Leicester Buses Partnership

Leicester City Council - Notice to make an Enhanced Bus Partnership Plan and Scheme

This notice satisfies the requirements set out in section 138F(1)(d) of the Transport Act 2000.

Following consultation and detailed discussions with Leicester’s bus operators, the attached revised Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme 2026 – 2030 have been drawn up. 

No objections have been received from any local bus operator and the Scheme has been subject to an internal legal competition test.

It is the intention of the Partnership to jointly sign this Enhanced Partnership Scheme on 28 July 2026 and for it to come into effect from 1 August 2026 to 31 March 2030.

As required under legislation, the Council is required to consult stakeholders on the proposal to make the Plan and Scheme so that their final views can be considered before it is finalised.

Through the Leicester Buses website, the wider public have opportunity to comment, although they were directly engaged in the preparation of the Enhanced Partnership Plan from which this Scheme was prepared.

A copy of this notice has been sent to:

• All operators of local bus services who would be affected by these plans

• Organisations representing local passengers

• Other Local Authorities affected by the proposals

• The Traffic Commissioner

• The Chief Officer of Police

• Transport Focus

• The Competition and Markets Authority

Opening date for consultation     7 July 2026

Closing date for consultation       24 July 2026

buspartnership@leicester.gov.uk

Leicester's Bus Operators Pledge Continued Investment As

Leicester Buses Partnership Enters Next Phase

Leicester City Council and the city's seven bus operators have reaffirmed their shared commitment to delivering better bus services, coming together today (Tuesday 28 July) to support the next phase of transformation.

Representatives from Leicester City Council and Arriva, Centrebus, Central Connect, First Bus, Kinchbus and Roberts Travel gathered at Jewry Wall Museum, where they signed a joint declaration supporting a proposed new agreement up to 2030 called the One Network Partnership.

The event follows the publication of Leicester City Council's decision notice which sets out its intention to enter into a new formal partnership, having reached full agreement with all  operators and stakeholders. Subject to final ratification, the proposed new One Network Partnership will guide around £75 million of investment between September 2026 and March 2030.

This builds on the success of Leicester's previous partnership agreement, which has already transformed bus travel across the city with over £150m of investment.

The new One Network Partnership agreement will continue to deliver a simpler, more integrated bus network based around five standards:

• Electric

• Frequent

• Reliable

• Easy

• Great Value

Future improvements include more investment in electric buses, upgraded bus stops with real-time passenger information, improved bus priority measures, simpler ticketing, enhanced customer information and continued improvements to the city's integrated network.

By the end of 2027, the whole Leicester’s bus network will be electric and all main stops will have real time information displays.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of people visited Jubilee Square to celebrate the launch of the One Network Partnership, exploring Leicester's latest buses, meeting operators and taking part in family-friendly activities designed to showcase the future of bus travel in the city.

Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said:

 "It's been just over four years since we formally launched the Leicester Bus Partnership.

 It was something I had been wanting to do for many years – constrained as we were by the Government’s deregulation of bus services in the 1980s, which left councils with little input into local commercial bus services.

 Four years on, we can see the huge transformation that this partnership and £150m of investment have achieved.

 In Leicester, we have a partnership that's probably the most successful in the country - and it's been done at a fraction of the cost of franchising. 

 Now we're committing to a new partnership that will guide a further £75m of investment into the bus network, up to 2030.

 My thanks go to everyone who has made this possible, particularly the bus operators, who deserve credit for the way they have worked so collaboratively to bring about enormous benefits to Leicester bus users."

Since 2022, Leicester's bus partnership has delivered a range of improvements for passengers, including all-operator Flexi tickets with contactless fare capping, the free Hop! city centre bus service, integrated timetables on shared corridors, significant investment in electric buses, and major improvements to bus stops and passenger information.

The proposed new One Network Partnership will continue that collaborative approach, bringing together Leicester City Council and all seven operators to deliver an integrated network built around common standards for vehicles, ticketing, infrastructure, information and customer experience.

Leicester invited to celebrate the next chapter for buses at One Network Partnership event

The people of Leicester are being invited to a free family-friendly celebration as Leicester Buses officially launches its new One Network Partnership– marking the next stage in one of the UK's most ambitious bus partnerships.

The launch event takes place in Jubilee Square on Tuesday 28 July, where residents can enjoy a morning of activities, competitions and interactive displays while finding out more about improvements that are making bus travel electric, frequent, reliable, easy and great value.

Visitors will have the opportunity to:

• Step aboard the latest Leicester Buses vehicles.

• Meet representatives from across the partnership.

• Take part in a treasure hunt and spin-to-win competition.

• Pick up free travel information and maps.

• Learn more about Flexi tickets and the growing electric bus network.

The public celebration will be followed by a formal stakeholder event at Jewry Wall Museum, where leaders from Leicester City Council and all seven Leicester Buses operators will sign the new One Partnership Agreement, committing to the next phase of investment and collaboration through to 2030.

The new agreement builds on the success of the first £150m Leicester Buses partnership agreement, which has already delivered major improvements including:

• Tap in Tap out fare capping – like London

• The free Hop! City Centre electric bus service

• One integrated timetable across shared corridors.

• 75% network of electric buses.

• Significant bus priority measures to improve reliability

• Major investment in bus stops, passenger information and infrastructure.

The next phase of the partnership will continue delivering the One Network vision - creating an integrated network of 30 bus lines built around five customer standards: Electric, Frequent, Reliable, Easy and Great Value.

The programme includes further investment in electric buses, upgraded bus stops with real-time information, improved frequencies, simpler ticketing and information, bus signal priority and more bus lanes.

A total investment of £75m in government grants and operator funding is being committed as part of this agreement.

 Councillor Geoff Whittle, Assistant City Mayor (Environment & Transport) said:: "Leicester has shown what can be achieved when local authorities and bus operators work together with a shared ambition.

"The One Network Partnership has already transformed bus travel across our city, and this new agreement demonstrates our collective commitment to continue investing in better, cleaner and simpler bus services for everyone.

"I'd encourage people to come along to Jubilee Square, meet the team, see what's changing and celebrate everything that has been achieved together."

The Leicester Buses One Network Partnership brings together Leicester City Council, Arriva, Centrebus, Central Connect, First Bus, Kinchbus, Roberts Travel and Stagecoach to deliver a single, integrated network that shares common standards while retaining the strengths of each operator. 

One Network Launch Event

Tuesday 28 July
Customer Celebration: 10am – 12pm
Jubilee Square, Leicester

The event is free to attend and open to everyone.

Leicester powers ahead with another 10 electric buses as

One Network transformation continues

14th July

Leicester City Council is set to purchase a further 10 fully electric buses through leading zero-emission bus supplier Pelican, using around £4 million of Government funding, as the city continues its transformation towards one of the UK's largest fully electric urban bus networks.

The new buses will operate on council-supported services delivered by Centrebus, serving routes 20, 24, 81, 83 and 162, bringing cleaner, quieter and more sustainable journeys to thousands of passengers.

The investment builds on Leicester City Council's existing fleet of 24 electric buses, which already operate the city's Park & Ride services, Hop! city centre buses, Hospital Hopper and Orbital routes.

By the end of 2026, the Leicester Buses Partnership will have around 200 electric buses operating across its network. The programme will continue with 50 additional electric buses from Arriva entering service by March 2027, followed by a further 15 buses in late 2027, completing Leicester's transition to an almost entirely electric bus network.

The investment is another major milestone in the Leicester Buses One Network Partnership, which is bringing together Leicester City Council and the city's bus operators to deliver a simpler, more integrated network based around five customer promises: Electric, Frequent, Reliable, Easy and Great Value. The partnership is creating a coordinated network of around 30 main bus lines with common standards for vehicles, ticketing, information, branding and customer experience.

Councillor Geoff Whittle, Assistant City Mayor (Environment & Transport) said: "This latest investment is another significant step towards delivering one of the cleanest and most modern bus networks in the country. Every new electric bus improves air quality, reduces carbon emissions and provides a quieter, more comfortable journey for passengers. Together with our operator partners, we're creating a simpler, greener network that encourages more people to choose the bus."

Ian Downie, Head of Yutong UK at Pelican Bus and Coach commented “We are absolutely delighted to have been selected to provide an additional 10 electric buses to Leicester City Council. These state-of-the-art, air conditioned vehicles will be delivered in Q1 2027.”

David Brookes, Managing Director, Centrebus said:

"We're delighted to be introducing these new electric buses onto supported services across Leicester. They will provide a better experience for our customers while supporting the city's ambitious environmental goals."

As well as reducing emissions, the new buses will provide passengers with modern, accessible vehicles that support Leicester's wider ambition to encourage more people to travel by bus. The Leicester Buses Partnership has already introduced integrated ticketing, joint timetables, consistent branding and major investment in passenger information as part of its One Network vision.

Leicester Buses Passes 1,700 Branded Bus Stops as £1 Million Investment Approved

8th July 2026

Leicester Buses has approved a further £1 million investment in bus stop infrastructure, building on significant investment already made to create a more accessible and better-connected passenger information network.

The investment will deliver more than 185 additional Leicester Buses branded bus stop totems across the city and surrounding Flexi fare area, building on the extensive network already in place.

The order includes:

• More than 100 battery-powered Real Time Information (RTI) units, each
featuring a double-sided real time display and a text-to-speech button to
support passengers with visual impairments.

• A further 85 Leicester Buses branded totems, featuring four-sided poster drums for timetables, maps and passenger information.

The new infrastructure will be installed across the Leicester Buses Flexi area, with RTI units prioritised at bus stops serving the city centre and locations with the highest passenger demand.

The investment takes Leicester Buses beyond 1,700 branded bus stops across the network and represents another major step towards delivering the partnership's vision of One Network – electric, frequent, reliable, easy and great value.

Councillor Geoff Whittle, Assistant City Mayor (Environment & Transport) said: "Making bus travel simple and accessible is at the heart of everything we do. Real-time information gives passengers confidence that their bus is on its way, while text-to-speech technology helps make our network more inclusive for people with visual impairments. This investment builds on the significant improvements already delivered through Leicester Buses and ensures even more passengers benefit from high-quality information at their stop."

Matthew Wilks, Business Development Director at Vix said: "We're delighted to continue our partnership with Leicester City Council as they continue to invest in making public transport more accessible and easier to use. We're proud to be supporting Leicester in delivering simpler, more informed bus journeys for everyone, providing passengers with the real-time information they need to travel with confidence. Together, we're helping create a more connected, inclusive and passenger-focused transport network for the city."

Over the past five years, bus operators and Leicester City Council have worked together to create a more integrated network, including the introduction of all-operator Flexi fares, contactless fare capping, coordinated timetables, a common Leicester Buses brand and improved daytime frequencies across 30 main bus lines. The partnership has also overseen the roll-out of electric buses and a programme of infrastructure improvements designed to make bus travel easier and more attractive for passengers.

The new bus stop infrastructure forms part of Leicester Buses' wider programme to complete its One Network standards by 2027, creating a fully integrated network with consistent branding, passenger information, ticketing and accessibility features across the city and county.

Installation of the new totems will begin later this year.

Free travel to Armed Forces personnel and veterans for Armed Forces Day

Serving members of the Armed Forces and military veterans will be able to travel free across the Leicester Buses network on Saturday 27 June, as operators come together to support Armed Forces Day.

The free travel offer is available on all Leicester Buses network services for serving military personnel wearing their uniform or anyone able to present valid military or service identification.

The initiative is being delivered through Leicester Buses' One Network partnership and recognises the contributions of current and former members of the Armed Forces.

Andy Gibbons,  Head of Buses at Leicester City Council, said "Armed Forces Day is an opportunity to recognise the dedication, professionalism and sacrifice of the men and women who serve, and those who have previously served, in our Armed Forces.

"We're proud to support Armed Forces Day by offering free travel across the Leicester Buses network. Whether people are attending a local celebration, visiting family, or simply travelling around the city, we hope this small gesture shows our appreciation for everything they have done."

The offer applies throughout Saturday 27 June across participating Leicester Buses services.

Passengers simply need to travel in military uniform or present a valid military or service ID when boarding.

Armed Forces Day is held annually to celebrate the service of the UK's Armed Forces community, including serving personnel, veterans, reservists, cadets and military families. 

Flexi prices are reducing, making it the cheapest ticket - March 2026

From 29th March 2026 the price of Flexi tickets are reducing by up to 20%, making it the cheapest ticket to travel on in the Leicester Flexi area. Bus companies are also removing their single operator only tickets, so that there is one ticketing range - Flexi - in place. This is helping to simplify fares, better integrate the network and give passengers an increased frequency by opening up travel on the whole bus network with one ticket.

This scheme is being funded by the BSIP grant and is estimated to cost around £600,000 per annum in subsidy.

One ticket, one network, one brand.

Enderby PR2 Park & Ride Extended to 9pm - March 2026

From the 29th March, as part of the Leicester Buses Partnership EP Plan, the PR2 Enderby Park & Ride service has been extended to 9pm using government bus funding costing £249,000 per annum. This allows commuters and those travelling for leisure purposes to travel directly in to the city centre without the need to worry about the hassles of parking or traffic for their journey. The service also directly serves Leicester Royal Infirmary Hospital benefitting both staff and patients.

Transport Focus Survey Final Results 2025

We are pleased to report that our final Transport Focus Survey Results for 2025 has been published and we remain higher than other areas on our satisfaction figures.