A new Orpington bus service has been created and will provide links to key places in the area, as well as a new school time service which hopes to help with congestion on other routes.

Starting on Monday, October 30, 2023, Route 3 will begin at Sevenoaks Bus Station and travel to the stops Riverhead Tesco, Dunton Green, Knockholt Pound, Halstead, Polhill Garden Centre, Pratts Bottom, Green Street Green, and Orpington, finishing at Princess Royal University Hospital at Locksbottom.

This service, which is ran by go-coach, will operate three times daily in both directions from Monday to Friday, introducing several new transportation connections for bus passengers.

It will offer a direct bus route from Sevenoaks to Orpington, including the popular Polhill Garden Centre as well as creating a new link from Knockholt and Halstead direct to the PRU Hospital for the first time.

A schooltime service, named as S3, will also provide additional capacity from Orpington, Halstead, Knockholt Pound, Dunton Green, and Riverhead to Knole Academy and Sevenoaks, hoping to alleviate congestion on the S32, S34, and S8 bus services.

An afternoon return journey will also be available.

Fares for Route 3 buses will match those of TfL buses within the London area when using contactless cards, priced at £1.75. For all other forms of payment, there will be a fixed fare of £3.

Oyster cards will not be valid on this service, but all ENCTS (Elderly) pass holders can travel free of charge after 9.30am. Regular school fares will apply on the S3 route.