Local bus routes in Leighton Buzzard / Linslade changed from 1 June 2025 and the new contract was awarded to Centrebus Ltd. Read the contract announcement.
Visit Centrebus’ website to view the new timetables.
Frequently asked questions about the new Centrebus Ltd service starting on 1 June 2025
Where do the Centrebus Ltd services operate?
L1 continues to serve Kestrel Way and Theedway.
L2 continues to serve east Leighton.
L4 continues to serve Apex Park, Trent Way and Richmond Road.
L5 continues 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 our 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 vice 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 journeys via the L3 at 9:25pm and 10:15pm.
L2 has an earlier 6:17am 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 High Street or 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 High Street or West Street in time to arrive for the Brooklands Middle School, breakfast club at 7:30am.
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 6:15am and 7:59pm.
L2 18 journeys between 6:17am and 7:54pm.
L4 11 journeys between 7:25am and 7:45pm.
L5 7 journeys between 8:10am and 6:32pm.
L3 3 journeys between 8:05am and 10:55pm.
Why does the L5 have the highest reduction in journeys?
The L5 is predominantly subsidised by our budget, which restricts the number of journeys that can be offered. The majority of the Section 106 funding comes from east and south Leighton Buzzard, which supports the L1, L2, L3, L4 and L6.
Do the services continue to serve the High Street on non-market days and West Street on market days?
The L routes continue to serve High Street on non-market days and West Street on market days.
Arriva has taken the decision that its commercial inter-urban services will no longer serve High Street.
Routes X2 and X3 (formerly F70 and F77) will run via West Street every day, X4 will run from Lake Street / library (towards Milton Keynes) and Hockliffe Street / Market Place (towards Aylesbury) every day.
Routes L1, L2, L3, L4 and L6 will also call at the library stop in Lake Street.
Will the fares remain the same?
As the contract is subsidy-based, Centrebus retains the revenue, so will dictate the fare structure.
We will be working with Centrebus to try and ensure the pricing is competitive.
Find out more on Centrebus' website.
Will we be able to use our tickets on Arriva services?
Centrebus tickets are not accepted on Arriva services or vice versa.
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 all have low-floor access, wheelchair spaces, priority seating, and next stop announcements with hearing loop technology.
All vehicles are fitted with CCTV, which can be instantly monitored, contactless payment ticket machines and free Wi-Fi.
Are the services be marketed?
We're working with Centrebus to promote the services.
Centrebus has produced printed publicity, timetables and maps, which are being distributed to relevant outlets and delivered door-to-door in the area.
Centrebus’ website shows timetables, maps and fares information, and there is a dedicated mobile app where tickets can be purchased. There's also a bus tracking function, so you can see where your bus is at any time.
Who is Centrebus Ltd. and where does it operate?
Centrebus Ltd. operates services in many locations: Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Luton and Central Bedfordshire.
Have we had experience with Centrebus Ltd?
Centrebus operates out of its Luton-based depot. It has a diverse operation, operating the high-profile Busway services B and E in Central Bedfordshire, as well as inter-urban 46, 230 and 366.
It briefly operated the old 36 in Linslade, when another operator withdrew, before the start of the L services.
The feedback then was positive.