Welcome to our special edition 'Bus it' eNewsletter!

Take the bus and enjoy the summer in West Sussex.

Read on for everything you need to know about discounted bus fares, popular locations you can visit by bus, and the latest transport improvements.

£1 Summer Special on Book-a-Bus

Book-a-Bus is an on-demand, flexible bus service for areas in West Sussex with limited or no traditional bus service.

With Book-a-Bus fares capped at only £1 per trip for the whole month of August, you can plan a summer day out in the West Sussex countryside.

View our interactive map to plan your destinations.

Big adventures, low fares

There are plenty of exciting locations in our county just waiting to be explored. With most places being accessible via bus, why not hop on board and see the sights for less?

The £2 single bus fare is still available until the end of 2024 for all passengers.

Young people can save even more on their bus fares by simply asking for the 16 to 20 Bus Saver discount. Get reduced fares via bus operator apps or from the bus driver when they show relevant ID.

Don’t forget to take a moment to check if you’re eligible for a free bus pass. Apply for one or renew your pass if needed (free for people with certain disabilities or those of state pension age).

We're working hard to make bus journeys better

Over the next few months, we will continue to carry out work throughout the county which aims to improve bus journeys.

• Need to know when the bus will arrive? Over 250 Real Time Passenger Information Displays have been installed with more to come.
• We’re improving journey times by refurbishing 10 junctions with bus priority traffic signals with another 10 lined up.
• In partnership with Crawley Borough Council, construction for the Western Boulevard Scheme is making good progress.
• An extension to the recently constructed eastbound bus lane in Manor Royal in Crawley from Crompton Way to London Road (A23) is continuing.
• Further works have been planned to improve the bus stops along the Hydrogen Fast Routes 10 and 20.

You can stay updated on all our projects and view the map to find out where existing and planned improvements are taking place.

What's new from our local bus operators

Metrobus and Brighton and Hove

From coast to countryside, exploring West Sussex is now more budget-friendly than ever.

For inspiration on fun and interesting things to do and how you can get there by bus, head to Metrobus Days Out.

In May, improvements were announced to the 273 service that connects Crawley and Brighton. The improvements include increased frequency, with services running up to hourly, faster services with some taking under an hour, and a new service on Sundays and public holidays. The full timetable can be found here.

Use the Metrobus Journey Planner to plan your next trip and download the Metrobus app for live updates and departure times.

Stagecoach

Stagecoach is celebrating the 1st anniversary of the 500 bus service between Chichester and Littlehampton.

That's 365 days of getting passengers to work, school and connecting them to their communities. To thank customers for their continued support, Stagecoach is offering £500 worth of Chichester Gift Card vouchers to one lucky winner!

To enter, simply fill out the form before 31 July.

Compass Travel

You'll be able to travel on upgraded Compass Travel buses from September as a major upgrade of their services 31/31A and 33 in Mid-Sussex is rolled out.

Passengers will have a better experience with new, modern buses designed to offer a much-enhanced travel experience including:

• USB charging points at every seat
• comfortable and spacious seating
• the latest real-time passenger information technology with next-stop audio and visual announcements
• enhanced accessibility with more space for those with reduced mobility, pushchairs, or prams
• internal lighting on steps for better visibility and under-seat floor lighting for added safety
• advanced stop-start technology delivering cleaner tailpipe emissions making it more eco-friendly.

These improvements, supported by West Sussex County Council, are part of Compass Travel's commitment to providing a better travel experience.

Welcome aboard the next-generation buses, and stay updated with Compass Travel.

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Bus it! is part of the wider Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) which is funded by the Department for Transport.