On Sunday 16th July 2023, Vectare is enhancing its Novus Leicester bus network with the launch of a new bus route NovusFosse, linking New Lubbesthorpe and Thorpe Astley with Fosse Park every 30 minutes, seven days a week.
NovusFosse replaces the NovusFlex service. This is in response to demand from the New Lubbesthorpe community. From the same date, the existing NovusDirect bus route is improving, with buses now stopping at Leicester railway station and Jubilee Square (St Nicholas Circle), offering better access to onward public transport links and Leicester city centre.
The Novus Leicester network is funded by the Drummond Trust, the developer behind the pioneering new community at New Lubbesthorpe. It is delivered in partnership with sustainable transport consultancy GO Travel Solutions. Since its launch in August 2022, the network has carried in excess of 50,000 passengers and commuter journeys by car from New Lubbesthorpe have fallen by 20%.
Martin Ward on behalf of Drummond Estate, said “As the number of residents at New Lubbesthorpe continues to rise, and the amount of people using the bus to commute to work has doubled, we are delighted to launch this route.
“Feedback from those living on site indicated a new fixed-timetable service, connecting them to more local destinations would be welcomed, and we were keen to respond positively to this. The bus, car club, e-bike hire and safe walking and cycling routes are all designed to offer high-quality, easy and convenient options so this can be the greenest development possible.”
Robin Pointon, Managing Director of GO Travel Solutions said, “The ever-growing number of New Lubbesthorpe residents using the bus is testimony to the effective partnership in place and the strong engagement there is with the local community.”
The new NovusFosse route will be operated by air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz minibuses equipped with an executive specification interior, USB charging sockets at every seat and level boarding for easy wheelchair and pushchair access. The route will serve Meridian Business Park, Everards Meadows, Palmers Garden Centre, Brockington College and the Next HQ in Enderby as well as Fosse Park, offering a convenient and cost-effective option for commuters, school children and leisure travellers alike.
Single fares on the route are £2.50, and a £10 group ticket offers a group of up to five people (of any age) unlimited travel on NovusFosse and NovusDirect all day. Leicester Flexi tickets are also valid between New Lubbesthorpe and Palmers Nurseries, and discounted season tickets are available for regular travellers.
The operator of the Novus Leicester network, Vectare, is a Leicestershire-based SME public transport operator, headquartered in Loughborough and employing a team of 150 colleagues across the East Midlands and East of England. Commercial and Operations Director, Peter Nathanail, said “NovusFosse is a really exciting service to be launching. Many urban bus networks focus on getting people to and from the city centre, but we recognise that residents of New Lubbesthorpe have more local transport requirements as well, and NovusFosse will allow those requirements to be met sustainably, without needing to use the car. This is a route that has been created in response to feedback and requests from the local community, so I’m confident that it will be popular and well-used”.
Full details of the new bus service can be found online at vectare.co.uk/novusleicester.
