Later nights and Sunday bus service between Bury St Edmunds, Lavenham and Sudbury Town Centre.

24 May 2024

From Sunday 26 May, Bury St Edmunds will be accessible by bus later into the evening and on Sundays and bank holidays for residents living along route 753.

Route 753 travels between Bury St Edmunds, serving West Suffolk Hospital, Long Melford, Acton, Great Waldingfield, Lavenham, Cross Green, Stanningfield, Sicklesmere and Sudbury Bus Station.

There has not been a bus service connecting these villages and Bury St Edmunds on a Sunday for many years, the introduction of the new service will make a significant difference to the local communities. The service will expand opportunities to use the bus to commute for work, enjoy great days and nights out for leisure and offers more independence.

Hedingham and Chambers, who operate the bus route, will receive a proportion of the Bus Service Improvement Plan 2 funding allocated to Suffolk County Council by the UK Government, following a successful bid to enhance its existing bus service, route 753.

The £2 single fare programme continues to offer excellent value for money and will be available on this service until the end of 2024 when the scheme comes to an end.

The last bus will depart Bury St Edmunds Bus Station at 10.30pm, arriving in Sudbury Bus Station 11.38pm every Monday to Saturday, with a Sunday service leaving at 9.45am from Bury St Edmunds Bus Station, until the last service at 5.30pm.

Cllr Indy Wijenayaka, Cabinet Member for Growth at West Suffolk Council, said “I am delighted that the service between Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury has been expanded to include later nights and Sundays. This encourages residents to travel, whether commuting or for leisure, using sustainable transport methods. The additional service supports the local economy in towns and villages along the route, boosting visitors to restaurants, shops, and amenities, and enhancing the night-time economy. It will unlock access to events in Bury St Edmunds from the Apex to the makers markets, helping our communities thrive and grow sustainably.

I’m hoping that we can continue working with Suffolk County Council, as the highways authority, for further increases to our bus services across the district as these can offer vital service to our residents and are key to unlocking further growth potential.”

Gavin Smith, Managing Director for Go East Anglia who operate Hedingham and Chambers bus services commented “We are delighted to work with the local parishes and Suffolk County Council to improve our current service and offer a more accessible bus service. With the ongoing £2 single fare scheme in place until the end of 2024, residents can now take full advantage of the cost -savings bus travel offers all week long and access the services they need, when they need them.

Introducing enhancements to local bus services places significant pressure on bus operators with costs for implementation high. Support through the BSIP 2 funding allows ideas to be evaluated but generating a strong passenger base is essential to the longer-term continuation of these enhancements.”

More details are available on the Hedingham and Chambers website.

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