Member Article

Hospital staff back early bird buses

Staff at three of Liverpool’s biggest hospitals are to benefit from a new early morning bus service launched by Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire.

The 204 bus route, which runs between Belle Vale and Liverpool city centre, will operate seven days a week with services starting from 6am on Monday to Friday.

The improved route will call at Liverpool’s Women’s NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, Alder Hey and Broadgreen Hospital.

Combined, the three hospitals employ over 11,000 people, from doctors and nurses to administrative staff.

Buses on the 204 route run roughly every 30 minutes until 8pm Monday to Friday, allowing employees working shifts to get to and from work with ease.

In addition to stopping outside the hospitals, the 204 bus also covers the old route by Avon and will stop at Mill Street, Dingle Lane, Devonshire Road, Kingsley Road, Smithdown Road, Wavertree High Street and Chelwood Avenue.

Rob Jones, managing director for Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire, said: “The 204 bus is a vital service that connects passengers with some of Liverpool’s biggest hospitals. Thousands of people visit these hospitals every week so it is imperative that there is a bus route that serves the local community.

“We understand there is an ever-increasing demand for early morning services especially among nurses who rely on public transport to get to and from work. This new route will help alleviate any issues that staff face commuting while also improving on its former service by adding contactless payment methods and, in the near future, free Wi-Fi on board.

“We continue to listen to passenger feedback to ensure we are offering our customers an affordable and reliable service.”

The 204 bus operates a revised timetable on Saturdays and Sundays. Stagecoach has worked closely with Merseytravel to facilitate the introduction of the new 204 timetable.

For more information about the new bus route, including its timetable, please visit www.stagecoachbus.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Henry Roberts .