Public Transport
This page covers the bus service operating from Medbourne.
As of 2025 Medbourne is served by a new bus service. This is a demand responsive service so it doesn't operate to a set timetable. If you are unsure how on-demand services operate, there's a useful video here (note for DDRT read Fox Connect).
The service is operated by Fox Connect a Leicestershire County Council initiative outsourced to CentreBus in our area. The brand new 16-seat bus is fully equipped for wheelchair access and travel.
Service Overview
The most important information is the service map shown below:
Medbourne is one of the villages in Zone 5. There is one bus that operates across Zone 5. The primary destination for any journey out of Zone 5 would be Market Harborough. It's also possible to travel to Uppingham or Houghton on the Hill in order to connect with other services, e.g. to travel to Leicester, Oakham or Peterborough. Any specific journey may well pick up in any of the villages on the way to the destination. This will depend on whom else has booked a journey. The same will apply on a return journey. For full details see Market Harborough Fox Connect online, note that this information covers all zones.
Booking Your Journey
You can book your journeys up to 7 days in advance using an app on your smartphone or by calling the call centre. For full information on how to download the app and the call centre telephone number, including opening hours see Choose How You Move information online. Alternatively, see the QR codes below that will download the app.
You can choose a departure time or an arrival time. If you choose the latter you will be given a pick-up time. You will also receive a text from the driver giving more detailed timings before the bus arrives.
Paying for your journey
When you register with Fox Connect you can register a card that will be charged for your travel. Alternatively, you can pay with a card on the bus. You cannot use cash. If you hold an older persons bus pass then this will allow free travel for all journeys. If you qualify for a bus pass (aged 67 or over) you can apply for a pass online here.
All bus journeys are currently capped at £3 by the Government. However, a trip to Harborough from Medbourne will not attract this maximum fare (more likely in the region of £2).
Where does the bus stop?
In Medbourne the service currently lists several stopping points as we have no recognised bus stops. The objective is that no bus user should have to walk over 400 meters to the bus stop. The currently proposed bus stops are shown below:
For more detail see the Pictorial Bus Stops file.
The service will only visit stops that are at a start or end point of a pre-booked journey. The bus will not visit a stop otherwise and, as all journeys must be pre-booked, the bus cannot be flagged down even if it passes a designated stop. It is likely that statistics on usage of the stops over time, together with user comments, will lead to some changes or rationalisation (it's a case of “use it or lose it!”). The same sentiment applies to the complete bus service.
Useful Links
To download the Fox Connect app scan the relevant QR code below:
There's a printable leaflet for you to read and/or print online here.