Great Bus Travel Savings for Colchester Rail Commuters

Published on: Monday, 8 September 2014
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Colchester rail commuters have the opportunity to save over 25% on daily bus ticket prices thanks to a special promotion to encourage travel to Colchester station, by bus.

The specially priced PlusBus monthly ticket will cost only £53, if purchased between 7 September 2014 and 2 January 2015, representing a saving of almost £20 a month when compared to the cost of a typical day return bus ticket.*

This promotion is being offered by Colchester’s local bus companies: First Buses, Hedingham and Network Colchester - thereby helping more people to reduce the cost and environmental impact of their journey, by using the bus for travel to Colchester station.

Customers can take advantage of this special promotion by buying their PlusBus ticket at Colchester station ticket office.

PlusBus tickets are an add on to commuters rail tickets and offer excellent value, giving customers unlimited travel on participating bus services within the Colchester urban bus network.**

Linda McCord Passenger Focus Manager said: 'This Station travel plan bus promotion has come about as a result of the Partnership working well together to offer passengers a number of good incentives to use buses to travel to and from the station. This includes good value for money through the discounted fare, integrated ticketing and good, clear bus information. Passenger Focus research shows these as being top priorities for passengers.'

Jeff Clayton, General Manager for Hedingham & Chambers, added: "We know from survey work in the last year by Essex County Council and Passenger Focus that people who use buses and who are thinking of using buses want value-for-money tickets and good bus/rail connections.

In amongst the changes we have made to our bus services across Essex and Suffolk from September, we have improved bus/rail connections at several stations and are very happy to support the PlusBus scheme in Colchester. A combined bus/rail ticket will help passengers to plan their journey right from their front door to their destination as one package."

Julian Elliot, Network Manager, First Essex "First is delighted to support this initiative. With rising fuel and parking costs, commuters can save money with this new promotion and we hope as many people as possible take advantage of it."

Councillor Anne Turrell, of Colchester Borough Council said: “We are pleased to support Colchester residents with discounted bus travel through the Station Travel Plan project. The partnership has also given commuters improved bus services and waiting facilities at the station. These will all make it cheaper and easier to get the bus to the station, helping cut fuel and parking costs for commuters who are currently driving or get dropped off. Switching to the bus will also help reduce pollution and congestion in Colchester.”

Councillor Ray Howard, Essex County Council’s deputy cabinet member for Highways and Transportation, said: “We are delighted to be able to help offer commuters in Colchester with discounted bus travel to and from the station.

“This project illustrates the fantastic results that can be achieved when authorities and organisations work in collaboration.

“We are committed to ensuring that excellent value for money bus services are in place to serve the needs of the community of Essex and will continue to work closely with partners to achieve this.”

Petrina Murphy Abellio Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Services Manager said: “PlusBus tickets offer great value for money and this special promotion makes them even more so. We hope more people will be encouraged to travel to the station by bus.”

Roger Birch, Network Colchester Depot Manager “Commuters taking advantage of the special PlusBus price can benefit from unlimited travel on most buses in Colchester for a little more each day than the cost of their train ticket. By taking the bus to and from the station, as well as leaving the car at home and using the bus during the evening or at weekends, congestion and pollution across the town will be reduced so PlusBus is a real winner for everyone.”

Terms and conditions apply to this offer, for more information please collect a leaflet from Colchester station.

*based on travelling to the station 20 days a month.

**Valid on First Buses, Hedingham, Network Colchester and Essex County Council contracted services.