Member Article

Stagecoach increases services in Kirkby

Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire is taking over a number of routes in Kirkby on an independent commercial basis, to enable passengers to continue to benefit from regular bus services, following a review of the network of publicly subsidised services in the area.

The company, which is the main bus operator in the area, worked in partnership with Merseytravel over a six month period to review the Kirkby bus network and has agreed to run previously subsidised services on a commercial basis.

Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire has also altered some of its existing routes including renumbering some evening services which, while travelling on the same route, were previously numbered differently to daytime services.

The changes come following the completion of the first LCR Bus Alliance network review which aims to create a simpler, clearer, and where possible, more direct network throughout the region to encourage more people to travel by bus.

Elisabeth Tasker, Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire managing director, said: “As a key public transport provider for people living in the area, we have worked closely with Merseytravel to review and simplify the bus network for current and future bus users.

We felt it was important to do what we could to free up public funds by providing these services on an independent, commercial basis.

“Following public consultation, we have updated and changed some of our existing services to minimise the effect the removal of public funding would have had on the community. Our new schedule will enable people living in Kirkby to continue to easily travel to work, get to school, access Liverpool City Centre, local hospitals and other key amenities.

“Although some services will have to be withdrawn, we have provided replacement options for all routes, and hope that people will not be too disrupted. Please visit our website for up-to-date details on the changes.”

The changes, which come into effect from July 24th, will affect the following services:

The X3 service that covers Liverpool City Centre, Goodison Park, Fazakerley Hospital and Kirkby Civic, has been extended to cover Southdene and Kirkby Admin. It will now operate a half-hourly Monday to Saturday service connecting Britonside Avenue with Fazakerley Hospital and City Centre.

The 14A service that covers Liverpool City Centre, Royal Hospital, Everton Road, Broadway, Croxteth, Kirkby Civic and Tower Hill, has been changed to stop at Saxon Way in Tower Hill (it no longer stops at Headbolt Lane. Passengers for Headbolt Lane are advised to catch number 20). Evening journeys will finish at Kirkby Civic Centre and not at Tower Hill.

The 14B service that covers Liverpool City Centre, Royal Hospital, Everton Road, Broadway, Croxteth and Knowsley Village, will now start and finish at Knowsley Lane and will only run in peak hours.

The 17daytime service from Liverpool City Centre will finish at Fazakerley Hospital. Evening and Sunday trips continue to serve Kirkby as present. Customers that previously caught the 192 service are advised to use the 217 or 227 services as the 192 service is no longer operating due to removal of Merseytravel funding.

The 197 circular service via Kirkby Civic Centre, Bewley Drive, James Holt Avenue, and Kirkby Train Station will be renumbered 97 and 97A and re-routed via Kirkby Park to provide passengers with greater access around Kirkby. It will no longer stop at Kirkby Industrial Park during off-peak periods, passengers making this journey are advised to catch the X3.

The 198 Kirkby Circular service that covers Kirkby Civic Centre, Webster Drive, Kirkby Admin and Kirkby Train Station will be renumbered 98 98A and rerouted via James Holt Avenue to give greater access around Kirkby. It will no longer stop at Kirkby Industrial Park during off peak periods. Passengers making this journey are advised to catch the X3.

The 217 and 227 service that covers Kirkby Civic, Kirkby Admin, Knowsley Village, Page Moss, and Huyton, will be extended to Halewood in the evening and will operate to a new timetable including Sundays. The 217 bus replaces the 365 service and Monday to Friday early morning journeys will be run on a commercial basis by Stagecoach.

The 242 service that covers Liverpool City Centre, Everton, Walton, Fazakerley, Kirkby, and Northwood, will be renumbered to 21 and run on a commercial basis by Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire.

The 244 service that covers Liverpool City Centre, Everton. Walton, Gillmoss, Croxteth, and Kirkby, will be renumbered to 19 and run on a commercial basis by Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire.

The 990, 1, 2, and 3 services will no longer operate due to the removal of Merseytravel funding. Customers are advised to catch buses 14A, 21, 97/97A, 98/98A, 217 and X3.

Follow the company online at stagecoachbus.com or on Twitter at @StagecoachMCSL for more information and company updates.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Violet Brown .