Bus Services in Chichester

Local and regional bus routes and connections

Bus services in Chichester are operated primarily by Stagecoach, providing connections within the city and to the surrounding towns, villages and coast. The bus station on Southgate, close to the city centre, is the main hub for local and regional services, and the network covers a reasonable area, though frequency and coverage vary by route.

The most frequent services run along the main corridors connecting Chichester to Bognor Regis, Portsmouth, Havant and the coastal villages. The Coastliner service links Chichester to Portsmouth via Emsworth, Havant and the coastal settlements, running at regular intervals throughout the day. Services to Bognor Regis and Littlehampton connect the city to the wider West Sussex coast.

Local services within Chichester link the city centre to the residential areas, the hospital, the university and the surrounding villages. These services are important for residents who do not have access to a car, particularly older people, students and those on lower incomes. The frequency of local services is variable, with some routes running every fifteen to twenty minutes during peak hours and others operating on an hourly or less frequent basis.

The service to the Witterings, running south from Chichester to Bracklesham and West Wittering, is heavily used during the summer months when beach-goers head for the coast. This route can become very busy on hot days, and the roads to West Wittering are notorious for congestion during the summer holidays.

Bus services to the villages in the South Downs, including the Lavant valley, Singleton and the Trundle area, are more limited. Rural bus services have been cut back over the years, and some villages are served by only a few buses per day. This is a significant issue for residents of these communities who rely on public transport.

Fares are set by Stagecoach and can be paid by contactless card, app or cash. Day tickets and weekly passes offer savings for regular users. The national bus fare cap, where it applies, provides a ceiling on single journey costs.

The bus station itself is a functional rather than inspiring facility, but it provides shelter, seating and real-time departure information. The proximity to the city centre means that most destinations within Chichester are within a short walk of the bus stops.

For visitors arriving by train, the bus services from the railway station area provide connections to the coast, the surrounding villages and the leisure attractions that are not within walking distance of the city centre.

The service to the Witterings, running south from Chichester to Bracklesham and West Wittering, is heavily used during the summer months when beach-goers head for the coast. This route can become very busy on hot days, and the buses sometimes struggle to cope with the volume of passengers during the school holidays and on sunny weekends.

Bus services to the villages in the South Downs, including the Lavant valley, Singleton and the Trundle area, are more limited. Rural bus services have been cut back over the years as subsidies have been reduced, and some villages are served by only a few buses per day or not at all on Sundays. This is a significant issue for residents of these communities who rely on public transport, particularly elderly people who no longer drive.

Fares are set by Stagecoach and can be paid by contactless card, app or cash. Day tickets and weekly passes offer savings for regular users. For visitors arriving by train, the bus services from the railway station area provide connections to the coast, the surrounding villages and the leisure attractions that are not within walking distance of the city centre. The bus station on Southgate provides shelter, seating and real-time departure information that helps passengers plan their journeys.