Introducing Carbonara best value travel for a lower carbon era

What is Carbonara?

For many it is just a tasty Italian dish from Lazio. But to us it is a smart travel card which gives you the best value deals on Centrebus services in Leicester, Hinckley and Grantham. As of January 2013, this is also available in the Luton and Dunstable zone!

What is the point?

We want to make catching the bus quicker and easier. We want our existing customers to get the best value out of bus travel. And we want to get more people onto our buses. That is good business for us, good for you, and good for the environment. And that is just the start.

How does it work?

In each area we are offering two types of card. Your card electronically stores details of the credit you have on it, and you can top it up with extra travel when you want to (on the bus). MultiTrip allows you to prepay for a number of journeys, and use them as you go. Weekly allows you to prepay for a week or more of travel, and then travel as often as you like.

Tell me more about MultiTrip...

Your first MultiTrip card will have enough credit for 10 single journeys in your local area (Leicester, Hinckley or Grantham). Each time you travel, one credit will be deducted. When you need more credit, present your card to the driver, and he can top it up. To make things simple, whenever you travel (in the valid zone) you will be charged a flat rate. See below for more information on costs.

And Weekly?

This works in a similar way, but you top your card up a week at a time. Your first card will have one week of travel on it already. When you want to add more time, just present it to the driver and he will top it up. You can have more than one week of travel on the card at anytime, so top it up when it suits you, and you don't have to wait until it expires.

Where do I get one?

You can buy a Carbonara MultiTrip or Carbonara Weekly ticket for the Leicester fare zone or Hinckley fare zone here. We will send it to you in a few days. You need to specify what type of card, and for which area, you want. Each card costs £14 (£10 for the club membership, a smartcard deposit of £3, plus admin fee of £1). But remember, you will get either 10 single bus trips, or a week of local bus travel, included on your first card, free of charge.

How do I use it?

You can use your card on any Centrebus service in Leicester or Hinckley which is smartcard enabled. That means nearly all our routes (but not 100,128,UHL). When you board, put your Carbonara on the smart card reader (top of ticket machine). For MultiTrip tickets the machine will check if you card is valid, show a green light if so, and issue you with a ticket. For Weekly tickets the machine will check validity, and give you a green light if okay. Then just take a seat, and enjoy the journey.

What are the rules?

The Carbonara rules are available here. All travel is subject to our normal terms and conditions. You must be a member of our Travel Club to buy and use Carbonara cards, but your first year's membership is included in the prices quoted below. You can only use your Carbonara card in the area you chose, whether that be the Leicester fares zone, the Hinckley zone, or the Grantham Inner zone.

Are there any other benefits?

Not only will you save money, but getting on the bus will be quicker, and you won't have to worry about change. You will also be enrolled in our Travel Club when you join (the first year's membership is included in the price), and that will get you 15% off standard single and return fares even when you are not using Carbonara. The membership renewal in subsequent years costs just £10 (current price).

Also, we have teamed up with local Italian restaurants in your area to bring you exclusive deals and get you eating more Carbonara, for less! Click HERE to find out more.

How much does Carbonara cost?

Check the tables below for more information.

MultiRide Cards

Weekly Cards

Zone Boundaries