Central Connect

🚌 Central Connect — Peterborough’s second city operator — the 23–26A services to Lynch Wood, Alwalton Hill and Yaxley, relaunched in June 2026.

🇬🇧 East of England & Midlands | 🚌 111 routes (bustimes, Oct 2026) | 💳 Peterborough flat single £2.80 | 🌐 central-connect.co.uk

Central Connect is the challenger operator in Peterborough: since its June 2026 relaunch of the city’s western services it runs the 23, 24, 25, 26 and 26A from Queensgate (Bay 15) to Lynch Wood, Alwalton Hill (Amazon) and Yaxley. Network-wide it operates 111 routes across East Anglia, the East Midlands and the South East, including Norwich Park & Ride and networks around Harlow and Ipswich.

📋 Central Connect Quick Facts

• Official name: Central Connect
• Country: United Kingdom — Peterborough, Norfolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Leicestershire
• Network size: 111 routes listed on bustimes.org (October 2026)
• Peterborough services: 23, 24, 25, 26, 26A (Queensgate Bay 15) — Lynch Wood, Alwalton Hill (Amazon DPE2), Yaxley circulars
• Elsewhere: Norwich Park & Ride PR2/PR3, Harlow and Epping Forest networks, Diss–Norwich and Ipswich services
• Licence numbers: PC2013544, PF2006130 (bustimes.org operator record)
• National operator code: TMSB (bustimes.org)
• Peterborough fare: flat single £2.80 for adults (operator’s fares revision, June 2026)
• Website: central-connect.co.uk

📖 About Central Connect

Central Connect’s Peterborough operation is built around the city’s growth areas: the 24 is the all-day service to the Lynch Wood business park and Orton Waterville, the 23 covers weekday peaks, the 25 covers early/late shift times to Alwalton Hill (Amazon DPE2 / Peterborough Gateway), and the 26/26A pair run the Yaxley–Stanground–Hampton Vale circular in opposite directions. The June 2026 relaunch introduced regular-interval timetables and a simple flat fare.

The wider company is one of the larger independent operators in the East of England, with networks inherited and built across Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk — including Norwich’s Harford and Postwick Park & Ride services (PR2/PR3) and routes around Diss, Eye and Beccles. BusUpdate covers its Peterborough routes in full; Ring 2 will extend to its Norfolk network.

🚌 Network & Services

• Peterborough — 23 (weekday peaks), 24 (all-day), 25 (early/late) to Lynch Wood & Alwalton Hill; 26/26A Yaxley circulars
• Norwich — Park & Ride PR2 (Harford) and PR3 (Harford–Postwick)
• Essex & Hertfordshire — Harlow, Epping, Waltham Cross, Bishop’s Stortford and Stevenage-area routes
• Norfolk & Suffolk — Diss, Eye, Beccles and Ipswich services

💳 Payment & Ticketing

Central Connect’s Peterborough flat single fare is £2.80 for adults (operator’s fares revision, June 2026) — below the £3 England fare cap that applies to single fares until March 2027. Pay by contactless or as directed on board. Central Connect also accepts Tiger singles for under-25s under its agreement with the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority. Check central-connect.co.uk for current day and season ticket prices.

🧭 How to Ride

1. Find your route on BusUpdate’s Peterborough pages (23–26A), then confirm the day’s timetable at central-connect.co.uk.
2. Wait at the marked stop — Queensgate Bus Station Bay 15 in the city centre — and signal the driver.
3. Pay the £2.80 flat single by contactless (or as directed on board) and keep your ticket until you get off.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Which Peterborough buses does Central Connect run?
The 23, 24 and 25 to Lynch Wood and Alwalton Hill, and the 26/26A circulars to Yaxley — all from Queensgate Bay 15.

How much is a Central Connect single in Peterborough?
£2.80 flat for adults (June 2026 fares revision), below the £3 national fare cap.

Does Central Connect run on Sundays?
The 24 runs a combined weekend pattern (about hourly). The 23 is weekday peaks only and the 26/26A do not run on Sundays.

📞 Official Contact

• Website: central-connect.co.uk

Sources: bustimes.org operator record for Central Connect (route list, licences PC2013544 / PF2006130, code TMSB, website) and central-connect.co.uk (Peterborough relaunch and fares, June 2026) — verified October 2026. Independently compiled by the BusUpdate editorial team; confirm time-sensitive details with the operator before travelling. See also: Peterborough bus routes & guides on BusUpdate.