Liverpool City Region bus services will begin returning to public control this weekend for the first time in 40 years, with the first changes launching in St Helens.
The historic switch begins on Sunday, 6 September, bringing a series of immediate improvements including more frequent services, expanded evening and weekend timetables and a new express route to Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Passengers travelling in and around St Helens will also begin using a new fleet of publicly-owned, low-emission buses featuring the Liverpool City Region’s distinctive yellow and grey Metro branding.
The new vehicles include improved seating, USB charging points and additional space for wheelchairs and prams.
Around 5,000 more residents will also be brought within 400 metres of a bus stop as changes to the St Helens network come into effect.
Among the biggest additions is the new X3 express service, which will provide a direct connection between St Helens town centre and Liverpool John Lennon Airport for the first time.
A number of existing routes will also become more frequent, with some services currently operating every two hours moving to hourly timetables. Extra evening, Sunday and early-morning journeys are also being introduced, including early-morning express connections to Southport.
Popular routes including the 33, 35 and 34/34A will be extended to provide improved connections with destinations including hospitals, colleges and railway stations.
Some bus numbers will change as part of plans to remove duplicate route numbers across the Liverpool City Region and create a more consistent network.
The changes mark the first stage of the wider return of bus services to public control across the region.
Wirral will follow later this autumn, before services in Knowsley, Liverpool and Sefton move to the new system during 2027.
The roll-out forms part of Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram’s plans to create a more integrated public transport network across the region, with decisions over routes, fares and standards increasingly controlled locally rather than by individual private operators.
Passengers can find further information about the changes and individual services on the Merseytravel website.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:
“In just seven days, we are turning the page on 40 years of deregulated, fragmented bus services and bringing our network back under public control where it belongs. This is a monumental moment for St Helens and the first major step in building a world-class, integrated public transport system across our entire region.
“From day one, people in St Helens will see real, tangible benefits, more frequent buses, better evening and weekend connections, a brand-new express route straight to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, and a fleet of eco-friendly, modern buses owned by the public. And along with our continuation of £2 fares, we are building a transport network that works for local people, placing accessibility, reliability, and affordability at its absolute core.”
From Sunday, the network will continue to work as it always has, getting people to where they need to go, however passengers are encouraged to get ready for the switch by:
- Checking timetables & route changes: Updated timetables on all upcoming route changes are available now on the Merseytravel website and through the Merseytravel Journey Planner app.
- Looking at fares, tickets and passes:Concessionary passes (including Over-60s, Disabled Person’s passes) will continue to work as normal and the £2 adult single fare cap and £2.20 young person’s MyTickets remain available but there will be some changes to season tickets and passes – check the Merseytravel website information and options.
- Meeting the Team: bus network staff are hosting in-person events, so passengers and local residents can ask questions and pick up information guides.
Details of upcoming in-person local events are listed below:
St Helens Hospital – Tuesday 1st September Spice of Life Restaurant, Marshalls Cross Road, St Helens, WA9 3DA10am – 2pm
Chain Lane Community CentreWednesday 2nd September, Hinckley Road, Blackbrook, St Helens, WA11 9HT – 10am – 2pm
Carmel College – Friday 4th September, Prescot Road, St Helens, WA10 3AG12pm – 1:30pm
Rainhill Farmers Marker – Saturday 5th September, St Ann’s Millennium Centre, View Road, Rainhill, L35 0LE – 9am – 1pm
St Helens town centre – Sunday 6th September, Church Square, Church Street, St Helens, WA10 1BD – 10am
Bringing buses back under public control aligns with Mayor Steve Rotheram’s pledge to deliver a faster, greener, and better-connected transport network for the region’s 1.6 million residents. It’s part of a series of major investments, including £32m for a brand-new St Helens transport interchange, record funding for the rail network, and the first new Mersey Ferry built in over 60 years.
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