Liverpool City Region-Bus Franchising

[Tim33160]

A list of franchised routes in Phase One has been published in response to a FOI dated 27 January 2026

"A list of routes covered under the first phase of 'Metro' franchising, which depot they'll be run from and who the operator is following todays (23/1/26) announcement confirming Wirral is going to Go North West and St. Helens to Stagecoach."

First Phase operators routes and depot allocation

St Helens Wirral Franchised Bus Networks Listing.pdf 138K

St Helens listed 322 is known to being operated by Warrington’s Own Buses - replacing 22 / 22A?

 

[JasonL]

What's going to happen with the 20 St. Helens-Earlestown? I saw it wasn't on there.

 

[CN12 AWU]

A list of franchised routes in Phase One has been published in response to a FOI dated 27 January 2026

"A list of routes covered under the first phase of 'Metro' franchising, which depot they'll be run from and who the operator is following todays (23/1/26) announcement confirming Wirral is going to Go North West and St. Helens to Stagecoach."

First Phase operators routes and depot allocation

St Helens Wirral Franchised Bus Networks Listing.pdf 138K View Download

St Helens listed 322 is known to being operated by Warrington’s Own Buses - replacing 22 / 22A?

Wirral 811 listed as unconfirmed but no mention of 22 strange

 

[paddyb6]

Wirral 811 listed as unconfirmed but no mention of 22 strange

22 is a CWAC tendered route, so it will run under permit.

 

[Polarbear]

What's going to happen with the 20 St. Helens-Earlestown? I saw it wasn't on there.

Checking the original draft proposals, route 20 between St Helens & Earlestown wasn’t listed then either.

 

[neilcobbe]

I guess the powers that be don't see a need for the 20. The route between Haydock & Earlestown will be covered by the new 322. There's no 602 either so assume the 322 will be a 7 day service.. Extra buses could be put on the 320 between St.Helens and Ashton to meet any need.

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Has there been any updates or pictures on Huyton Travel ADL Enviro400Hs that came from London, and are operators allowed their own liveries for school services?

 

[LAIRA]

Has there been any updates or pictures on Huyton Travel ADL Enviro400Hs that came from London, and are operators allowed their own liveries for school services?

Please can someone confirm the start date for St Helens & Birkenhead change overs.
MTIA

 

[Polarbear]

Please can someone confirm the start date for St Helens & Birkenhead change overs.
MTIA

6 September for St Helens and 26 October for Wirral.

 

[JasonL]

Since Arriva's Birkenhead depot is being taken over by Go North West in October, what's going to happen with the E200MMCs that are there? Will they be transferred to another depot in the LCR/Runcorn or will they go to another depot but outside of the LCR and repainted?

 

[Harryn9000]

Since Arriva's Birkenhead depot is being taken over by Go North West in October, what's going to happen with the E200MMCs that are there? Will they be transferred to another depot in the LCR/Runcorn or will they go to another depot but outside of the LCR and repainted?

The whole fleet is being transferred out to other parts of Arriva Group.
20 of the hybrids are being converted to Driver Training fleet first 2 are leaving in next few days

 

[Statto]

The E200 MMCs at Birkenhead are transferring over to Runcorn, they'll replace some of the Pulsars, that was the original plan anyway, Runcorn have a batch of 40 Pulsars due to be replaced in the not to distant future.

 

[JasonL]

The E200 MMCs at Birkenhead are transferring over to Runcorn, they'll replace some of the Pulsars, that was the original plan anyway, Runcorn have a batch of 40 Pulsars due to be replaced in the not to distant future.

I had a feeling that the E200MMCs will end up at Runcorn

 

[Harryn9000]

The E200 MMCs at Birkenhead are transferring over to Runcorn, they'll replace some of the Pulsars, that was the original plan anyway, Runcorn have a batch of 40 Pulsars due to be replaced in the not to distant future.

I suspect the whole single decker fleet will go Runcorn e200mmc and streetlites as anything pre 2012 is leaving the fleet by end of year

 

[darylyates17]

I suspect the whole single decker fleet will go Runcorn e200mmc and streetlites as anything pre 2012 is leaving the fleet by end of year

I think only the 15 plates will move over since the E200MMCs will cover pretty much all of Runcorns fleet once all the MMCs are freed up the Streetlites will be there to cover the extra PVR from the 329 & 360.

 

[polskism]

I suspect the whole single decker fleet will go Runcorn e200mmc and streetlites as anything pre 2012 is leaving the fleet by end of year

The Streetlites are transferring to Southport to replace their YX17 E200MMC batch.

 

[Harryn9000]

The Streetlites are transferring to Southport to replace their YX17 E200MMC batch.

I’ve been told that also. As well as 20 of hybrid deckers due to be converted to Training fleet with no hybrid system. first 2 due to leave fleet soon to be replaced by pulsars from st Helen’s

 

[JasonL]

I’ve been told that also. As well as 20 of hybrid deckers due to be converted to Training fleet with no hybrid system. first 2 due to leave fleet soon to be replaced by pulsars from st Helen’s

So the hybrids will have their engines removed and to be replaced with diesel ones?

 

[MCRTransitYT]

So the hybrids will have their engines removed and to be replaced with diesel ones?

They'll have the batteries removed and the engines will be redone to work without them

 

[Polarbear]

Given tranche one in St Helens is due to go live in early September, when should we expect to see new timetables & associated publicly being issued?

Also, are there any plans to introduce a “Bee Network” style app for Merseyside.

 

[W176 XMA]

The Streetlites are transferring to Southport to replace their YX17 E200MMC batch.

Where will the e200s be going?

 

[JasonL]

Given tranche one in St Helens is due to go live in early September, when should we expect to see new timetables & associated publicly being issued?

Also, are there any plans to introduce a “Bee Network” style app for Merseyside.

We should expect to see timetable changes in August.

 

[Statto]

The timetable changes are going to be from 6th September, as Stagecoach are withdrawing their 10A from that date, because the whole route going to be operated by St Helens depot.

 

[MCRTransitYT]

The timetable changes are going to be from 6th September, as Stagecoach are withdrawing their 10A from that date, because the whole route going to be operated by St Helens depot.

You mean Arriva withdrawing their operation of the 10A. Stagecoach's operations are just moving from Gillmoss to St Helens

 

[Statto]

You mean Arriva withdrawing their operation of the 10A. Stagecoach's operations are just moving from Gillmoss to St Helens

No Stagecoach are withdrawing there 10A from 6th September, Arriva haven't registered any cancellations yet.

Cancellations:
PC1033334/5 RIBBLE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, GILMOSS DEPOT, EAST LANCASHIRE ROAD, LIVERPOOL, L11 0BB
Operating between Liverpool ONE and St. Helens Bus Station given service number 10A effective from 06 September 2026.

North West Traffic Commissioner Notices & Proceedings 2026

 

[MCRTransitYT]

No Stagecoach are withdrawing there 10A from 6th September, Arriva haven't registered any cancellations yet.

Cancellations:
PC1033334/5 RIBBLE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, GILMOSS DEPOT, EAST LANCASHIRE ROAD, LIVERPOOL, L11 0BB
Operating between Liverpool ONE and St. Helens Bus Station given service number 10A effective from 06 September 2026.

North West Traffic Commissioner Notices & Proceedings 2026

So the 10A is going to be joint ran from Franchised Stagecoach St Helens and Commercial Arriva?

The cancellation of the Stagecoach 10A will be from Gillmoss, at it was mentioned on a Facebook comment on a LCR group that Franchised routes don't need to be registered unless they are cross border services, like the 34

 

[gka472l]

So the 10A is going to be joint ran from Franchised Stagecoach St Helens and Commercial Arriva?

The cancellation of the Stagecoach 10A will be from Gillmoss, at it was mentioned on a Facebook comment on a LCR group that Franchised routes don't need to be registered unless they are cross border services, like the 34

Arriva will have no involvement on the 10A from 6/9, it will be run fully from St Helens as far as I know. Indeed, the entire Arriva fleet will leave St Helens before 6/9 (I suspect mass vehicle movements on the evening of 5/9)......most, if not all the E400's at St Helens, are destined for Speke to replace older deckers (although that's going off topic for this thread......)

 

[JasonL]

So the 10A is going to be joint ran from Franchised Stagecoach St Helens and Commercial Arriva?

The cancellation of the Stagecoach 10A will be from Gillmoss, at it was mentioned on a Facebook comment on a LCR group that Franchised routes don't need to be registered unless they are cross border services, like the 34

Arriva will NOT continue to operate the 10A from the 6th of September. It will be entirely operated by Stagecoach's Jackson Street depot.

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Arriva will NOT continue to operate the 10A from the 6th of September. It will be entirely operated by Stagecoach's Jackson Street depot.

Yes that's what I was saying to Statto

 

[gka472l]

Looking at St Helens and what is due vehicle wise, the amount of double deckers due (60 Ultroliners & 17 E400MMC's from Gillmoss) is much higher than what Arriva have there now (36 E400's). Presumably some services operated by single deckers currently will be double deckers.....whereas (in my opinion), the amount for Wirral seems a bit tight (50 Ultroliners to replace 46 Arriva B5LH, plus some Stagecoach decker workings), current route 38 is one that generally is decker worked.....