New evening and weekend buses introduced across West Northants

26 July 2024

Additional bus services are being introduced in some areas across West Northants so that they can better serve the local community.

West Northamptonshire Council has been working with Stagecoach Midlands on a bus service improvement plan, and following financial support from the Government’s Department for Transport, has introduced new evening services on a trial basis.  

These services will run for a year starting from 28 July, improving the work and leisure transport links for the local community. 

The new evening journeys will run on: 

• 1: Northampton to Rectory Farm  
• 2: Northampton to Blackthorn  
• 5: Northampton to Southfields 
• 15: Northampton to New Duston 
• D2: Northampton to Daventry  
• X47: Northampton to Rushden Lakes - via Wellingborough. 

There will also be a new hourly Sunday service on Route 5 from Northampton to Southfields via the Riverside Retail Park and buses will also now run up to every 30 minutes on route 8 between Northampton and Kings Heath.

With support from Cold Ashby Parish Council, the 59 bus route will now serve Cold Ashby on Tuesdays and Fridays, providing residents with an opportunity for leisure and shopping in Market Harborough. 

“We are very pleased to announce that Stagecoach are going to be running several additional services from 28 July, thanks to funding from the Department for Transport and Cold Ashby Parish Council.

Bus services play a vital role in connecting our local communities, and these additional services will improve work and leisure travel links for our residents.”Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

“We are pleased to be running these additional journeys thanks to the support from West Northamptonshire Council and the DfT. They will give residents more opportunity to travel for both leisure and employment opportunities as we further support the evening economy in Northamptonshire, and it’s great that we’ll be able to play our part in making that happen. We look forward to welcoming passengers onboard.” Mark Whitelocks, Stagecoach Midlands Managing Director

The project has received support from The Department for Transport’s BSIP fund so that some evening services can be introduced to provide better connectivity for users. 

“Buses are an affordable and sustainable travel option and it’s fantastic to see new evening and weekend buses introduced across West Northants, as more and more people choose the bus to get around.

“Our Better Buses Bill will help West Northamptonshire Council continue transforming its local bus network by empowering local leaders to give local passengers the modern, clean and efficient bus services they can truly rely on.”Simon Lightwood, Local Transport Minister

To find out more please visit the Stagecoach website, www.stagecoachbus.com.