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Plans for a joined-up transport network take huge step forward with Mayor announcing immediate improvements as St Helens bus services come back under public control
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More evening and weekend services, extended routes and a brand-new express link to Liverpool John Lennon Airport will operate from Day One when the St Helens bus network comes back under public control in September.
Passengers in St Helens and beyond can also look forward to travelling on an-all new fleet of state-of-the-art, low-emission buses.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has published full details of improvements ahead of the introduction of bus franchising in St Helens on Sunday, September 6.
Buses running every two hours in St Helens will become hourly while other routes will be extended to give better connections to hospitals, colleges and rail stations.
Some services will also be renumbered to remove duplicate service numbers, creating one easy-to-understand network for the whole Liverpool City Region.
The improvements are designed to make the bus network more dependable and easy-to-use. As a direct result of the changes, an additional 5,000 residents will now be within a 400-metre walk of a bus stop in St Helens.
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.”
Cllr Dr R. George Woodward, Leader of St Helens Borough Council said:
“Access to reliable, modern public transportation is vital for our communities, and I am pleased that St Helens Borough will be the first in the Liverpool City Region to benefit from buses coming back under public control. I remain optimistic that this bus franchising scheme will result in more frequent services, extended operations, and better route planning to serve the residents of St Helens Borough. It’s my responsibility to ensure that the services offered by the LCRCA are of good quality and deliver proper value for taxpayers in the borough.
“In my Liverpool City Region role, I shall be evaluating the changes brought about by bus franchising to ensure effective delivery to meet our public transportation needs. St Helens Borough will also benefit from brand new diesel buses – I’m pleased that our fleet will feature proven, reliable, affordable industrial technology. I strongly encourage St Helens Borough residents to make good use of their new buses.”
Bus users in St Helens will also be among the first in the region to benefit from a brand-new fleet of eco-friendly, modern buses.
Publicly owned, like the new trains for the Merseyrail network, the buses are clad in the Liverpool City Region’s distinctive yellow, black, and grey Metro livery.
Built entirely in the UK, the vehicles have been designed around the needs of passengers and are equipped with a range of hi-spec features, including air conditioning, USB charging points and more comfortable seats.
With more space for wheelchairs and prams, as well as audio-visual announcement technology, the new fleet also represents a huge leap forward for accessibility, making bus travel easier for everyone.
The buses will join 108 brand-new, electric buses already in service, as well as the region’s new fleet of publicly-owned trains and the first new Mersey Ferry in more than 60 years as part of a major transport fleet modernisation programme – the most comprehensive in the country.
The investment in a new bus fleet also comes alongside the development of St Helens Transport Interchange, which is currently under construction. Being delivered with £32m of funding from the Combined Authority, the interchange will better connect bus and rail services in St Helens town centre with climate-controlled waiting areas, step-free access and real-time travel information via digital screens.
In 2023, Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Combined Authority took the landmark decision to bring buses back under public control. For the first time in more than 40 years, services will be planned around the needs of passengers and communities, with the Combined Authority deciding when, where and how often buses run.
The move is part of Mayor Steve Rotheram’s pledge to create a faster, greener and better-connected transport network that works for the 1.6 million residents of the City Region.
Since the Mayor was first elected, the Combined Authority has invested more than £500m in the rail network, delivered new stations at Maghull North and Headbolt Lane, and is progressing plans for four more stations across the Merseyrail network.
Tap-and-go ticketing has been rolled out on the Merseyrail network making train travel easier and more affordable, major investment is being made in walking and cycling infrastructure and plans for a rapid transit system will better connect communities to jobs, education and opportunities.
Following the September rollout in St Helens, public control of the bus network will be phased in across the City Region, with Wirral following in October 2026 and Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton by the end of 2027.
Full details of the improvements to routes and services in St Helens can be found on the Merseytravel website.
