A long-awaited new bus link has launched to connect Leigh-on-Sea with London Southend Airport and the Airport Business Park, cutting out the need to change buses in the city centre.
The new 23A and 23B services, branded as the Leigh Link and operated by Stephensons of Essex, began running on Sunday 31 August 2025. It follows years of campaigning from residents and councillors for a direct north-south bus route through the city.
Bus routes overview
- 23A: Leigh-on-Sea Railway Station to London Southend Airport
- 23B: Leigh-on-Sea Railway Station to Airport Business Park (via Aviation Way)
Buses run up to every 30 minutes and serve key areas including St Laurence, Eastwood Park, Belfairs, Blenheim Park, Leigh and West Leigh. On weekdays, services alternate between the airport (23A) and the business park (23B). At weekends, all services run to the airport only.
Tickets and payment for the Leigh Link buses
- Adult single: up to £3
- Child single: up to £2.35
- Tickets can be bought from the driver with contactless or cash
- Real-time bus tracking, live times and mobile tickets are available through the free Stephensons App
Why the 23A and 23B bus routes were created
- Direct connections
The Leigh Link is the first direct public transport link between Leigh and the airport or business park, avoiding a change in central Southend. - Improved access
It serves locations previously lacking direct public transport, including the Airport Business Park, Aviation Way, Progress Road and surrounding schools such as Eastwood Academy. - Sustainable travel
The route is designed to reduce car journeys, cut congestion, and support cleaner air in the city.
Funding and infrastructure
The service has been funded through the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) Bus Grant and will initially run for two years, with a possible third year if passenger numbers grow.
New and relocated bus stops have been installed along Progress Road and Whitehouse Road to support the service. Stephensons has invested in three new low-emission single-deck buses for the route, costing around £600,000, and has created around seven new local jobs to operate it.
Public response so far
Local councillors say the launch has been well received, with over 1,000 passenger journeys recorded in the first week of operation.
Cllr Paul Collins, cabinet member for finance, assets, investments and public transport, said the service offers “a direct route across the city without needing to change buses, connecting communities with places like Leigh-on-Sea, the Airport, and local business parks”, and that it supports the council’s ambition for a “cleaner, greener Southend”.
Stephensons managing director Dean Robbie said the company was “delighted to be chosen to work in partnership with Southend City Council” and hoped those who had long campaigned for the service would be among the first to use it.
Why it matters
This is the first north-south cross-city bus link in more than a decade, restoring public transport access between Leigh and Eastwood while providing a practical, sustainable alternative to car travel. If successful, the route could become a permanent part of the city’s transport network.