Changes to bus services in Canterbury and north Kent from Sunday 5 May 2024
We’re improving timetables, adding some connections, and making the bus network easier to navigate. There will be some changes to routes and route numbers in Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay. There will also be changes affecting bus timetables for services in Sittingbourne, Faversham, Canterbury City, Aylesham and Bridge.
Routes affected by the changes include Triangle, 3/X3, 5, 21/21A, 22, 23, 23A, 25, 36, 89, 638, Uni1/Uni2, and some school-time buses.
Let’s get straight to the point – new Triangle routes
Everyone loves the Triangle service, but it can be confusing when buses all have the same route name - whether they are going in one direction or the other, or serving different places at different times.
So, from 5 May, Triangle buses will have route numbers.
Buses between Whitstable and Canterbury will be numbered 400 and 401.
Buses between Herne Bay and Canterbury will be numbered 600 and 601.
Broomfield and Beltinge will be served on route 602.
Don't worry - you can still travel between Herne Bay and Whitstable on one bus, using route 400 or 600 via Greenhill.
And buses will still operate
every 15 minutes between Tankerton, Whitstable and Canterbury (on routes 400/401), and between Herne Bay and Canterbury (on routes 600/601). Buses between Herne Bay and Whitstable will be every 30 minutes.
We’ve added some connections too.
Estuary View Medical Centre will be served every 30 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays, which means you can reach medical appointments from Herne Bay (on a route 600 bus via Greenhill), and from Tankerton and Whitstable or Canterbury on route 400.
The
Uni of Kent (Keynes college) will be served every 30 minutes on route 401 (and on routes Uni1 and Uni2).
On
Sundays buses will continue to run every 20 minutes between Herne Bay and Canterbury, and between Whitstable and Canterbury, with buses every hour running the full Triangle circuit linking Whitstable and Herne Bay.
We hope these new arrangements will make travelling by bus even easier and the timetable more resilient to the impacts of roadworks and traffic congestion.
Check out the new timetables for Triangle routes 400-401-600-601-602 here:
400/401
600/601
602
Other changes from 5 May
The table below shows each change by route, including a link to view the new timetable.
Route number | Route description | Details |
3/3A/X3 | Maidstone – Sittingbourne – Faversham – Canterbury | There will be a new timetable to help keep buses running on time and improve the reliability of the service while the junction improvement works at the M2/A249 are carried out.
Two evening buses from Canterbury that currently finish at Faversham (Bysing Wood) will be extended to Sittingbourne.
View the new 3/3A/3X timetable here
|
5 | Seasalter – Whitstable – Chestfield – Canterbury | There will be a new timetable to help keep buses running on time.
View the new 5 timetable here
|
6 | Greenhill – Herne Bay – Beltinge – Broomfield – Sturry –Canterbury | This route will be renumbered to 602 and will operate hourly on Mondays to Saturdays (see details for the Triangle shown above).
Route 6 buses that currently serve Hillborough School in the mornings will be renumbered route 603. There will also be an afternoon 603 bus to Hillborough – something you’ve asked us to provide.
View the new 602 timetable here
|
21/21A | Hales Place – St Dunstan's – Kingsmead - City centre | There will be an extra early morning bus from Hales Place and more evening buses after 5pm. A new timetable will apply to help keep buses running on time.
View the new 21/21A timetable here
|
22 | London Road Estate – City centre | There will be a new timetable to help keep buses running on time. Buses will run every 20 minutes during the daytime, and every 30 minutes at peak-times.
View the new 22 timetable here
|
23 | Spring Lane Estate – City centre | There will be a new timetable to help keep buses running on time. Buses will continue to run every 20 minutes during the daytime. In the afternoon buses will run every 30 minutes.
View the new 23 timetable here
|
23A | Barton Estate – Spring Lane Estate – City centre | Bus times will be adjusted.
View the new 23A timetable here
|
25 | Kent & Canterbury Hospital – City Centre | Bus times will be adjusted.
View the new 25 timetable here
|
36 | Herne Bay – Birchington – Margate | Bus times will be adjusted.
View the new 36 timetable here
|
89 | Aylesham – Canterbury | There will be a new timetable. Route 89 buses will operate directly between Aylesham and Canterbury on the A2 and will no longer serve Bridge. Route 17 buses will continue to serve Bridge through the daytime with extra buses at peak times.
View the new 89 timetable here
|
638 | Faversham – Hernhill – Seasalter – Estuary View – Whitstable | Bus times will be adjusted.
View the new 638 timetable here
|
Triangle | Herne Bay – Canterbury – Whitstable | Please see information in the section above. |
Uni1 | Uni of Kent – London Road – East Station – City centre | There will be a new timetable to help keep buses running on time.
View the new Uni1 timetable here
|
Uni2 | Hales Place – Uni of Kent – St Dunstan’s – Kingsmead – City centre | All Uni2 buses will serve Kingsmead (Sainsbury’s) in both directions. Towards Canterbury they will serve Canterbury West Rail Station, and towards the Uni they will serve North Lane. There will be a new timetable to help keep buses running on time.
View the new Uni2 timetable here
|
903 to 921 | School-time buses | Please see below. |