Major St Helens bus improvements confirmed ahead of public control rollout
More frequent services, extended routes and a new express connection to Liverpool John Lennon Airport will be introduced when buses in St Helens return to public control this September.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has published details of the changes, which will come into effect when bus franchising launches in the borough on Sunday, September 6.
Services that currently operate every two hours will increase to hourly, while several routes will be extended to improve connections with hospitals, colleges and railway stations.
A number of services will also be renumbered to remove duplicate route numbers and create a simpler, more consistent network across the Liverpool City Region.
The Combined Authority said the improvements would make services more reliable and easier to use, while bringing an additional 5,000 St Helens residents within a 400-metre walk of a bus stop.
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.”
Passengers will also be among the first in the region to travel on a new fleet of publicly owned, low-emission buses.
The UK-built vehicles will feature the Liverpool City Region’s yellow, black and grey Metro branding and have been designed around the needs of passengers.
Features will include air conditioning, USB charging points, more comfortable seating and additional space for wheelchairs and prams.
Audio-visual announcement technology will also be installed to improve accessibility and make journeys easier for passengers.
The fleet will join 108 electric buses already operating in the region, alongside the new publicly owned Merseyrail trains and the first new Mersey Ferry in more than 60 years.
The investment forms part of a wider modernisation programme covering the Liverpool City Region’s public transport network.
Work is also continuing on the new St Helens Transport Interchange, which is being developed with £32 million of Combined Authority funding.
The interchange will connect bus and rail services in St Helens town centre and include climate-controlled waiting areas, step-free access and digital screens providing real-time travel information.
Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Combined Authority agreed in 2023 to bring the region’s bus network back under public control.
The franchising model will allow the Combined Authority to decide where buses operate, how frequently they run and the times at which services are provided.
It marks the first time in more than 40 years that bus services in the region will be planned directly around the needs of passengers and local communities.
The move forms part of the Mayor’s plans to create a faster, greener and better-connected transport network for the Liverpool City Region’s 1.6 million residents.
Since Mayor Rotheram was first elected, the Combined Authority has invested more than £500 million in the rail network and delivered new stations at Maghull North and Headbolt Lane.
Plans are also progressing for four additional stations on the Merseyrail network.
Tap-and-go ticketing has been introduced across Merseyrail, while further investment is being made in walking and cycling infrastructure and proposals for a rapid transit system.
Following the St Helens launch in September, bus franchising will be introduced in Wirral in October 2026.
Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton are expected to follow by the end of 2027.
Full details of the improvements to routes and services in St Helens can be found on the Merseytravel website.
