Exciting Improvements to Clacton Area Bus Services

We’re making major improvements to local bus services in and around Clacton from Sunday 1st June, designed to make your journeys simpler, more reliable, and better connected than ever before. Whether you’re commuting, shopping, or heading into the city, you’ll enjoy clearer routes, more frequent buses, and enhanced travel options.

Headline Changes

• Route 1/1A: Replaces 136/137; hourly, coordinated to provide a bus every 30 minutes on shared sections.
• Route 3: Minor timetable changes to improve timing.
• Routes 4 / 4A: More journeys on Route 4. Buses continue up to every 15 minutes.
• Route 5: All buses renumbered 5 and follow the current 5A route. Continues up to every 30 minutes.
• Route 6: Current Route 6B becomes Route 6, operating hourly.
• Route 7: Current Route 97 becomes Route 7, operating up to every 30 minutes.
• Route 9: Proposed new route and timetable combining parts of Routes 134 and 98, operating hourly.
• Routes 74 / 76: Each route operates hourly to/from Colchester, coordinated to provide a bus every 30 minutes.
• Route 98: Withdrawn. Kirby le Soken proposed to be served by revised Route 9.
• Route 134: Withdrawn. Clacton seafront proposed to be served by revised Route 9.

There are no changes to the following services: 2/2A, 11, 14, 16B, 19, 22, 63/63A, 77/77A, 80/80A, 81/81A, 105/107, 115, 118.

Here’s What’s Changing in More Detail

Better Local Services Around Clacton

Routes 1 / 1A / 1B – Clacton Town Services - View Timetable (1 & 1A) - View Timetable (1B)
Say hello to your new Routes 1 and 1A! These will replace Routes 136 and 137 with a simpler circular service running both clockwise and anti-clockwise, opening up new journey options. Each will run up to hourly and serve key locations including Clacton town centre, Great Clacton, Clacton Shopping Village and Brook Retail Park. Together, they’ll offer a bus every 30 minutes between Pier Avenue and Great Clacton, with regular departures from Clacton Shopping Village too.
Route 1B is the current 136A, simply renumbered, with no changes to the route or timetable.

Route 3 – Clacton to Harwich - View Timetable
This service continues as before, with a revised timetable to improve punctuality and reliability.

Route 4 / 4A - View Timetable
Great news! We’re adding more journeys to Route 4. Buses will continue up to every 15 minutes, with reduced waiting times between services.

Route 5 – Clacton to Bocking’s Elm - View Timetable
We’re simplifying this route so that all buses follow the current 5A path and will be numbered simply as Route 5. Buses continue up to every 30 minutes, Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, they’ll now serve Coopers Lane in both directions.

Route 6 – Clacton to Point Clear - View Timetable
Route 6 will now operate hourly, following the current 6B route. To boost reliability, it will no longer serve Great Clacton but instead run directly via London Road. Don’t worry—areas previously served on Old Road and St John’s Road will still be covered by Routes 1/1A or 76.

Route 7 – Clacton to Walton-on-the-Naze - View Timetable
The current Route 97 becomes Route 7, operating up to every 30 minutes.
Together with Routes 1 and 1A, you’ll have a bus every 15 minutes between Pier Avenue and Holland Road School.
Route 98A continues largely unchanged.
Routes 97B and 99A will be withdrawn.

Route 9 – Clacton to Walton-on-the-Naze – We’d Love Your Feedback - View Timetable
We’re proposing changes to Route 9 so it serves the seafront in Clacton, replacing Route 134, and continues to serve Great Holland. From Kirby Cross, it would run via Kirby-le-Soken (replacing Route 98), and continue through Edenside and Frietuna Road. Passengers on these roads will need to board the bus on the opposite side of the road than they currently do.
From Frinton town centre to Walton, the route stays the same.
We’re also proposing Saturday services to improve weekend connections between Walton and Clacton.
This proposal is with Essex County Council, and they’re keen to hear your views - please share your feedback with them by emailing [email protected].

Route 74 – Clacton to Colchester via St Osyth - View Timetable
Route 76 – Clacton to Colchester via Weeley - View Timetable
Routes 74 and 76 will now each run hourly, giving you a bus every 30 minutes between Clacton and Colchester.
Route 74 will follow the 74B route through Wivenhoe for consistency. On Sundays, both 74 and 76 will now serve Head Street and High Street for easier access to shops.
Route 76X will be withdrawn.

What This Means for You

These changes are designed to make travelling around Clacton - and beyond - easier than ever:

• Simpler, easier-to-understand routes
• Improved reliability and punctuality
• More journeys at key times

We’re committed to delivering a transport network that works for you - whether you're heading to work, school, the shops or a day out. Thank you for continuing to travel with us. We can’t wait to welcome you on board soon!

Full timetables will be available on our website shortly.