Liverpool City Region begins public control of bus services
UKPulse Local Desk
Bus services in the Liverpool City Region have started to be brought back under public control, beginning in St Helens last weekend. This marks the first time in four decades that buses in the region will be publicly controlled.
- Bus services in the Liverpool City Region are being brought back under public control, starting in St Helens.
- This is the first time in 40 years that buses in the region will be under public control.
- The change means the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will set routes, fares, and standards, with third parties operating the franchised buses.
Bus services in the Liverpool City Region have begun to be brought back under public control, starting in St Helens in Merseyside last weekend. This initiative marks the first time in four decades that buses in the region will operate under public control, according to Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region.
Under the new system, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will determine routes, fares, and service standards. While third-party operators will continue to run the franchised buses, the authority will set the rules and hold operators accountable for delivering the network communities require.
Immediate changes include a new express service connecting St Helens directly with Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Single bus fares have been capped at £2 for the past four years and will remain so. The region is also working towards bringing Merseyrail services into public ownership by 2028 and has acquired a new £500m fleet of trains.
Why this matters: This change represents the biggest alteration to public transport in the Liverpool City Region for generations, aiming to prioritise passengers with more frequent services, better connections, and simpler fares.
What this means for you: If you use buses in the Liverpool City Region, you may experience more frequent services, more evening and weekend buses, better connections to hospitals and railway stations, and simpler fares. A new express service now connects St Helens directly with Liverpool John Lennon airport, which could affect travel for holidays or work.