Major service improvements for bus passengers in the city have been announced.
Buses on all of the city’s main route groups are now running into the city centre at least every 15 minutes, during the daytime from Monday to Saturday.
The Leicester Bus Partnership, which includes seven bus companies and the city council, says this is thanks to partners working together to co‑ordinate timetables, additional grant spending on three key routes, and the continuation of the free Hop! city centre bus.
The Government is providing £1.1m a year to support the improvements.
The city council is also using Government funding to pilot an extension in the running hours of the park and ride service, with the Enderby PR2 service now operating until 9pm.
Cllr Geoff Whittle, Asst City Mayor for Environment & Transport said: “The frequency improvements mark another important step in making Leicester’s bus network simpler, more reliable and better value for passengers.
“Ensuring buses run at least every 15 minutes on all of our main bus lines gives people real confidence that they can choose public transport for their everyday journeys.
“We have wanted to extend the running times of park and ride buses for a long time; an injection of Government money to improve bus travel means we are now able to do this.
“We have chosen to trial the new hours on the Enderby park and ride service, which is very popular, particularly with people visiting the hospital, and its staff.
“We’ll be monitoring the number of passengers using the service over the next year before making a decision on whether to continue with the extended service.”
Subsidised park and ride services operate from Birstall, Enderby and Meynell’s Gorse, running every 15 minutes from 7am to 7pm. The council is now using government funding to continue these services and to extend the Enderby service until 9pm, from Monday to Saturday.
Secure parking is free at each site, with bus tickets costing £4.85 for one person, or £6 for up to five people travelling to the site in one car. Concessionary pass holders travel free after 9.30am on weekdays, and all day on Saturdays.
The frequency improvements follow the recent launch of cheaper multi-operator Flexi tickets, giving unlimited travel across Greater Leicester on any operator’s services.
Details of all timetables, improvements, plans and upcoming projects are available at www.leicesterbuses.co.uk