New Blue 20/21/22

As part of our ongoing investment into the local bus networks around Epping, Ongar, North Weald and Harlow, we're making some significant changes to Central Connect Service 420 & 420A from Sunday 28th July 2024. We're implementing a range of enhancements across the service with new buses, new timetables, a new route section, new fares and new simpler numbers!

Service 20

• Buses will follow the existing 420 route between Harlow > Potter Street > Thornwood > Epping > North Weald > Ongar.
• Weekday buses will generally operate every 30 minutes across the full route*
• Saturday & Sunday buses will generally operate hourly across the full route*
• Buses will combine with Service 21 to provide journeys between Harlow & Epping every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on Saturdays.
• Buses will combine with Service 13C, 18 (18C) and 22 to provide journeys between Epping & North Weald up to every 10-15 minutes at peak times (weekdays only).

*A very small number of early morning and late evening journeys will only operate between Harlow & Epping. These journeys will generally connect with Service 18 and continue to Debden and/or Loughton. Details to be confirmed. 

Service 21 

• Buses will operate from Harlow > Potter Street > Thornwood > Epping via the the existing 420 route except in the Bray's Grove / Bush Fair areas of Harlow where buses will operate via Tumbler Road & Great Brays rather than Tendring Road & Tripton Road.
• Weekdays buses will generally operate every 30 minutes.
• Saturday buses will generally operate hourly.
• Buses will combine with Service 20 to provide journeys between Harlow & Epping every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on Saturdays.

Service 22 (22B)

• Buses will operate from Harlow > Potter Street > North Weald > Epping.
• Weekday journeys mostly run at peak times providing additional capacity from North Weald to/from Epping Station. 
• A small number of journeys will operate early on a Sunday morning and late on a Sunday evening to provide later journey opportunities between Harlow, North Weald and Epping. 
• A small number of journeys will operate on Monday-Saturday evenings numbered 22B between Harlow & Potter Street only to provide later journey opportunities from Harlow Centre for residents within the town. 

>>Click here for the NEW! 20/21/22 Timetable PDF<<

New Route Map

>>Click here for the NEW! 20/21/22 Map PDF<<

New Fares

We'll making changes to the fares on our new services at the same time. This is to bring fares on the route in line with our existing regional structure. We're delighted to advise the Child age will increase to Under-19 with Under-5s continuing to travel for free.

Single fares will remain capped at £2 until at least December 2024 as part of the national fare cap scheme funded by HM Government. 

Season tickets will be available for 1 week, 1 month or 3 months valid for unlimited travel across all of our other local services in the area as follows:

• Harlow Zone - Valid between Harlow Centre & Hastingwood Services (20/21) and Blue Diamond Harlow Garden Centre (22) - Also valid on Services 5*, 24*, 25, 31 & 505 within Harlow Town.
• Epping Forest Zone - Valid from Epping as far as Thornwood, North Weald & Loughton - Also valid on Services 13, 16C, 17*, 18*, 30 & 31.
• North West Essex Zone - Valid across the full route. - Also valid on Services 5*, 13, 16, 17*, 18*, 24*, 25, 30, 31 & 505.

*Details of these services from 28th July to be confirmed in due course.

>>Click here for the NEW! 20/21/22 Farechart PDF<<

New Buses

As part of our investment in these services we'll be introducing brand new high specification buses onto the corridor over the next 6 months. 

Service 20 will be mostly operated with brand new double decks (sneak peak below) on all days. The first two are due to be introduced in August 2024 with the rest of the route upgraded in early 2025. For the the remainder of 2024 high capacity single decks will be used in place of double decks on some journeys. 

Service 21 will be operated by a fleet of brand new midi buses. 

(Service 22 will be operated with a mix of both new midi and double deck buses)

In summary?

More Buses! More Often! 

They'll be blue, they'll be new and they'll be 20/21/22!

We'll see you on board soon!