Following a competitive tender process, two operators have been appointed to operate the first locally controlled services in the Liverpool City Region since the 1980s, marking the biggest change to public transport in the region for more than a generation.
Stagecoach has been selected to operate the franchised bus network based in St Helens, while Go-Ahead has been selected to operate the franchised bus network based in Wirral.
The first phase of bus franchising will begin in St Helens and Wirral in autumn 2026, before rolling out across the whole region by the end of 2027.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said:
“For hundreds of thousands of people across our region, buses aren’t a ‘nice to have’ – they’re a lifeline. They’re how people get to work, to school, to hospital appointments, to see family and friends. But for too long, too many people have been let down by a system that put shareholders before passengers.
“For more than 40 years, buses have been run without proper accountability – services turning up late or not turning up at all; fares rising year after year; routes being cut with no thought for the communities left isolated as a result. People have felt they had no voice and no control. I understand that frustration – and it must change.
“That’s why we are taking back control. Franchising gives us the power to hold operators to account, to shape routes, fares and timetables around the needs of our area and its citizens. Today marks the start of a new era for buses in St Helens and Wirral – where passengers will always come first. Alongside our publicly-owned trains, we are putting the public back into public transport.”
From day one of the new system, passengers in St Helens and Wirral will see immediate improvements designed to make the network more dependable and easy-to-use. This includes more frequent and later running buses on key routes alongside an increase in the number of weekend services.
In St Helens, a brand-new express service to Liverpool John Lennon Airport will be launched, while in Wirral routes are being extended to provide better direct links to hospitals and rail stations.
Rob Jones, Managing Director of Stagecoach Manchester & Merseyside said:
“We are extremely proud to have been chosen for this crucial contract, which underlines our long-term commitment in the Liverpool City Region.
“We have a fantastic local team who have a proud history of serving communities in and around the Liverpool City Region, and we are honoured to be entrusted with the responsibility of delivering reliable and high-quality services under this new franchise. We are looking forward to working in partnership with the Mayor and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, as we have a shared goal to deliver outstanding service for a brighter future for our region.
“We would also like to express our thanks to all of our dedicated colleagues. We value their contribution and are committed to supporting them through the transition process as we move to the new operating model.”
(Picture: Liverpool City Region)
