Cranbrook is set to benefit from a late-night Saturday bus service to/from Exeter, with new funding ensuring most night routes across Devon and Cornwall will now run all year.
From Saturday 10 January, buses will operate between Exeter and Cranbrook until around 4am, giving residents a cheap and safe way to get home after nights out or early shifts. The extension follows fresh backing from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, which has secured funding for most services through 2026.
Night buses first launched in 2023 as a festive trial before expanding into a summer service and, in 2025, into a wider network running from May to December. The scheme has proven popular, offering fares capped at £3 and attracting more than 16,200 passengers since May 2025 — roughly 530 people every Saturday night.
Cllr Paul Arnott, Chair of Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone and Leader of East Devon District Council said:
“I am very pleased that connecting Cranbrook late at night will give residents much improved access to work, training and leisure opportunities. This also ensures that businesses can draw on a wider labour pool: good for productivity and good for growth.”
Routes
- Exeter ➜ Cullompton, Cranbrook, Crediton, Exmouth
- Barnstaple ➜ Bideford, Ilfracombe
- Plymouth ➜ Tavistock, Saltash
- Torquay ➜ Paignton, Brixham
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said extending the scheme and adding Cranbrook was “an easy decision” as the services provide an alternative to taxis and help cut antisocial behaviour.
Stagecoach Managing Director Peter Knight confirmed the new Cranbrook service — running hourly from midnight to 4am — comes after strong trial demand and will support nightlife, shift workers and late-night travellers.
Police leaders expect benefits beyond convenience, citing reduced drink-driving and improved safety, particularly for women and girls. Devon County Council has welcomed the move as a win for affordability, safety and carbon reduction.
With Cranbrook’s population growth, authorities are optimistic the new route will prove another busy link in the region’s expanding night-time network.