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Moving Buses Forward
We’re changing the way buses work in our region. By bringing our bus network under public control, we’re putting the power back into local hands.
This means services can be run in the interests of our region's residents, connecting you to opportunities and each other through better buses that turn up on time and get you where you need to go.
It will also allow us to make sure that our buses are better linked with the wider transport system, including the rail network and our Mersey ferries.
Find out more about how we’re building a better bus network that works for you.
Phased rollout
It’s the start of a new era for buses in the Liverpool City Region. Bringing the whole network under public control is a major that will happen in stages, starting in St Helens and Wirral in
We are currently working hard behind the scenes to purchase hundreds of state-of-the-art vehicles, and prepare the first phase of the network.
While we move toward this new , many of the most important things about the bus network will stay the same.
and the stops you use every day will continue to work as usual, even as we set out, area-by-area to improve and grow the network.
This new way of running our buses is all about making travel better for you. We are increasing how often many buses run to make journeys more convenient and extending other routes to connect you to more places.
As part of these updates, a small number of services will also get new route numbers. We are doing this to remove duplicates and blend everything into one simple, region-wide network, making it much easier to plan your journeys without any confusion. Information on the changes to the network in St Helens is available here [INSERT LINK], with updates on other areas of the region to follow in the coming weeks and months.
The journey to a better bus network is already underway, with a clear plan for the future. We are working area-by-area to transform local bus travel and bring the network under local public control.
The Route Ahead
The landmark decision was made to move to a franchised bus model.
September 2023
Work begins behind the scenes to upgrade depots, plan services and purchase of new state-of-the-art bus fleet.
2024 – 2026
Phase One launch—the first buses under public control hit the streets in St Helens and then Wirral
Autumn 2026
The network grows as the first publicly run services are introduced in Knowsley, Liverpool and Sefton.
Summer 2027
The entire bus network is brought under public control. Work is underway to fully link buses with rail, active travel and Mersey Ferries for a truly joined-up transport network across the Liverpool City Region.
End of 2027
A Network Designed for You
For the first time in decades, we will run bus services that prioritise passengers over profits, moving away from a messy system of competing companies to create one network that works better. Public control allows us to:
- Set the Standards: lean, safe and reliable bus network you can count on every day.
- Investing in new high-quality buses: Your new buses have been designed to be more comfortable, accessible and better for the environment.
- Simplify your Fares: Moving towards a simpler, capped fare system which will guarantee passengers always pay the best price for their journeys across the whole Liverpool City Region.
- Build connections for our communities: Linking you to opportunities, each other and all our region has to offer by running routes where they are most needed, not just where they are most profitable.
How will bus services improve from day one of the new publicly run network?
- More frequent services: Bringing all two-hourly buses up to every hour and introducing more weekend services.
- Extended routes: Extending certain routes to improve access to hospitals and train stations.
- Improving reliability: Making sure buses run at consistent times throughout the whole day, while keeping the bus services you rely on.
- Express connections: Starting a brand-new express service from St Helens town centre straight to Liverpool Airport, taking just 44 minutes and making it quicker and easier to travel to work or go on holiday.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Right now, private bus operators decide where to go, when to run, and how much to charge. By bringing our bus network under public control, we are putting the power back into local hands.
This allows us to design a network that prioritises passengers over profits—reinvesting in better routes, more evening and weekend services, and running buses where they are most needed, not just where they make a profit.
This change will not take place all at one time across the region, instead it will happen in stages between Autumn 2026 and the start of 2028, beginning in St Helens and then Wirral.
A: The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will select the operators and decide the routes, timetables, and standards.
The buses will be operated on the ground by professional transport companies working under public contract.
The Combined Authority will hold these operators to strict standards to ensure every service across the region is required to keep buses clean, safe and reliable.
A: Yes. We are backing the transformation of our bus network with a major multimillion-pound investment to roll out a fleet of high-quality vehicles across the network - all decked out in distinctive yellow, grey and black Metro livery.
Work is already underway behind the scenes to order our new bus fleet and upgrade local depots into state-of-the-art hubs to support them.
These state-of-the-art vehicles are being specifically designed to be more comfortable, accessible and significantly better for the environment.
A: Bringing buses back under public control is a huge project that is happening in stages across the Liverpool City Region. The first publicly controlled services will hit the streets in St Helens and Wirral in autumn 2026.
The publicly-run network will then grow to include Knowsley, Liverpool and Sefton in summer 2027, with the entire regional bus network brought under public control by the end of next year.
A: Yes. While we move toward this new and better system, the most important things about the bus network won't change.
The services you rely on and the stops you use every day will continue to work as usual, even as we set out, area-by-area, to improve and grow the network. To help align everything into a simpler, region-wide network, we will need to renumber a small number of services. We will make sure to share these details well in advance of the introduction of franchising in each borough, so you know which new number bus to catch.
A: Public control means we can decide where buses go, how often, and when they run.
While the stops and services you use every day will continue to work as usual during the move to the new publicly-run system, we will actively be working area-by-area to improve and grow the network.
This will also mean we have the option to bring in brand-new services, like the express route linking St Helens town centre to Liverpool John Lennon Airport which will be launched in September.
A: One of the main benefits of bringing the network under public control is that we will be able to make decisions over timetables.
Because we can focus on passenger needs rather than commercial profit, we are actively working to make services more frequent, run later into the evenings and introduce more weekend services on certain routes.
A: Nothing changes for you right away. Because we are bringing the network under public control in a phased, step-by-step way, bus services in your area will continue to run exactly as they do now. You will still be able to use operator-only tickets and will still report lost property directly to operators as you currently do.
Of course, because some bus routes cross over the boundaries between different areas, you might find that some services are running a little differently even if you don't travel directly within St Helens or Wirral.
A list of services which are changing is available here [INCLUDE LINK] and you can always speak to our customer services team to find out more about whether the service you use has changed.
A: We are currently working hard behind the scenes to prepare for the first phase of the network.
As we approach the launch date for the rollout of franchising in each borough, updated timetables will be made available so you can easily check timetables.
You will also continue to be able to use the Merseytravel Journey Planner app to and find the best route across the region's transport network [LINK TO JOURNEY PLANNER]
A: Yes. If you currently travel using a national concessionary travel pass, a Merseytravel Over-60s pass or a Disabled Person's travel pass, you will be able to use your pass exactly as you do now.
A: Under public control, there will be a single point of accountability for the entire bus network.
Instead of dealing with various private operators, you will be able to submit feedback, report reliability issues, or locate lost property through a centralised, passenger-first customer service system. More information will follow in the coming months. [ADD LINK TO NEW HELP AND SUPPORT PAGE]
A: Our new, publicly owned fleet is being designed from the ground up to help more passengers travel comfortably, safely and independently.
Every new vehicle will feature state-of-the-art accessibility standards, including level boarding or low-floor entry and clear audio-visual announcements for upcoming stops. Larger buses will also feature more dedicated space for wheelchair users and pushchairs.
A: Although Halton was part of the original consultation the bus network there will not be brought under public control at this stage. Instead, buses in Halton will run under a permit system to make sure they connect smoothly with the rest of the network.
We have included Halton as an option in the contract bidding process so it can easily join the franchise system later. In the meantime, we are working closely with partners to protect local services and make sure residents still get consistent, high-quality travel.