• Plans for franchised services in Knowsley, Liverpool and Sefton revealed
• More frequent and later running services, and better links for hospitals and workplaces among key improvements
• Bus franchising to be delivered across the region by 2027
• Hundreds of millions of pounds to be invested in new buses, depots and infrastructure upgrades

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 two months later.

Among the improvements on the way in phase two 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 Wirral before continuing this work across the rest of the region.”

“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.

Planned bus service improvements in Knowsley

• 217 will operate between Kirkby and Halewood seven-days a week and travel via Huyton Industrial Estate.
• 3 to be extended to Whiston Hospital.
• 239 will be revised to serve Huyton Bus Station and provide later journeys to Broadgreen Hospital.
• Improved provision to Knowsley Village and Knowsley Industrial Park.

Planned bus service improvements in Liverpool

• Improved link from Speke, Mossley Hill, Smithdown Road and Vauxhall to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool Women’s University Hospital and Knowledge Quarter Liverpool.
• Regular timetable introduced on service 204 and extended to Netherley to give direct link to Broadgreen Hospital and Alder Hey Hospital.
• Introduction of a half hourly service along Great Howard Street.

Planned bus service improvements in Sefton

• Orbital service introduced in Southport improving links to Southport & Formby District General Hospital.
• Introduction of a service linking to Ocean Plaza in Southport.
• Service 144 extended to Old Roan and Aintree University Hospital.
• Evening journeys on service 300 to operate in full to and from Southport.

An engagement programme will be held ahead of the roll out of franchised services in Knowsley, Liverpool and Sefton to make passengers aware of the changes, to point them to information about current and new routes and to find out about other improvements they would like to see.