It's Ensign to Ongar

Townlink's license to operate has been revoked with effect from 26th February but they've chosen to leave passengers in the lurch and have already stopped running the 21.

But Ensign Bus have come to the rescue and are running a replacement 21 service between Brentwood and Ongar on weekdays only. Here's the timetable:

Updated timetable from 20th January:

Other buses are available for journeys beyond Ongar. See Traveline to plan a journey.

Townlink license revoked

Townlink Buses Ltd, which runs the 21 from Brentwood (Warley) to Ongar, Epping and Harlow, has had its license to operate revoked by the Traffic Commissioner for the East of England.

The Harlow Star has more details, but it isn't clear whether Townlink will stop running immediately or if there is a way to keep their routes, including the 21, running, perhaps by another operator.

We'll let you know as soon as we know more.

If you were planning to head to Ongar by bus tomorrow, it might be worth phoning Townlink on 01279 426266 before setting off, just to make sure they are still running.

Evening, Sunday & rural routes under threat

The Brentwood Gazette reports that Essex County Council are looking to wield their bus axe again.

This time, late evening journeys on the 73 are under threat, but all routes funded by the council will be being reviewed to see where a cut can be made. This means all evening, Sunday and rural routes in Essex are under threat.

The County Council are still consulting on what their bus priorities should be, so make sure you take part in their survey before 21st October.

The changes currently proposed for Brentwood are:
21A: Essex wants to withdraw this route leaving Brentwood with no link to Ongar after late afternoons.
73: The last bus of the evening is to be withdrawn Mon-Sats. Here's the proposed timetable for subsidised journeys on Mon-Sat evenings:

251: No more Sunday trips to Southend, as this route will be curtailed to run between Warley and Wickford only. Here's the proposed timetable:

898: It is proposed to withdraw this route from Blackmore via Doddinghurst and Brentwood to Romford.

New 9 timetable / TfL Rail lowers fares

First have released the new timetable for the 9, which will apply from 5th July. Only a few morning journeys have been retimed.

Not quite bus related, but you may have noticed that the trains from Brentwood station are now operated by TfL Rail rather then Abellio Greater Anglia. This is the first step of the transition to Crossrail.

For now, it means lower rail fares for some journeys as train travel from Greater London to Brentwood now uses the same fare scale as the tube, rather than a premium being charged for what was a National Rail service.

The line is still technically part of National Rail however, meaning a through rail ticket to or from any other railway station in the UK is still available to/from Brentwood. A paper rail ticket is still needed in order to buy a Brentwood/Shenfield Plusbus ticket.

Sunday Saver price rise

The Essex County Standard is reporting that the County Council are soon to increase the price of the Sunday Saver ticket from £2.80 to £4 for an adult.

The ticket is valid on all buses that run across Essex every Sunday and even with the price rise is one of the best value bus tickets in the whole country.

Please note that the Sunday Saver is not valid on some TfL routes that run into Essex, including the 498 to Brentwood.

The price rise takes place on Sunday 14th June. See the official announcement here.