EXTENDED routes, later running services and better links to hospitals and workplaces are among the immediate improvements passengers will see when publicly-run bus services are rolled out across Knowsley, Liverpool and Sefton.

The new franchised system - giving local leaders control over routes, fares and timetables - will begin this autumn in St Helens, followed by the Wirral. A report going to the Combined Authority later this week outlines the next stage, with services rolling out in Sefton in July 2027 and in Liverpool and Knowsley 2 months later.

Among the improvements on the way in phase 2 are:-

• New links to hospitals like Whiston, Aintree, Alder Hey, the Royal, Broadgreen and Liverpool Women’s.
• Better connections to major job hubs, like the Knowledge Quarter, Knowsley Industrial Park and Huyton Industrial Estate.
• Later running and more frequent services across key routes.
• In Southport, new routes to Ocean Plaza and a better service to the local hospital.

By the end of 2027, the new franchised network will operate across the Liverpool City Region, opening the door to properly integrated smart ticketing. Further service improvements are also being explored as the rollout of franchised services progresses.

Mayor Steve Rotheram said:- “Buses outside London were privatised in 1985 in a failed experiment for public transport. I am absolutely delighted to be rolling back the 1980s in our City Region, starting with St Helens and Sefton. A regular, reliable, and affordable bus network should the backbone of any public transport system, and for far too long, services in our area have been shaped by the priorities of private operators instead of passengers. That’s why I took the historic decision to bring our buses back where they belong:- under public control. We’ve already begun delivering on that promise, with this second phase marking the final step in our journey to taking back control. It will mean that, for the first time in almost 40 years, we will have the power to set fares, routes, and timetables - and start putting the public back into public transport.”

Local control of bus services is a key part of the Mayor’s wider vision for a fully integrated public transport system that is faster, more affordable and easier to use.

Hundreds of millions of pounds are to be invested in the Region’s bus network over the coming years with funding for new vehicles, depot upgrades and road infrastructure to support the transition. This includes the purchase of more than 100 all-electric double-decker buses, as the City Region builds on its commitment to becoming net zero carbon by 2035.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has already delivered £500m of investment in a brand-new rail fleet, built the £80m Headbolt Lane station, and extended the £2 bus fare cap until at least June 2026 to help residents through the cost-of-living crisis.