Brighton Buswatch

Representing Bus Users in Brighton and surrounding areas (formally Brighton Area Buswatch).

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REAL TIME INFORMATION

As far as possible, we aim to keep you up to date on our website.

Due to many real-time information signs being out of order-
Click here for information at some of the most popular bus stops

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Click here- for our latest June'25 Buswatch newsletter-

Our latest Buswatch Newsletter includes:-
  • More buses enter service.
  • Flixbus to offer a new Brighton to London and Cambridge service.
  • Electric bus on test.
  • Consultation on seafront cycle route and City transport plan.
  • Summer service 11X to restart; and other stories.
  • Our next Buswatch Meeting.

Last month's Buswatch Newsletter is still available (click here) including:-
  • Improved Bus services including the 1X, 12X and 13X.
  • East Sussex disabled pass now offers all day travel.

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To find Brighton Buswatch's Facebook page- Click here.
For an excellent place to find up to the minute Transport information, for an extended Newhaven area, see
Transport in Newhaven's facebook page.


Valley Gardens 3: Updated- Jan '25

While the city council should be praised for most of its recent bus policies; the author believes the Valley Gardens 3 scheme could be the most damaging scheme for buses, in decades. Do we really need wait until the scheme is completed, for the issues to finally be recognised. Change is still possible, it would be so much better to get the scheme right, first time; without the need for extra cost and further disruption.

Click here- for the author's unchanged damning report into the scheme; including issues during construction.

Please click here to find the Bus User group's AIMS

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General bus information:

The headlines:
  • Important improvements to Brighton & Hove Bus service 1X, 11X, 12X and 13X.
  • Substantial changes have occurred to bus services in Worthing.
  • A new £2.50 fare in Brighton.
  • Flixbus to offer a new Brighton to London and Cambridge service.

All our information is thought to be correct to 30th June 2025.

Fares: The National single fare cap rose from £2 to £3 on the 1st January, increasing many Brighton fares to their highest ever level (especially with the main bus company abolishing the former 'CentreFare' area). Greatly disadvantaging the most financially stretched members of society.
However BSIP money has been use to provide some fare offers. In the city, we welcome the short hop fare being reduced to just £1. The new £2.50 fare is also offered on selected journeys in the city (was £2.80), but has received no publicity! East Sussex has gone one better, by offering a £2 intermediate fare (£1/£2/£3 fares).
These lower fares may not be available on the app (only available on tap-on, tap off; and cash), so if you pay using e a standard single app fare, you could be paying up to three times as much as you need! Also ridiculously, it could be cheaper to take two £1 short hops, rather than a single £2.50 journey.

In terms of return journeys Brighton & Hove Council offers a £6 unlimited travel ticket (£25 weekly). East Sussex offers a similar £6.10 all operator unlimited day ticket, alongside the £3 maximum single fare, which applies to virtually all operators. This means bus users from Lewes, Seaford (etc)- to Brighton- could have the choice of a £5.40 special return, a £6.10 East Sussex ticket, or a £7 Brighton and Hove Network Saver. Passengers travelling most of the week, could find it worthwhile re-examining whether period tickets offer better value for money (especially the 90 day ticket).
The fares cap (and standard tap-on tap off) only applies to adult fares; and fares for young people could be more than half of the adult fare. However there are also some offers for ‘under 19’ (etc.) available (including the West Sussex 16-20 ticket/card). Look at Council and bus Company's websites for further details.

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Information by Bus Company:

Brighton & Hove Bus Co. : 20th July will see the summer service 11X reintroduced, towards Drucillas and Eastbourne via A27. From early June, the daytime services 1X was improved to run every 12 minutes, with the 12X improved to run every 15 minutes. There were also improvements to the 13X and '27' (which now runs with an even 15 minute interval). April saw improvements to services 24, 26, 46 and 50 to improve reliability.
If you use Tap-on, Tap-off; then the cost of the second and subsequent days 'Saver' ticket is reduced, within that week. This can make it cheaper than using the app or 'The Key' daily fare.

Brighton & Hove now also accepts Amex Card payments, as well a most cards and its all encompassing app. While Apple Express (on iPhones) is available; but please keep your phone separate from debit cards, or the system may not know which one to charge!
Click here for Brighton & Hove Bus Company's main website.

Stagecoach: Covering the area between Littlehampton, Worthing, and Brighton (and towards Horsham).
From 14th July some fares will change, but the £3 maximum single fare remains, and Day tickets in Worthing, Brighton (etc.) remain cheaper still.

On the 6th April 2025, one of the biggest changes in many years took place; affecting many services, in the Worthing/Littlehampton areas. This included major changes to the service 700, and the abolition of the 'Pulse' service.
The 700 from Brighton- will continue along the coast road in Worthing- to Grand Avenue, then serve Durrington Tesco's. Much of the previous Pulse route was absorbed by the new 701 route- from Lancing, past Worthing Hospital, Worthing Library, Mill Road etc. But instead of serving Durrington, the new 701 replaces the 700 to Littlehampton, but uses a simpler route (avoiding East Preston). The gap is being filled by a new service 11, between Littlehampton, Rustington and Worthing. The western end of the Pulse route is covered by the 700 and revised 5 bus route.
The 1, 7 & 9 were unaffected by these major changes. Stagecoach no longer shows its 'changes to services' page.

For the new Stagecoach Worthing map, click here
For the Rustington-Littlehampton map- Click here
Neither of the above maps show other operator's routes. See our Public Transport Info page, for other services.
Click here for the new April 700 timetable.
Click here for the new April 701 timetable.

Click here-for the Stagecoach website.


Metrobus, south and mid Sussex:
In May 2024 the service 273 was upgraded to basically offer a fast hourly service between Crawley and Brighton (Old Steine), Monday to Saturday with a new Sunday service. Often taking less than an hour. May 2025 saw a further improvements to the 273, and services 270, 271 & 272 received new timetables to improve reliability. Metrobus now accepts American Express and Google Wallet.

While basically outside our area, a new service 284, will give an additional service to Tunbridge Wells hospital. In May, the service 23- between Crawley- Horsham and Worthing- was enhanced, including a new hourly service on Sundays, and a new 23X journey. Services 65, 100, and 281 were also improved. February saw improvements to services 2, 3, 4/5 10 and 20.

For the latest information click here- for the Metrobus website.


Compass Travel: Compass Travel has taken over Big Lemon's supported services 16, 47 and 52- mostly retaining the same timetables and staff. The bus company has also retained its service 37/37B. This route now runs via Imperial Arcade. While some new buses have arrived, more new buses are expected in July.
Click here for the Compass Travel's website.
For their real-time information: Click here for central Brighton,
OR here for Worthing times.

CTLA & Cuckmere bus services: Click here for their website Or phone 01273 517332.
We do not generally list changes to Cuckmere bus services. However, the weekend summer Rambler service through the Cuckmere Valley has restarted (until 26th October '25). Also if you would like to visit Charleston, the service 39 is continuing; and it is now possible to travel to Herstmonceux Science Centre & Castle, plus Pevensey Castle, on a Wednesday (but via Eastbourne!).

Flixbus are to offer a new Brighton to London and Cambridge service.

The Big Lemon: no longer runs services 16, 47 & 52, but continues to operate other contracted services such as the Legal and General services. The Big Lemon should be praised for enabling a comparatively smooth transition to the new operator
Click here for the Big Lemon website.

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May we welcome new members and supporters reading our news for the first time.

We are independent from bus companies and local authorities. Our policy is to influence decisions by building relationships and working with others. We have meetings four times a year with bus companies and Council representatives where members concerns are discussed. They also have an opportunity to explain future proposals.


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Some other recent newsletters are available here.

Click here- for our April '25 Buswatch newsletter

Click here- for our March '25 Buswatch newsletter

Includes major changes to Worthing bus services.

Click here- for our February '25 Buswatch newsletter

Click here- for our January '25 Buswatch newsletter

Click here- for our November/December '24 Buswatch newsletter

Click here- for our September/October'24 Buswatch newsletter- (currently Word format- 921kb!)

Click here- for our July/August '24 Buswatch newsletter-

Click here- for our May/June'24 Buswatch newsletter-

Click here- for our March/April'24 Buswatch newsletter-

For our previous newsletters (click here):

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What we do:

Brighton Area Buswatch deals mostly with strategic issues affecting lots of people. We campaign for improvements to bus services and fares on behalf of bus users. Our policy is to build relationships with local Councils, local interest groups and bus companies to find out about their plans, so we can make suggestions and try to influence them.

We are lucky to have excellent bus services in much of our area which are well-used and very few require public subsidies. Recently around 50 million passenger journeys were made by bus in Brighton & Hove which compares with under 20 million journeys in Southampton or Portsmouth which are similar in size. This is a tremendous achievement but we recognise that people's expectations are always rising and there are always improvements that can be made.

If you have a particular problem regarding a bus service or an incident on a recent journey we advise you in the first instance, to contact the bus company concerned. In our experience most local bus companies are keen to receive feedback and will do their best to help if they can. Our partners at Bus Users UK can deal with appeals if a customer is not satisfied with the response from a bus company or local authority.

 

What we have achieved in the past includes:-

  • We suggested a one-hour single ticket, which has been introduced, so enabling passengers to change buses without needing to pay again.
  • We successfully campaigned for Saver tickets, Key Card and m-tickets to be valid on all Council supported bus services in Brighton & Hove.
  • We rejoined the Council's Quality Bus partnership, enabling us to influence planning decisions affecting all local bus companies.
  • We suggested improvements to late night services to Goldstone Valley and to Lewes; and have been pressing for improvements to route 37 to Meadowview and the Bristol Estate; plus later Sunday evening journeys to Worthing.
  • We have expressed concerns about the revised Valley Gardens scheme.
We are associated with Bus Users UK.

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Our Public Transport Information page- includes links to real-time bus information for Metrobus and Worthing area services (as well as real-time information in the Brighton area- both the city council and the Brighton and Hove Bus Company).

For more details on how to be involved click here.

 

Photos:
top left: Brighton & Hove bus new 1X service.
top right: Stagecoach bus

 

above: Compass Bus service

 

above: Brighton & Hove Bus

 

 

above: Big Lemon CIC bus