A DIRECT bus between High Wycombe and Watford is to re-start after a long absence as part of a raft of changes in Chesham and Amersham.

The hourly 336 Carousel Buses service currently runs from Chesham to Amersham but will now run from High Wycombe to Beaconsfield, Amersham and onto Watford.

Carousel managing director Steve Burns said the link was lost about 30 years ago and will mean Wycombe to Watford passengers will not have to change at Amersham.

It will cost about £5 with discounts for families and regular users, he said.

He said: “It links two major towns in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire and puts in lots of links that aren’t there like Beaconsfield and Amersham.”

The old route “went off at a tangent” by going to Chesham, he said, and was not used well.

Transport chiefs have said bus use is rocketing as people ditch their cars to save cash and the changes will get more onto public transport.

Mr Burns said: “We are changing to suit demand with a little bit of speculation for the future.

“We are putting our money where our mouth is.”

Other changes include running two instead of three buses on a route currently served by the 373, 374 and 375.

Scroll down for a full list of changes and the link at the bottom of the story for timetables.

Also the 72 will run from Penn Street to Chesham instead of Amersham. All changes take effect from September 7.

Douglas Robinson, head of IT for Redline, which is taking over some services, said: “We have been looking to expand for some time, especially in the Amersham and Chesham area.

“People might be using buses more because they are leaving their cars at home. It is usually cheaper to use a bus in the long-term.”

Some services will be subsidised by Buckinghamshire County Council.

Councillor Valerie Letheren, BCC cabinet member for transportation, said: “Better bus services will encourage more residents to choose the smart travel choice.”

The changes (supplied by Buckinghamshire County Council, see link below for full timetables):

3 – This service been re-numbered. Please see service 78 for details.

4 – This service no longer serves Pond Park, but now runs to Ley Hill every 30 minutes.

49/94 – These services have been re-numbered. Please see services 149/194 for details.

59 – This service has been re-numbered. Please see services 77/177 for details.

360 – This service has been re-numbered 190. No other changes to this service.

71 and 73 – These new services replace services 373, 374 and 375. Run by Carousel Buses they’ll run hourly between Chesham Broadway and Amersham Station, via Chesham Bois and Quill Hill.

72 – This replaces the 372. Run by Redline this service will provide 1 morning journey from Penn Street to Chesham. Return journeys can be made on service 73.

77 – This service replaces service 59 between Chesham and Chartridge. Most of the timetable is unchanged with only minor time changes. It is now operated by Redline.

78 – This service replaces service 3 between Great Hivings and Chesham. The timetable is unchanged. It is now operated by Redline.

79 - This service replaces service 379 and runs return journeys between Chesham Broadway and Poles Hill. It is now operated by Redline.

149/194 – These service replaces the 49/94. Now ran by Redline there are minor changes to the timetable.

177 – This replaces service 59 through The Lee to Great Missenden with a slightly revised timetable.

336 – This Carousel Buses service now operates an hourly service between High Wycombe, Beaconsfield, Amersham, Rickmansworth and Watford. It no longer calls in Chesham at peak times. For peak time journeys between Chesham and Watford, please see the T2.

372 – This service has been re-numbered. Please see services 72 and 73 for details.

373, 374 and 375 – These services have been re-numbered. Please see services 71 and 73 for details. For journeys to Ley Hill please see service 4.

379 – This service has been re-numbered. Please see service 79 for details.

392 – This service, which consists of return schoolday journeys between Latimer and Amersham School, a similar service will continue to run by the new service 71 with an extra bus between Little Chalfont and Amersham School.

A30 – Starting on 28th September, this new commercial service operated by Carousel Buses will run hourly between Chesham, Amersham, the Chalfonts, Uxbridge and Heathrow Airport.

T2 – Run by Tiger Line, starting on 17th August this service provides peak time journeys between Chesham, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead and Watford.