Bus routes in Leighton Buzzard will be changing from 1 June 2025 – read the latest press release announcing the new contract has been awarded to Centrebus Ltd.
Visit Arriva's website to view the current timetables.
Frequently asked questions about the new Centrebus Ltd service starting on 1 June 2025.
Where will the Centrebus Ltd services operate?
L1 will continue to serve Kestrel Way and Theedway.
L2 will continue to serve east Leighton.
L4 will continue to serve Apex Park, Trent Way and Richmond Road
L5 will continue to serve Linslade and Appenine Way
Evening journeys after 8pm are now renumbered L3
Sunday service is now renumbered L6
Where does the L3 operate in the evenings?
The L3 incorporates 3 main areas: Clipstone Park, Apex Park and Sandhills, serving the town and railway station.
Where does the L6 operate on Sundays?
The L6 operates the same route as the L3, but it also includes Grovebury Road retail park.
Why is Linslade not served in the evenings and Sunday?
Linslade is predominantly subsidised by the CBC budget, therefore we are unable to support late and Sunday services, as per the current Passenger Transport Bus Strategy.
The L5 also has very low patronage figures on evening and Sunday journeys.
Will services connect with the faster trains at the railway station?
Yes, all journeys to the railway station have been timed to arrive with sufficient time to alight the bus and board the train and visa versa in the evening.
Are there any improvements to am and pm commuter journeys?
L1 has 2 additional direct journeys from Sandhills in the morning and 2 later journey via the L3 at 21.25 and 22.15.
L2 has an earlier 06.17 departure from Clipstone Park, as requested, and 1 additional later journey via the L3.
L4 goes from 2 to 1 commuter journeys, due to poor usage, a new departure time has been provided.
Do services assist local school movements?
Where possible, yes, the main movements are:
L1 – L2 and L4 are all timed to arrive at West Street prior to the L5 departing for Cedars Upper in one direction and Vandyke Upper / Gilbert Inglefield in the opposite direction.
The L5 is timed in the afternoon to arrive after the schools have finished at Cedars Upper, Vandyke Upper and Gilbert Inglefield.
The first L4 departs West Street in time to arrive for the Brooklands Middle School, breakfast club at 07.30.
The L4 also operates after Brooklands Middle School finish.
Connections are not guaranteed but are achievable.
How frequent are the services?
There is no defined frequency, departures have been created based on the highest utilised times currently, to maximise patronage and efficiency.
Monday to Friday.
L1 15 journeys between 06.15 and 19.59
L2 18 journeys between 06.17 and 19.54
L4 11 journeys between 07.25 and 19.45
L5 7 journeys between 08.10 and 18.32
L3 3 journeys between 20.05 and 22.55
Why does the L5 have the highest reduction in journeys?
The L5 is predominantly subsidised by the CBC budget, which restricts the number of journeys that can be offered. The majority of the S106 funding comes from East and South Leighton Buzzard, which supports the L1, L2, L3, L4 and L6.
Will the services continue to serve the High Street on non-market days and West Street on Market days?
The L routes will continue to serve the high street on non-market days and West Street on market days. Arriva have taken the decision that their commercial inter-urban services F70, F77 & X4 will no longer serve the high street but will stop in West Street seven days a week.
Routes L1, L2, L3, L4 & L6 will also call at the Library stop in Lake Street.
Will the fares remain the same?
As the contract is subsidy-based, Centrebus retain the revenue, so they will dictate the fare structure.
We will be working with them to try and ensure the pricing is competitive.
Will we be able to use our tickets on Arriva services?
This will be down to Arriva and whether they are willing to accept local tickets, this is highly unlikely.
It is beneficial to the long term future of the local services that they are utilised for local journeys.
Have measures been introduced to aid punctuality and reliability?
All services have been given varying additional time, depending on the time of day. There is also layover time provided between journeys, to help recover lost time due to delays.
What is the vehicle specification?
Centrebus will use, ADL E200, ADL E200MMC or OPTARE SOLO, with a minimum of 25 seats.
They are all DDA compliant, with low floor access, wheelchair spaces, priority seating, next stop announcements with hearing loop technology.
All vehicles are fitted with CCTV, which can be instantly monitored, contactless payment ticket machines and free WiFi.
Will the services be marketed prior to the start date?
Yes, Central Bedfordshire Council and Centrebus will work together to promote the services.
Centrebus has committed to producing printed publicity, timetables and maps, distributing them to relevant outlets and door-to-door drops, and utilising social media outlets.
They have a user-friendly website, which shows timetables, maps and fares information that will be updated before their start date, and a dedicated mobile app from where tickets can be purchased. They also boast a bus tracking function, so you can see where your bus is at any time.
Who are Centrebus Ltd and where do they operate?
Centrebus Ltd operate services in many locations: Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Luton and Central Bedfordshire.
Has Central Bedfordshire Council had experience with Centrebus Ltd?
Centrebus operates out of its Luton-based depot. They have a diverse operation, operating the high-profile Busway services B and E in CBC, as well as inter urban 46, 230 and 366.
They briefly operated the old 36 in Linslade, when another operator withdrew, before the start of the L services.
The feedback then was positive.