	Service run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC. The service improvements are funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding.	23 July
320 (Schooldays)	Little Common-Claverham College	No change	Service run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC.
326	Rye local service (certain journeys to/from Broad Oak)	No change	Run by Rye & District Community Transport without funding from ESCC.
342	Hastings-Westfield-Broad Oak-Udimore-Rye-Rye Harbour-Playden-Peasmarsh-Beckley-Northiam	ESCC arranged for Stagecoach to take over the journeys previously operated by Rambler Coaches from 2 May. Revised afternoon timetable to cater for changes to Rye College session times.	This service is run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC	23 July
347	Pett-Guestling-Hastings	No change	Service run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC.
349	Hastings-Sedlescombe-Bodiam-Sandhurst-Hawkhurst	Revised PM timetable	Service run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC.	23 July
354	Ticehurst-Wadhurst rail link	No change	Run by Autocar with funding from ESCC.
355 (Schooldays)	Claverham Community College school journeys	No change	Run by Rambler Coaches with funding from ESCC.
356 (Schooldays)	Little Common-Hooe- Claverham Community College	No change	Run by Rambler Coaches with funding from ESCC.
359 (Schooldays)	Hastings-St Richards Catholic College	Timing changes to improve time keeping.	Run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC.	3 September
360 (College Days)	Etchingham-Robertsbridge-Sedlescombe-St Leonards-Bexhill College	ESCC arranged for Rambler Coaches to take over this service previously operated by Seaford & District. The service will be reviewed once patronage for the new college year has been established. From 23 July route 1066 (see below) on college days provides a morning journey to Bexhill College from Hawkhurst, Hurst Green, Robertsbridge, Whatlington, Battle and Hastings.	Run by Rambler Coaches with funding from ESCC.	2 May
361 (College Days)	Peasmarsh- Northiam -Westfield- Bexhill College	ESCC arranged for Rambler Coaches to take over this service previously operated by Seaford & District. The service will be reviewed once patronage for the new college year has been established.	Run by Rambler Coaches with funding from ESCC.	2 May
381 (Schooldays)	Westfield-Broad Oak-Northiam-Staplecross-Robertsbridge Community College	No change.	Run by Rambler Coaches with funding from ESCC.
382 (Schooldays)	Rye-Udimore-Broad Oak-Westfield-Robertsbridge Community College	ESCC arranged for Stagecoach to take over this service previously operated by Rambler Coaches. Timing changes of up to 5 mins.	Run by Rambler Coaches with funding from ESCC	2 May
383 (Schooldays)	Peasmarsh-Sedlescombe-Robertsbridge Community College	No change.	Run by Rambler Coaches with funding from ESCC
384 (Schooldays)	Hastings-Battle-Robertsbridge Community College	No longer serves Mountfield village. Timing changes from 3 September, of up to 10 minutes, to improve punctuality.	Commercial service provided by Stagecoach.	2 May and    3 September
553                    (Schooldays)	Brookland-New Romney-Lydd-Camber-Rye	No change	Run by Stagecoach and funded by Kent County Council with a contribution from ESCC
1066	Hastings-Battle-Mountfield or Whatlington-Robertsbridge- Hurst Green-Hawkhurst-Flimwell-Ticehurst-Wadhurst-Frant-Tunbridge Wells	Services 254,304,305 renumbered 1066. Revised Monday to Saturday daytime timetable including a morning peak journey extended beyond Hastings to Bexhill College on college days. New Monday to Saturday evening journeys. New 2 hourly Sunday service. From 3 September the replacement 1066 journeys will no longer call into  Robertsbridge Community College’s grounds on schooldays. Pupils will need to walk to/from the bus stops on George Hill instead. This change is due to bus being significantly delayed due to traffic congestion in the vicinity of the school.	Service run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC and a contribution from Kent County Council. The service improvements are funded by UK Government following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding.	23 July and  3 September
B67 (Tuesday)	Battle - Sedlescombe	No change.	Run by Battle Area Community Transport with some funding from ESCC.
B71 (Tuesday)	Mountfield - Battle	No change.	Run by Battle Area Community Transport with some funding from ESCC.
B72 (Monday)	Mountfield–Broad Oak-Westfield-St Leonards (Sainsburys)-Battle-Netherfield	No change.	Run by Battle Area Community Transport with some funding from ESCC.
B73 (Tuesday)	Battle-Robertsbridge-Mountfield-Battle	No change	Run by Battle Area Community Transport with some funding from ESCC.
B74 (Friday)	Mountfield-Netherfield- Sedlescombe- Robertsbridge-Burwash- Battle	No change	Run by Battle Area Community Transport with some funding from ESCC.
B75 (Wednesday)	Mountfield -Netherfield- Battle- St Leonards (Sainsburys) -Westfield-Sedlescombe- Battle	No change	Run by Battle Area Community Transport with some funding from ESCC.
B79 (Tuesday)	Battle-Ashburnham-Battle	No change	Run by Battle Area Community Transport with some funding from ESCC.
B80-B90 (Occasional Services)	Battle Area Days Out Services	No change	Run by Battle Area Community Transport without funding from ESCC.
U1-U5 (Schooldays)	Uplands Academy services from John’s Cross, Hurst Green, Hawkhurst, Flimwell, Ticehurst, Burwash and Etchingham	Revised timetables to align with Uplands Academy’s new school session times. Compared to previous timings, morning journeys now run up to 18 minutes earlier and afternoon journeys depart Uplands Academy at 15:15 or 15:20. The Moor is served by U1 instead of U2. U3 additional serves Flimwell.	Services provided by Hams Travel. All are run commercially apart from services U4 and U5, which are funded by ESCC	5 September

 

Bus Operator Maps and Timetables

• Stagecoach Bexhill and Hastings Map
• BACT Route Maps
• Bexhill Community Bus