Centrebus No.154 service to be reduced

MAJOR cuts are being planned this month to a bus route which links Loughborough and Leicester to a number of villages in the area.

Centrebus operates the 154 service which provides a route between Loughborough, Quorn, Woodhouse Eaves, Cropston, Thurcaston, Anstey, Beaumont Leys and Leicester.

It currently provides 11 journeys each way a day, Monday to Friday, on this route.

But the bus company has revealed it is planning to drastically reduce services in just over a weeks’ time, unless an alternative solution can be found.

Matt Evans, managing director of Centrebus Ltd, told the Echo: “We took the difficult decision to deregister some of our commercial journeys Monday to Friday on the 154 route as we have seen a reduction in revenue and patronage yet our costs have continued to rise and the route had become unstainable for us to continue to operate without additional funding.

“As you may be aware there have been ongoing roadworks across the county which have severely affected the route and as a consequence our punctuality has suffered.

“I am pleased to say that there are ongoing discussions with the county (council) and we hope that something positive will come out of this so that a fuller Monday to Friday service may continue beyond the end of January.

“The moment we know any more we will advise our customers via our website and social media platform plus we will place on-board notices.”

A notice put up by Leicestershire County Council at a bus stop regarding the Centrebus 154 service states:

“Leicestershire County Council have been notified that Centrebus intend to withdraw most of the Monday to Friday journeys, with effect from January 26, 2020.

“These changes will see the following journeys retained: 7.45am departing Beaumont Centre for Loughborough; 2.25pm departing Leicester for Loughborough; 9.12am departing Loughborough for Leicester; 3.24pm departing Loughborough for Leicester.

“All Saturday journeys will be retained.

“The county council is currently assessing the impact of these changes.

LCC will provide further information at this stop, and on www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk, once it is available.”

A Leicestershire County Council spokesperson said: “We’re aware of concerns relating to Centrebus’s commercial decision to make changes to its 154 service from January 26 and we are in the process of assessing the impacts against our passenger transport policy.

“We are also in discussions with Centrebus about their decision to withdraw the service.

“We support the Saturday journeys and these will continue as normal.”