May 18, 2026 – X7 campaign update: proposal sent, meetings held, and the campaign continues

OK, it has been over a month since I last gave you an update. Reasons include me being busy with a lot, including writing up a proposal and focusing on the campaign behind the scenes.

But rest assured: the X7 campaign has not stopped.

A lot has happened since the last update:

April 17, 2026 – X7 double-decker journey published on Brightsidio’s Travels

On April 17, I published a video on Brightsidio’s Travels showing the X7’s weekday double-decker journey from Northampton to Market Harborough.

This journey matters because it shows one of the few occasions where a higher-capacity vehicle appears on the route, even if only as far as Market Harborough. It also highlights one of the key issues behind this campaign:

capacity on the X7 can vary heavily depending on time, direction, routing and vehicle allocation.

Watch it now:

April 28, 2026 – West Northamptonshire Council responded

After I sent my X7 Capacity and Service Improvement Proposal to West Northamptonshire Council, they replied to acknowledge it and thanked me for the observations and passenger feedback I had gathered.

They also made clear that, because the X7 operates commercially, decisions around capacity, routing, vehicle allocation, timetable frequency and evening provision sit primarily with the operator, Stagecoach Midlands.

This was useful clarification because it reinforces something important:

Stagecoach is the main decision-maker when it comes to operational improvements on the X7.

April 29, 2026 – Stagecoach shared the proposal internally

A day later, I received a response from Stagecoach confirming that they had shared my proposal with their team and described it as really helpful feedback.

While they have not promised any immediate changes, this is still an important step forward. It means the proposal has moved beyond being just a passenger concern and has been circulated internally by the operator.

May 2026 – Leicester City Council meeting

I also had a Teams meeting with David Fenlon, Transport Service Manager for Passenger Transport at Leicester City Council.

This discussion was very useful because it helped explain the operational realities behind bus services, including depot location, dead mileage, driver hours, vehicle diagramming, evening service costs and the difficulty of making changes without creating extra costs.

One major point is that the X7 is operated from Stagecoach’s Northampton depot. This means that getting higher-capacity vehicles onto certain parts of the route is not as simple as just placing a double-decker where it is needed. Buses need to be diagrammed properly, drivers need legal working hours, and empty running still costs money.

This does not weaken the campaign. If anything, it makes the campaign stronger because it helps refine the argument.

The point is not simply “put double-deckers everywhere.”

The point is: capacity should be matched to demand where and when it is needed most.

That means looking at peak journeys, vehicle allocation, routeing options, evening provision and whether practical trials could help identify what works.

Where the campaign stands now

The campaign has produced:

• direct passenger feedback
• logged journey observations
• a published X7 video
• a full proposal shared with Stagecoach and local authorities
• a professional discussion with Leicester City Council about operational realities

The campaign is not declaring victory yet, but progress is being made. This is no longer just a complaint. It is now a documented, evidence-backed campaign with a proposal, public support and official responses.

Thank you to everyone who has signed, shared, watched, commented, or spoken to me directly about the X7 so far.

Now I am urging residents in Leicester, Leicestershire and Northampton to contact their local authorities, raise awareness of the X7, and push for this issue to be taken seriously. The more people speak up, the quicker we can push this campaign toward victory.

👉 Support the campaign here:
https://www.change.org/fix-x7-overcrowding