First Leicester
Encyclopedia
First in Leicester is the trading name of Leicester Citybus Ltd., a bus company owned by the First Group. It runs buses in the city of Leicester
, England
. It is managed as part of First Midlands
which also looks after the First bus services in Northampton
and Worcestershire
.
First in Leicester is the descendant of the former municipal bus operations
of Leicester City Council
, Leicester City Transport (itself descended from Leicester Corporation Tramways
. Under bus deregulation in 1986, the council operation was incorporated as the council owned but arms length private company, Leicester Citybus Ltd.. This was sold in November 1993 to the emerging private UK bus group, the Grampian Regional TransportGRT Group
(this was shortly after the nearby Northampton municipal operator had also been bought by GRT). The GRT group later became FirstGroup, with the operations in Leicester subsequently being rebranded as First Leicester in the white First corporate livery.
The current bus types in use are:
or other on street city centre stops, but do not use St Margaret's Bus Station which is used by longer distance services. Services 22 and 54 stop at Leicester railway station
.
(Kirby Frith & Braunstone Frith), Glenfield Hospital
, Braunstone
, Eyres Monsell
, Evington
, Leicester General Hospital
, Goodwood, Netherhall, Thurnby Lodge, Hamilton, Thurmaston
, Rushey Mead
, Mowmacre Hill, Beaumont Shopping Centre
, Beaumont Leys
, Anstey
, Highfields and New Parks
.
scheme. Plusbus tickets are available from Leicester Railway Station
.
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is managed as part of First Midlands
First Midlands
First Midlands is a operating unit of First Group operating in the English Midlands. The unit was formed in 2008 with the merger of the management and administration of First Midland Red, First Northampton and First Leicester....
which also looks after the First bus services in Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
and Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
.
History
Former municipal bus companies of the United Kingdom
This is a list of former municipal bus companies of the United Kingdom and a brief description of their fate, with the exception of the several municipals which disappeared in 1968 and 1974 with the formation of the PTE bus operations....
of Leicester City Council
Leicester City Council
Leicester City Council is a unitary authority responsible for local government in the city of Leicester, England. It consists of 54 councillors, representing 22 wards in the city, overseen by a directly elected mayor. It is currently controlled by the Labour Party and has been led by Mayor Sir...
, Leicester City Transport (itself descended from Leicester Corporation Tramways
Leicester Corporation Tramways
-History:The first tramways in Leicester started horse-pulled operation in 1874, by the Leicester Tramways Company. The first route was from the Clock Tower to Belgrave. This was soon followed by lines to West Humberstone and to Victoria Park, which opened in 1875...
. Under bus deregulation in 1986, the council operation was incorporated as the council owned but arms length private company, Leicester Citybus Ltd.. This was sold in November 1993 to the emerging private UK bus group, the Grampian Regional TransportGRT Group
GRT Group
GRT Group plc was a bus operating company in the United Kingdom. Created in 1989 as a holding company to effect the buyout of Grampian Regional Transport , it grew by acquisition and in 1995 merged with Badgerline to create FirstBus plc, forerunner to worldwide transport company FirstGroup...
(this was shortly after the nearby Northampton municipal operator had also been bought by GRT). The GRT group later became FirstGroup, with the operations in Leicester subsequently being rebranded as First Leicester in the white First corporate livery.
Liveries
Leicester City Transport buses wore an allover cream livery with horizontal red stripes. On creation of the arms length company Leicester Citybus, buses began to wear a livery with more red, becoming a two tone cream and red scheme, and wore fleetnames of simply CityBus. Upon the takeover by GRT, the Leicester Citybus fleet began to wear a version of the GRT corporate livery, with the base and relief colours associated with Leicester City municipal buses, but in the corporate GRT arrangement, with Leicester citybus fleetnames and a spire motif. As with other GRT companies, upon First rebranding the livery remained for a while, but the fleetnames were reapplied in the First corporate typeface accompanied by the flying 'f' motif, before the launch of the white First corporate livery replaced this scheme.Depot
In 2007, a new depot opened on Abbey Lane replacing the former premises on Abbey Park Road which go back to the company's municipal heritage, and was originally a tram depot. This site has now been demolished and is pending redevelopment.Fleet
The First in Leicester fleet of 102 buses is completely low floorThe current bus types in use are:
- ALX400
- Wright SolarWright SolarThe Wright Solar is a low floor single-deck bus body built on Scania L94UB and later the new Scania K-series chassis by Wright. An articulated version, the Wright Solar Fusion of similar appearance was available for the Scania L94UA....
- Volvo B7LVolvo B7LVolvo B7L was a low floor citybus chassis with a rear engine mounted vertically on the left of the rear overhang, it was built as a replacement for the Volvo B10L...
- Wright Eclipse GeminiWright Eclipse GeminiThe Wright Eclipse Gemini is a type of double-decker bus body built for Volvo B7TL and later Volvo B9TL and Volvo B5L Hybrid for use in the United Kingdom....
City Centre
Services use Haymarket Bus StationHaymarket Bus Station, Leicester
Haymarket bus station is a bus station serving the city of Leicester. Built in 1994, it lies next to and serves as a transport hub for Haymarket Shopping Centre.-History:...
or other on street city centre stops, but do not use St Margaret's Bus Station which is used by longer distance services. Services 22 and 54 stop at Leicester railway station
Leicester railway station
Leicester railway station serves the City of Leicester in Leicestershire, England.As of late 2009 Leicester is a Penalty fare station, a valid ticket or Permit to travel must be shown when requested.-Background:...
.
Network
Services run to GlenfieldGlenfield
Glenfield may refer to:*Glenfield, Leicestershire, the administrative base of Leicestershire County Council, Leicestershire in England.*Glenfield, New Zealand, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand.*Glenfield, New South Wales, is a suburb of Sydney, Australia....
(Kirby Frith & Braunstone Frith), Glenfield Hospital
Glenfield Hospital
Glenfield Hospital, or Glenfield General Hospital, is situated near Glenfield, on the outskirts of Leicester. It is one of England's main hospitals for coronary care, and the current extensions will also make it the largest maternity unit in Western Europe.Glenfield Hospital is located at the...
, Braunstone
Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields
Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England. It comprises the western Leicester suburbs of Braunstone Frith, Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields.-Geography:...
, Eyres Monsell
Eyres Monsell
Eyres Monsell is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England, comprising the southern Leicester suburb of Eyres Monsell.-Geography:Eyres Monsell is bounded to the north by the wards of Aylestone, Freemen and Knighton...
, Evington
Evington
Evington is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England. It used to be a small village centred around Main Street and the Anglican church of St Denys but was close enough to Leicester to become one of the outer suburbs in the 1930s...
, Leicester General Hospital
Leicester General Hospital
Leicester General Hospital is a National Health Service hospital located in Evington, about 3 miles east of Leicester City Centre, and is a part of University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust. It has approximately 680 beds.-External links:*...
, Goodwood, Netherhall, Thurnby Lodge, Hamilton, Thurmaston
Thurmaston
Thurmaston is a village and civil parish within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. As of the 2001 census its population was 8,945...
, Rushey Mead
Rushey Mead
Rushey Mead is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England. It comprises the northern Leicester suburb of Rushey Mead in its entirety, as well as historical parts of Northfields and Thurmaston.-Geography:...
, Mowmacre Hill, Beaumont Shopping Centre
Beaumont Shopping Centre
Beaumont Shopping Centre is located in Beaumont Leys, on the edge of Leicester. The shopping centre is owned by British Land and managed by GVA.-Facilities:There are three free car parks located within the main shopping area...
, Beaumont Leys
Beaumont Leys
Beaumont Leys is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England, comprising the north-western Leicester suburb of Beaumont Leys.-Geography:...
, Anstey
Anstey, Leicestershire
Anstey is a large semi-industrialised village in Leicestershire, England, located north west of Leicester in the borough of Charnwood. Its population was about 6,000 at the 2001 census although this is likely to have increased...
, Highfields and New Parks
New Parks
New Parks is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England, consisting of the Leicester suburb of New Parks in its entirety.-Geography:...
.
List of routes
First in Leicester operate a number of services around Leicester:| Service | From | To | Via | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
Kirby Frith (Ryder Road) | Glenfield Road, Liberty Road, Park Rise Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England. It comprises the western Leicester suburbs of Braunstone Frith, Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields.-Geography:... |
||
| 14 | City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
Kirby Frith (Ryder Road) | Woodgate, Aikman Avenue, Charnor Road, Tournament Road | ||
| 14A | Beaumont Centre Beaumont Shopping Centre Beaumont Shopping Centre is located in Beaumont Leys, on the edge of Leicester. The shopping centre is owned by British Land and managed by GVA.-Facilities:There are three free car parks located within the main shopping area... |
Woodgate, Aikman Avenue, Glenfield Hospital Glenfield Hospital Glenfield Hospital, or Glenfield General Hospital, is situated near Glenfield, on the outskirts of Leicester. It is one of England's main hospitals for coronary care, and the current extensions will also make it the largest maternity unit in Western Europe.Glenfield Hospital is located at the... |
|||
| Note - Journeys on Service 14 in the evenings and Sundays extend to Park Rise - use Service 12 for Monday to Saturday daytime journeys | |||||
| 16 | City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
Leicester General Hospital Leicester General Hospital Leicester General Hospital is a National Health Service hospital located in Evington, about 3 miles east of Leicester City Centre, and is a part of University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust. It has approximately 680 beds.-External links:*... |
St Peters Road, Gedding Road | ||
| 17 | City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
Swain Street, Highfields (Melbourne Road), Humberstone Road A47 road The A47 is a trunk road in England originally linking Birmingham to Great Yarmouth. Most of the section between Birmingham and Nuneaton is now classified as the B4114.-Route:... |
Circular (Anti-clockwise) | |
| 18 | City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
Braunstone Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England. It comprises the western Leicester suburbs of Braunstone Frith, Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields.-Geography:... (Peverel Road) |
Braunstone Gate, Hinckley Road A47 road The A47 is a trunk road in England originally linking Birmingham to Great Yarmouth. Most of the section between Birmingham and Nuneaton is now classified as the B4114.-Route:... , Cort Crescent |
||
| 21 | City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
Thurmaston Thurmaston Thurmaston is a village and civil parish within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. As of the 2001 census its population was 8,945... (Blount Road) |
St Matthew's St Matthew's The St Matthew's estate is an area of inner city Leicester. It lies immediately to the northeast of the city centre and is bounded by the A594 ring road to the southwest, the Belgrave Road to the northwest and Humberstone Road to the southeast... , Catherine Street, Barkby Road, Humberstone Lane |
||
| 21A | Hamilton (Tesco) | St Matthew's St Matthew's The St Matthew's estate is an area of inner city Leicester. It lies immediately to the northeast of the city centre and is bounded by the A594 ring road to the southwest, the Belgrave Road to the northwest and Humberstone Road to the southeast... , Catherine Street, Barkby Road, Sandhills Avenue |
|||
| 22 | Evington Evington Evington is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England. It used to be a small village centred around Main Street and the Anglican church of St Denys but was close enough to Leicester to become one of the outer suburbs in the 1930s... (Downing Drive) |
Rushey Mead Rushey Mead Rushey Mead is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England. It comprises the northern Leicester suburb of Rushey Mead in its entirety, as well as historical parts of Northfields and Thurmaston.-Geography:... (Nicklaus Road) |
Evington Drive, Railway Station Leicester railway station Leicester railway station serves the City of Leicester in Leicestershire, England.As of late 2009 Leicester is a Penalty fare station, a valid ticket or Permit to travel must be shown when requested.-Background:... , City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... , Melton Road, Gleneagles Avenue |
||
| 25 | City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
Belgrave Road, Mowmacre Hill, Beaumont Centre Beaumont Shopping Centre Beaumont Shopping Centre is located in Beaumont Leys, on the edge of Leicester. The shopping centre is owned by British Land and managed by GVA.-Facilities:There are three free car parks located within the main shopping area... , Abbey Park Road Abbey Park Abbey Park could be*Abbey Park, Leicestershire, a park*Abbey Park, Nottinghamshire, a suburb*Abbey Park, County Armagh, a townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland*Abbey Park High School, a high school in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.See also*Park Abbey... |
Circulars | |
| 26 | Abbey Park Road Abbey Park Abbey Park could be*Abbey Park, Leicestershire, a park*Abbey Park, Nottinghamshire, a suburb*Abbey Park, County Armagh, a townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland*Abbey Park High School, a high school in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.See also*Park Abbey... , Beaumont Centre Beaumont Shopping Centre Beaumont Shopping Centre is located in Beaumont Leys, on the edge of Leicester. The shopping centre is owned by British Land and managed by GVA.-Facilities:There are three free car parks located within the main shopping area... , Mowmacre Hill, Belgrave Road |
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| 38 | City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
Humberstone Road A47 road The A47 is a trunk road in England originally linking Birmingham to Great Yarmouth. Most of the section between Birmingham and Nuneaton is now classified as the B4114.-Route:... , Humberstone, Nether Hall, Thurnby Lodge |
Circluars | |
| 38A | Humberstone Road A47 road The A47 is a trunk road in England originally linking Birmingham to Great Yarmouth. Most of the section between Birmingham and Nuneaton is now classified as the B4114.-Route:... , Thurnby Lodge, Nether Hall, Humberstone |
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| 54 | Beaumont Centre Beaumont Shopping Centre Beaumont Shopping Centre is located in Beaumont Leys, on the edge of Leicester. The shopping centre is owned by British Land and managed by GVA.-Facilities:There are three free car parks located within the main shopping area... |
Goodwood (Walshe Road) | Stocking Farm, Abbey Lane, City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... , Railway Station Leicester railway station Leicester railway station serves the City of Leicester in Leicestershire, England.As of late 2009 Leicester is a Penalty fare station, a valid ticket or Permit to travel must be shown when requested.-Background:... , East Park Road |
||
| 70 | City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
Braunstone Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England. It comprises the western Leicester suburbs of Braunstone Frith, Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields.-Geography:... (Blackmore Drive) |
Braunstone Gate, Narborough Road, Imperial Avenue | ||
| 74 | City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
Anstey Anstey, Leicestershire Anstey is a large semi-industrialised village in Leicestershire, England, located north west of Leicester in the borough of Charnwood. Its population was about 6,000 at the 2001 census although this is likely to have increased... (Hollow Road) |
Anstey Lane, Calver Hey Road, Beaumont Centre Beaumont Shopping Centre Beaumont Shopping Centre is located in Beaumont Leys, on the edge of Leicester. The shopping centre is owned by British Land and managed by GVA.-Facilities:There are three free car parks located within the main shopping area... |
||
| 88 | City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
Eyres Monsell Eyres Monsell Eyres Monsell is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England, comprising the southern Leicester suburb of Eyres Monsell.-Geography:Eyres Monsell is bounded to the north by the wards of Aylestone, Freemen and Knighton... (Monmouth Drive) |
Leicester Royal Infirmary Leicester Royal Infirmary The Leicester Royal Infirmary is a large National Health Service hospital in Leicester, England. It is located to the south-west of the city centre. It has Leicester's accident and emergency department, and is part of the University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust.The hospital was originally... , Freemen's Park, Saffron Lane, Pasley Road |
||
| 88A | Saffron Cross Roads | Leicester Royal Infirmary Leicester Royal Infirmary The Leicester Royal Infirmary is a large National Health Service hospital in Leicester, England. It is located to the south-west of the city centre. It has Leicester's accident and emergency department, and is part of the University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust.The hospital was originally... , Freemen's Park, Saffron Lane, The Fairway |
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| 94 | City Centre Leicester City Centre Leicester City Centre is an area covering the core inner city area and central business district of the city of Leicester, England. It is roughly delineated from Leicester's suburbs by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road.... |
Glenfield Glenfield, Leicestershire Glenfield is a village and civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It is part of the Blaby district, and has a population of about 10,000. Its location at the northwestern fringe of the city of Leicester effectively makes it a suburb, although it is politically and administratively separate... (The Square) |
Woodgate, Stephenson Drive, Charnor Road | ||
Plusbus
First in Leicester participate in the PlusbusPLUSBUS
PLUSBUS is an add-on ticket, which can be purchased with rail tickets in Great Britain. It allows unlimited travel on participating bus operators' services in the whole urban area of rail-served towns and cities.-History:...
scheme. Plusbus tickets are available from Leicester Railway Station
Leicester railway station
Leicester railway station serves the City of Leicester in Leicestershire, England.As of late 2009 Leicester is a Penalty fare station, a valid ticket or Permit to travel must be shown when requested.-Background:...
.