Being delivered in partnership with St Helens Council and English Cities Fund (ECF), the new St Helens Transport Interchange will vastly improve the experience and safety of those travelling by bus, cyclists and pedestrians and create a new welcoming and green arrival point in St Helens town centre.
Backed with £32m funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the new interchange will better connect bus and rail services in the town, with improved walking and cycling links, creating a greener, more accessible and comfortable hub for bus passengers in the heart of the town centre.
Design and features
The interchange building will feature two fully enclosed concourses offering spacious and sheltered bus waiting areas. Two small building ‘pods’ at alternate ends of the concourses will house a new travel centre and accessible toilets – including a Changing Places facility.
The concourses will be enclosed in a glass facade to maximise natural light. Buildings will be clad in decorative brickwork to reflect the character of the surrounding historic buildings.
The interchange building benefits from highly sustainable design which includes using recycled, natural and local materials. Solar panels on the main roof will capture energy from the sun and each pod building will feature a green living roof. New greenery introduced in planters at numerous locations across the pedestrian space, will help increase biodiversity.
The interchange will also create capacity for St Helens to welcome larger and more sustainable buses in the future and move all bus operations into a safe and controlled environment – reducing congestion around the town centre.
Features of the new St Helens Interchange will include:
- 11 Stands, an increase on the current facility to support bus franchising and wide town centre regeneration
- All bus parking moved into the new facility to provide a safer operating environment and safer spaces for pedestrians
- A fully enclosed dry, comfortable and temperature-controlled environment
- Automatic doors at each departure stand
- Level bus boarding throughout and step-free access providing a much more pleasant and safe environment for passengers
- Real-time service information for both buses and trains
- Secure indoor and outdoor cycle parking and wayfinding
- Improved lighting and CCTV coverage, enhancing safety and security
Temporary Bus Interchange
Ahead of construction work beginning on the new St Helens Transport Interchange, a temporary bus hub will be opened on Chalon Way West to ensure disruption to bus users is minimised.
This location was selected because of the easy access it will offer to shops, amenities, and employment areas in the town centre.
The purpose-built temporary bus hub will open on 18 May 2025, it will include a travel centre, seven new bus shelters and new pedestrian crossing points at both the Bridge Street and Market Street ends of Chalon Way West.
A full timetable and a guide to where passengers can catch their bus is available here.
Initial demolition works on the existing bus station has seen stands 1, 2 and 3 removed, with a limited number of services being temporarily moved to alternative stops as well as to a temporary location on Bickerstaffe Street. A full list of the services impacted are available here.
Full details of changes and planned diversions for walking and driving routes to accommodate ongoing regeneration works are available at www.sthelenstowncentre.co.uk.
Key Transport Advice
Every effort will be made to minimise disruption to bus users and the wider public while work to deliver the new St Helens Transport Interchange is ongoing, however we would encourage passengers to consider the following advice before travelling.
- Plan your journeys
- Check timetables: Make sure to do this ahead of and on your day of travel in case there are any changes. Check direct with your operator for real time information
- Leave more time: Journeys might take a little longer than usual
- Please be kind and respectful to transport staff: Remember that they are working really hard to get you to where you need to be.
- If possible buy travel tickets in advance and online: This will speed up your journey and help you avoid queues on the day.