Passengers in Colchester should prepare for changes to bus travel over the Easter bank holiday weekend, as local operators confirm reduced timetables for the coming days. With many residents planning travel over the long weekend, both Stephensons of Essex and First Essex have updated their schedules for the public holidays on 3 April and 6 April 2026.
Stephensons of Essex, which operates several routes in the area including the 505 service between Colchester and Danbury, will suspend most of its operations on Good Friday and Easter Monday. Aside from the 23A service, which will continue to run throughout the bank holiday period, no other services from the operator will be available on those two days. The 505 route, typically designated for school term days, will not run on either public holiday.
First Essex will instead run a Sunday-level service on both Good Friday and Easter Monday. On Easter Saturday, the company will follow a regular Saturday timetable, while the X30 Airlink service will also follow a Saturday schedule on Good Friday. Passengers using First Essex services throughout the bank holiday weekend are reminded that concessionary bus passes remain valid for free travel at any time from 3 April through 6 April.
Following the bank holiday, commuters should be aware that further changes are ahead. First Essex has announced that major updates to its timetable will take effect on 12 April 2026. Residents are encouraged to check the latest details with their bus operator before planning their travel during this period.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
