Bus from Southend-on-Sea to Chelmsford
4 direct routes · 44–114 min · first bus 04:17, last bus 02:26 (weekdays).
Next buses to Chelmsford as of 14:08
Scheduled times at the boarding stop in Southend-on-Sea, from the operators' timetables — they update automatically. Open the stop for live tracking.
Direct routes
| Route | Operator | Journey time | Weekday journeys | Days | First | Last | Board at | Get off at | Calls at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X30 | First Essex | ~44 min | 36 | Sat 34 · Sun 23 | 04:17 | 02:26 | Rochford Corner (W-bound) | Army & Navy (NW-bound) | Rayleigh & Rawreth |
| 3 | First Essex | ~101 min | 5 | Sat 6 · no Sunday buses | 09:21 | 18:06 | Whitegate Road (Stop VS) | Retail Market (Stop 1) | Hadleigh, Daws Heath, Thundersley, Rayleigh, Rawreth, Battlesbridge & 5 more |
2 occasional services — once or twice a day · 625, 513
Often school, college or market-day journeys — check the route before relying on one.
| Route | Operator | Journey time | Weekday journeys | Days | First | Last | Board at | Get off at | Calls at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 625 | First Essex | ~114 min | 1 | weekdays only | 15:45 | 15:45 | Highfield Gardens (Stop L) | Wood Street Tesco (opp) | Rayleigh, Rawreth, Wickford, Basildon, Barleylands, Great Burstead & 3 more |
| 513 | Stephensons of Essex | ~72 min | 1 | weekdays only | 15:57 | 15:57 | Highfield Gardens (Stop L) | Shopping Centre (adj) | Rayleigh, Rawreth, Rettendon, East Hanningfield, Butts Green, Howe Green & 1 more |
Times are for the first boarding point in Southend-on-Sea on each route's weekday timetable — open the route for the full timetable, live map and every stop.
The same number runs elsewhere in the UK — see every X30 bus, 3 bus, 625 bus or 513 bus timetable.
Fares from Southend-on-Sea to Chelmsford
- £3.00 adult single on the X30 and 3 (First Essex)
- £6.10 adult single on the 625 (First Essex)
- £6.10 adult single, £11.60 return on the 513 (Stephensons of Essex)
Between the stops in the table above. The operators' own published fares, from the Bus Open Data Service; check with the operator before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Which bus goes from Southend-on-Sea to Chelmsford?
4 routes run directly from Southend-on-Sea to Chelmsford: the X30 (First Essex), the 3 (First Essex), the 625 (First Essex), the 513 (Stephensons of Essex). The most frequent is the X30, 36 times each weekday — board at Rochford Corner (W-bound) and get off at Army & Navy (NW-bound), about 44 minutes.
How long does the bus take from Southend-on-Sea to Chelmsford?
Between 44 minutes on the X30 and 114 on the 625, depending on which route you catch and on traffic. It calls at Rayleigh, Rawreth on the way.
What time is the first and last bus from Southend-on-Sea to Chelmsford?
On weekdays the first direct bus leaves around 04:17 and the last around 02:26. Check the route timetables for weekends.
How much is the bus from Southend-on-Sea to Chelmsford?
Adult singles from Southend-on-Sea to Chelmsford: £3.00 on the X30 and 3 (First Essex); £6.10 on the 625 (First Essex); £6.10 on the 513 (Stephensons of Essex). Prices are the operators' own published fares on the Bus Open Data Service — check with the operator before you travel. Most single fares in England are capped at £3 until 31 December 2026, then £2 from 1 January 2027.