Lancashire County Council has reviewed the buses it supports in the area, and taken account of requests from the local community, to improve services as contracts were awarded for the new financial year.
This expansion to services has been possible thanks to additional funding from the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan fund.
There will also be changes to routes and timetables of a number of other services.
County Councillor Scott Smith, Lancashire County Council lead member for Highways and Active Travel, said: “Our current contracts with bus operators for the services we support in Preston, Chorley and South Ribble expire in March 2025 and we’ve taken the opportunity to review how they work and propose some changes to serve areas of new housing, deliver longstanding requests from the community, and improve reliability overall.
“The improved network will serve a larger portion of our community, making journeys easier and more convenient for everyone. It will mean that more people can access reliable public transport close to their homes, whether they’re commuting to work, attending school, or running errands.
“Our goal is to create a more inclusive and comprehensive bus network that meets the needs of our growing community – we hope to encourage more people to choose public transport as their preferred mode of travel, reducing traffic congestion and contributing to a greener environment.”
Simon Lightwood, Local Transport Minister, added: “The value of regular and reliable services cannot be understated, so it’s great to see our £27 million in bus improvement funding being put to good use enhancing buses for passengers across Preston, Longton, Leyland and Chorley.
“With over £1bn allocated across the country, and our Bus Services Bill set to give local leaders new powers to take control of services, our bus revolution is well underway – bringing an end to the postcode lottery of bus services, drive economic growth, and better connect communities to jobs and opportunities.”
A number of changes were made to timetables as a result of feedback received during consultation carried out in December 2024 and January 2025.
PIC-LANCASHIRE CC
