The 70, 70A and 73 replaced 304, 337 and 338 because the prior routes were not carrying enough
passengers to cover their costs. Following the changes made by Simonds of Botesdale to their local bus
network from September 2024, a further timetable change is being implemented from Monday 30th
September 2024. This is intended to improve punctuality and reliability along all routes, and introduce
additional capacity at school times. We are grateful for Suffolk County Council’s support in enabling these
changes.

What will be changing?
Until the current contract for route 73 comes to an end in December 2024, the changes being made
from Monday 30th September will see an additional bus, numbered 73A, providing a service that is
focused around the requirements of passengers attending Thurston Community College. This means
that passengers travelling to / from school and college in Bury St Edmunds will travel on a different bus
to passengers travelling to / from Thurston Community College. Service 73 will be unchanged between
Garboldisham and Pakenham, and will then operate directly to Bury St Edmunds bus station via Great
Barton. Thurston will no longer be served. At school / college times service 73 will extend from Bury St
Edmunds bus station to West Suffolk College and St Benedicts Catholic School.
Passengers travelling to / from Thurston Community College should use new service 73A, which will
operate on schooldays only. This service will operate via the 73 route between Garboldisham and
Bardwell, and will then serve Ixworth and terminate at Thurston Community College. The return journey
will depart Thurston Community College at 15:35, reducing the length of time that students have to wait
at the end of the school day to catch their bus home.
Students from Walsham le Willows and Badwell Ash will no longer be able to travel to / from Thurston
Community College on route 73 or 73A, however route TN164 operated by Mulleys Motorways provides
an alternative for these passengers to use.
Changes to the 73 and the implementation of the 73A will improve punctuality for the service going
forwards.
Revised timetables are available on Simonds website (simonds.co.uk) and Suffolk on Board.

How can I find out more information?

Please email contact@central-connect.co.uk. For live operational queries, you can telephone us on
0115 777 3187.

The local bus timetables can be found in Useful Links on this home page.