Charcoal Line moves to seven day service in latest bus service improvement

Norfolk County Council, 1 September 2023 00:00

Bus Services between Bungay and Norwich are moving to seven days a week thanks to money that Norfolk County Council secured from the Department for Transport (DfT) to improve bus services across the County.

The changes, which come into effect on Sunday 3 September, will see the Charcoal Line - the service that includes the 40, 40A, 41, 41A and X41 bus services - running an hourly service every Sunday. Starting at 08:10 and running through to 17:10.

This is the first time the Charcoal Line will run on Sundays, giving users a service into the city centre.

Cllr Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: "The old fashioned view of Sunday as a day of rest still holds true for some, but for many people Sunday is as busy as any other day of the week. Whether it's getting to work, doing some shopping or just heading out for a meal with friends and family, the enhancements to the Charcoal Line will give people an easy, affordable option to get into the city and will let more people make the choice to leave the car at home."

The new service will run from Hillside Road West in Bungay through to St Stephens in Norwich, with stops in in Bungay, Ditchingham, Hedenham, Woodton, Kirstead, Brooke, Poringland, Stoke Holy Cross, Framingham Earl and Trowse on the route.

The change follows on from enhancements to the Charcoal Line introduced earlier this summer, including the move to half-hourly bus services running on Monday to Saturday between Bungay and Norwich since 24 July.

This is one of a number of service enhancements which are being funded by the £49.55 million funding which Norfolk County Council was successful in securing from the Department for Transport (DfT) to use on improving bus services across the County over the next three years.

Approximately £12 million of the funding has been allocated to provide new or expanded bus routes and increase service frequencies on key routes, including more evening and weekend services.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said: "People up and down the country deserve a modern, reliable, and affordable public transport system. That is why we have provided Norfolk County Council with more than £49.5 million to boost its bus services.

"Supporting the Council with rolling out new Sunday services across the 'Charcoal Line' is fantastic for local residents, who will now benefit from more buses to make the most of the weekend and fantastic days out in Norfolk."

The new timetables for the Charcoal Line can be found on the Firstbus website.

Norfolk Bus Service Improvement Plan

Norfolk received the sixth highest allocation in the country and the funding consists of £30.9m of capital funding and £18.6m of revenue funding.

The plans outline 17 new measures across the county which give buses priority on the roads. These include new bus lanes in Norwich, King's Lynn and Great Yarmouth and redesigned junctions across the county.

New or improved travel hubs are proposed for Sheringham, Cromer, Diss and Hunstanton which will provide better waiting areas with real-time information to help to give passengers a better experience as well as being integrated with walking and cycling facilities.

There will also be a county-wide review of bus stops with upgrades to improve access for people with disabilities, to provide more real-time information and a programme of works to reduce delays to buses.

Improved services already announced:

Norfolk County Council Net Zero

Encouraging more people to use the bus travel and other sustainable options is key to our ambitious aims of achieving net-zero in Norfolk by 2030.

Norfolk County Council has committed to achieve 'net zero' carbon emissions on its estates by 2030, but within its wider area, to work with partners towards 'carbon neutrality'. This also supports the government's ambition for a net zero country by 2050.

We will achieve this by implementing carbon conscious ways of working across our buildings and supply chain; putting in place the right infrastructure across the county to support the move towards net-zero; and by working together with partners to lead and inspire our colleagues, citizens, communities, and businesses to take action and play their part in protecting Norfolk for future generations.

Last modified: 14 May 2024 12:46

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