On-demand bus service set up to serve town
Getty ImagesA new on-demand bus service has been set up to serve a town in Leicestershire, and will be free for several weeks.
The FoxConnect service, which launched on Monday, allows passengers to book travel to and from Market Harborough across five different zones, which are centred around nearby rural villages.
The service, which will be free until 21 April, has been set up by Leicestershire County Council with government funding and will run alongside a similar county scheme, which is serving the Melton area.
Passengers can book for travel from 06:00 to 19:30 GMT, between Monday and Saturday, by phoning a call centre or downloading the FoxConnect App.
The travel zones are:
- Zone 3: Thurmaston, Somerby and Houghton on the Hill
- Zone 4: Market Harborough, Oadby & Houghton on the Hill
- Zone 5: Market Harborough, Houghton on the Hill & Uppingham
- Zone 6: Market Harborough, Lutterworth & Countesthorpe
- Zone 7: Market Harborough, Lutterworth & Kibworth Beauchamp
Passengers will be able to travel to and from Market Harborough town centre directly from Zones 4 to 7.
There will also be interchange points in Uppingham, Oadby, Lutterworth, Countesthorpe, Kibworth Beauchamp and a direct connection to Thurmaston Shopping Centre.
Councillor Ozzy O'Shea, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "These flexible services are especially well-suited to rural areas, helping to enhance transport provision and improve accessibility across Leicestershire.
"We hope that the free travel offer encourages people across the Harborough district to get on board to try the service and make it a regular part of their journeys."
More information on the service can be found on the Market Harborough FoxConnect page.
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