Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has unveiled a comprehensive package of improvements ahead of the introduction of bus franchising in St Helens on 6th September, marking a significant milestone in the region's wider transport transformation programme.
Under the new arrangements, passengers will benefit from a more reliable and easier-to-navigate network, with services planned around the needs of local communities rather than commercial priorities.
Among the headline improvements, routes currently operating every two hours will increase to hourly services, while several routes will be extended to improve access to hospitals, colleges and railway stations. Some services will also be renumbered to remove duplication and create a simpler, more consistent network across the Liverpool City Region.
The changes are expected to significantly improve accessibility, with around 5,000 additional residents living within a 400-metre walk of a bus stop as a direct result of the network redesign.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:
“In the 80s our bus services were deregulated. So now, for the first time in four decades, we are bringing our bus services back where they belong - under public control. This is a historic milestone for St Helens and a major step forward in delivering the biggest transport change in our region’s history.
“New trains, a new ferry ‘cross the Mersey, new buses across a newly franchised network, Merseyrail coming back under public control, new train stations and a brand-new rapid transit system on the way, this is nothing short of a public transport revolution.
“From day one, passengers in St Helens will see a real, tangible difference. We are doubling frequencies on crucial routes, expanding evening and weekend services, and launching a brand-new direct express link to Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
“We’re backing this new era with state-of-the-art, low-emission buses fully equipped with modern features like USB charging points. This, alongside our new £35 million transport interchange, built in the heart of St Helens Town Centre, demonstrates the benefit of being part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. We are building a first-class, green network that local people can truly be proud of.”
Passengers in St Helens will also be among the first in the region to travel on a fleet of newly introduced, publicly owned, low-emission buses.
Finished in the Liverpool City Region’s distinctive yellow, black and grey Metro livery, the vehicles have been built in the UK and feature modern passenger amenities including:
- Air conditioning
- USB charging points
- Improved seating
- Enhanced wheelchair and pram spaces
- Audio-visual passenger information systems
The fleet is designed to improve both comfort and accessibility, helping make public transport more inclusive for all passengers.
The new vehicles will complement the region’s growing transport network, joining 108 new electric buses already in service, the latest Merseyrail trains and the first new Mersey Ferry to be introduced in more than six decades.
The bus franchising rollout coincides with the development of the new St Helens Transport Interchange, currently under construction with £32 million of Combined Authority funding.
The interchange will provide improved links between bus and rail services, with features including climate-controlled waiting areas, step-free access and real-time travel information screens.
The return of bus services to public control forms part of a wider programme aimed at creating a faster, greener and better-connected transport system for the Liverpool City Region's 1.6 million residents.
Since the introduction of the Mayor's transport strategy, more than £500 million has been invested in the rail network, including the delivery of new stations at Maghull North and Headbolt Lane, while plans continue to progress for four additional stations across the Merseyrail network.
Further improvements include tap-and-go ticketing across Merseyrail services, expanded walking and cycling infrastructure, and proposals for a rapid transit system designed to improve connectivity between communities, employment hubs and educational institutions.
Following the launch in St Helens, bus franchising will be introduced across the wider Liverpool City Region, with Wirral joining the system in October 2026 and Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton following by the end of 2027.
Image credit: iStock
