Rural Charnwood and Harborough Network Review

Your enhanced bus network

The changes set out in the Rural Charnwood and Harborough Network Review aims to improve travel connections, simplify routes and support the commercial bus network. 

• More than 20 rural areas that were not previously served will now have access to public transport.
• Trial services for Sunday timetables and additional evening journeys 
• Streamlined Centrebus 44 (now named LC4) to reduce journey time for more direct access to St Luke’s Hospital. 
• Five NEW FoxConnect zones covering areas of Market Harborough. This service will connect key destinations such as Thurmaston Shopping Centre, Lutterworth and Uppingham. 
• Connecting timetabled services to other transport options to reach our goal for a multi-modal Leicestershire and encourage sustainable travel. 

Rural Charnwood

LC5: Thurmaston – Sileby – Loughborough

This service has been renumbered from Centrebus service 27. The service will still be operated by Centrebus. Download Timetable.

Kinchbus 2: Loughborough – Quorn – Barrow upon Soar – Sileby 

Enhancements include a Sunday timetable and additional evening journeys. The enhancements are funded by the council’s BSIP grant and have been implemented on a trial basis to assess demand and monitor usage. Download timetable or find out more on the Kinchbus website. 

Arriva 56/56A: Scraptoft – Thurnby – Leicester

This service has received a contract extension. Timetable information for this service can be found on the Arriva website. 

Diamond 129: Ashby de la Zouch – Loughborough 

The service has been awarded a contract extension. Timetable information for this service can be found on the Diamond website. 

Centrebus 154: Leicester – Loughborough 

The council has enhanced the service to trial a Sunday timetable. The trial will measure passenger usage and benefit to the community. More information can be found on the Centrebus website or download timetable. 

Rural Harborough

LC4: Fleckney – Market Harborough – Foxton 

This service has been renumbered from Centrebus service 44. Based on passenger feedback, this service has been streamlined for a more direct route and reduced journey times. There will be improved access to St Luke’s Hospital, and additional journeys from Bachelor Road. This service will still be operated by Centrebus. Download timetable. 

LC10: Market Harborough – Lutterworth 

This service has been renumbered from Centrebus service 58. The service has been enhanced to allow for additional evening journeys with an additional stop at Market Harborough Train Station. This service will still be operated by Centrebus. Download Timetable.

Leicestershire FoxConnect: Market Harborough 

FIVE NEW ZONES across Harborough that will be served by an on-demand bus service FoxConnect. This service will operate Monday – Saturday, 06:00 – 19:30, and can be booked via an app or the call centre. 

Find out more about this service including zone maps and lists of settlements that are served, links to download the app as well as helpful features when using the app to help you book your journey on the Market Harborough FoxConnect page. 

Changes coming in April 2025

The council has worked closely with operators during the rural Charnwood and Harborough network review to provide enhancements of their supported services. The following changes will be implemented on Monday 28 April 2025. 

First Leicester 22B: Leicester – Birstall 

This Saturday-only service will be merged into the existing Monday to Friday 22A timetable including a re-routing via Wanlip Lane. The whole service will be operated by Centrebus with journeys between Leicester and Evington numbered 22/22A/22E, and journeys between Leicester, Birstall, Sileby and Barrow-upon-Soar numbered 24/24A.

Centrebus 747: Uppingham – Leicester 

This service will be renumbered to LC7. The service will be streamlined, with increased provision for Thurnby and an added extension at peak times to serve Uppingham Community College. This service will still be operated by Centrebus. 

The network review and sustainable travel roadshow plans were set out in our recent BSIP. These plans to boost buses across the county support the National Bus Strategy and BSIP+ requirements. More information can be found on the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Plans page.