Connections: First 9

Here's a quick guide to our area's newest bus route and what you can use it to connect to.

First 9 runs from Warley (Eagle Way) via Brentwood and Billericay to Basildon. You can find the full timetable here.

Eagle Way bus stop on The Drive in Warley.

Here's the 9's route in Brentwood:

Discover all there is to do in Brentwood on Essex County Council's tourism website.

At Brentwood railway station (live train departures), it connects with the frequent Greater Anglia train service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield (timetable here).

Opposite Brentwood Railway Station on Warley Road.

At Brentwood High Street, First 9 (calling at stop C) connects with several useful bus routes including TfL 498 to Romford (stop E), SM 21 to Ongar (stop B), and First 351 to Chelmsford (stop A).

Brentwood High Street stops A, B and C from right to left.

Onwards to Billericay (live train departures), from where you can catch trains (timetables) on these lines:

There are some useful bus routes from Billericay Station too. First 100 to Chelmsford leaves from stand A (as does the 9 back to Brentwood) and NIBS 222 to Wickford leaves from stand D.

The bus stops just outside Billericay Station.

Discover things to see and do in Billericay here.

After Billericay, First 9 makes its way to Basildon:

See what there is to do in Basildon here.

Basildon Railway Station (live departures) has direct trains on this route (timetable):

Basildon Bus Station has connections to many destinations, including:
Arriva 5 to Southend from stop P
First 22 to Canvey from stop Q
First 25 to Southend from stop N
First 28 to Southend from stop Q
First 100 to Lakeside from stop D
First 200 to Grays from stop E

First 9 back to Brentwood departs from stop F.

Basildon Bus Station.

If you're only going to be travelling on First buses, then use one of their own tickets. The Basildon Outer zone (for which an adult FirstDay is £6) covers the whole of route 9 and also extends to Lakeside and Southend.

If you need to use other companies' buses too, then use an £8 Essex Saver. It's valid on all buses in Essex regardless of operator (excluding Ensign X81 and journeys wholly within either Thurrock or Southend).

Plusbus tickets are valid on sections of route 9 when bought with rail tickets to/from Brentwood/Shenfield, Billericay or Basildon. Click the links to see the Plusbus zone maps.

You can explore an interactive map of all bus services in Essex here.

Click here to explore other Great British Bus Routes across Greater London and the East

Plusbus price cut for June & July

Buy a Plusbus ticket online (from participating websites only, including Greater Anglia's) for travel during June or July and it will cost just £2.

The Brentwood and Shenfield Plusbus zone is included, as are the zones of most towns and cities around the country.

Plusbus is a bus add-on ticket that you buy with rail tickets to certain stations.

Full details here.

Days out on the 21

There are several major attractions along the route of Ensign 21, not just in Brentwood. If you fancy a day out, why not consider one of these?:

Secret Nuclear Bunker. Take the 21 to Kelvedon Hatch, The Priors.

Epping Ongar Railway. Take the 21 to Ongar Station.

Find out all there is to do in Ongar here and here.

The 21 now only goes as far as Ongar. Change there to other buses to see the following:

North Weald Airfield Museum.

There are also things to discover in Epping (more here) and Harlow (more here), so what are you waiting for?

The 21 runs from opposite Brentwood Railway Station and at stops K and B on Brentwood High Street.

Opposite Brentwood Railway Station on Warley Road.

Brentwood High Street, stops A, B and C from right to left.

Two Brewers on High Street, Ongar. Buses to Brentwood on the right.

The timetable and a route map for the 21 can be found at Traveline.

If you need to use another bus to connect with the 21, then you could save money by asking for an Essex Saver ticket, which allows you to use almost all buses in Essex for a whole day for just £8.

Do bear in mind though that the 21 does not run on Saturdays, Sundays or bank holidays.

Click here to discover more Great British Bus Routes across the South East.