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The next step in the creation of greener, more accessible and comfortable public transport facilities in the heart of a transformed St Helens town centre will see the existing bus station on Bickerstaffe Street close, following the last service on Saturday 17 May 2025.
From the following morning (Sunday May 18) all the services that currently operate from the existing bus station will instead be rerouted across the town centre.
Artists impression of the new St Helens Interchange development which will improve bus, rail and active travel connectivity in St Helens town centre
Most services will arrive and depart from a new, temporary bus hub located on Chalon Way West. It features a travel centre, seven modern bus shelters, passenger information boards, and new pedestrian crossing points at both the Bridge Street and Market Street ends of Chalon Way West. Upgraded lighting and CCTV has also been installed to enhance safety.
A small number of services will use the existing stops and shelters on Bridge Street, Shaw Street and Westfield Street rather than the temporary hub.
A dedicated Merseytravel webpage has been published with further information and service updates. Advance notices have also been posted on all affected bus stands, in guiding passengers where to catch their bus from across the town centre.
In addition, Merseytravel staff will be on-site during the initial weeks to assist passengers in navigating the facility and directing them to the correct bus stands, ensuring a smooth transition.
This hub will remain in operation while the new modern St Helens Transport Interchange is constructed on an extended footprint of the current bus station. The new interchange will include increased capacity, improved connectivity and accessibility, enhanced safety and comfort, more sustainable design, with improved public spaces that greatly enhance the sense of welcome and arrival in the heart of the town, including Gamble Square – a stunning new civic space between the interchange and the Gamble Building.
The St Helens Interchange is being delivered by St Helens Borough Council and ECF – a national regeneration partnership between Homes England, L&G, and Muse – with financial support from the Town Deal Fund along with the £32m of investment from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The latter was made through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), part of a wider £710 million boost to regional transport infrastructure.
Cllr Steve Foulkes, chair of the Transport Committee at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said:
“Building work will soon begin on a brand-new transport interchange for St Helens.
“Delivered with £32m in funding from the Combined Authority it will better connect bus and rail services and provide new walking and cycling links for St Helens town centre. It’s part of an overall plan to create a London-style integrated transport network across the whole Liverpool City Region.
“While construction is underway on the state-of-the-art facility, most bus services will start and end at a new temporary hub located nearby on Chalon Way. We thank passengers for their patience and encourage them to check the Merseytravel website for more information.”
Cllr Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth & Regeneration at St Helens Borough Council, said:
“Improving public transport is at the heart of our vision for a more attractive, welcoming, and people-friendly town centre. The new St Helens Interchange will help meet our long-term transport needs by delivering a more efficient layout and significantly enhancing the experience for passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. It will also make sure St Helens is a focal point in the new franchised bus network that is set to be rolled out across the Liverpool City Region. Opening the temporary bus hub will directly facilitate earliest delivery of the new St Helens Interchange whilst ensuring disruption for bus passengers and operators is minimised in the interim period.”
Matt Whiteley, Senior Development Manager at ECF, added:
“The project team is pleased to be pressing on with this important next step to allow our ambitious vision to come to life. Our objective is to create an attractive, green, and accessible arrival point befitting a town centre going through a once-in-a-generation regeneration.”
The new interchange forms a key part of the first phase of the £100 million regeneration of St Helens. The broader plans will transform 24 acres of the town centre, including a new Market Hall, a mixed-use area anchored by a 120-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel, 64 high-quality new homes, 11,000 sq ft of modern retail space, and a range of high-quality public areas designed to create a vibrant and connected town centre.
