| Public transport in Colchester | |
|---|---|
 A First Essex bus in the city centre | |
| Overview | |
| Locale | Colchester and surrounding regions |
| Transit type | Bus, Bus rapid transit, Rail |
| Operation | |
| Operator(s) | First Essex, Arriva Colchester, Hedingham & Chambers, Greater Anglia |
The public transport infrastructure of Colchester comprises multiple modes of transport, including buses and railways.
Colchester bus station is located on Osborne Street; it serves as the central hub for the majority of bus services and the interconnected transport network in the city. Additionally, there are plans underway for a comprehensive redevelopment of the bus station, aimed at modernising its facilities, enhancing passenger experience and accommodating future transport needs. [1]
There are two main bus operators in the city: First Essex and Arriva Colchester, which operate most of the lines within the city. Secondary operators include Hedingham & Chambers, Beeston's, Ipswich Buses, Stephensons of Essex and Panther Travel (Essex); these usually operate multi-county/county-wide routes or to rural villages on the outskirts of Colchester. [2]
National Express operates coach services. It stopped operating its stop at Osborne Street in 2020 due to "safety concerns." [3]
The Colchester rapid transit system is a bus rapid transit system, which will serve the central city and its suburbs. [4]
It is set to have one route and eight stations, terminating in the proposed new garden community. The guided busway portions are along Cowdray Avenue and Via Urbis Romanae. [5]
The project is set to finish construction in 2025. [6]
Colchester has three railway stations:
There are two lines that pass through Colchester:
All services are operated by Greater Anglia. [7]