BUS SERVICE UPDATE – June 2025
Central Connect, which took over responsibility for the DaRT3 bus service at the beginning of August 2024, initially for a 3-month fare-free trial period and then as a charged-for service until June 2025, has confirmed that their contract has been renewed and this service is set to continue for the foreseeable future.
Charging for journeys remains as before, with the fares being £3 for any single journey.
DaRT3 needs to be pre-booked: it does not run to a regular, or published, operating timetable and it is not a taxi service. Doubts therefore remain about its suitability for people needing to be at their destinations by a particular time: there can be no guarantee about either pick-up/drop-off times – or even the duration of journeys – from one day to the next, as the service may need to accommodate differing numbers of passengers booked in different locations, dependent on each day’s demand.
DaRT3 operates Mondays to Saturdays between 6.00am and 8.00pm. Concessionary bus passes are accepted after 9.00am Monday to Friday and all day on Saturdays.
To book call: 0115 777 3187 or e-mail: dart@central-connect.co.uk, but please note: e-mail bookings are not confirmed until you receive confirmation from the DaRT Booking Centre, as all bookings are subject to availability.
The DaRT Booking Centre is open between 8.00am and 6.00pm Monday to Saturday.
You must book by 6.00pm the day before you wish to travel.
Bookings for a Monday must be made by 6.00pm on the previous Saturday. Bookings can be made up to 14 days in advance of your desired travel date.
If you need to cancel a booking, contact the DaRT Booking Centre. Please give as much notice as possible in order to free up vehicle capacity for other passengers who may wish to use the service.
If you have any questions about the operation of the DaRT3 service, please call or e-mail the Booking Centre.
Further information on the DaRT3 service, including a map showing its areas of operation, can be found on the Travel Essex website.
DART3 BUS SERVICE FEEDBACK REQUEST - September 2024
As part of Essex County Council’s efforts to improve local bus services, they would like to get some feedback about the recently-introduced local Dart3 demand-responsive bus service.
They are keen to understand how this new service is performing and whether or not it is currently meeting residents’ needs.
In particular, they would like to receive:
- The views of passengers about this service and their overall satisfaction
- Specific feedback from residents about the routes or general service provision
- Any suggestions for improvements
- Any concerns that need to be raised
Your input will help ECC ensure that the operator runs the service effectively and that the needs and expectations of users can be met.
Please e-mail your comments/thoughts/suggestions to the Passenger Transport department: Passenger.Transport@essex.gov.uk
If you know anyone who uses the bus and would like to comment but doesn’t have access to the internet or use e-mail, please ask them to put their thoughts and suggestions on the above points in writing to the Parish Clerk – the Council will then forward this feedback to ECC.