Following the closure of Avon Bus Ltd earlier this month, Merseytravel has announced it’s to introduce new services into Wirral – replacing missing hospital links.
Following a tender process, the transport executive has confirmed details on the new services, which are as follows:
• Reintroduction of the 16/17 from South Wirral to Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals;
• Reintroduction of an Oxton Village service;
• A level of service will be reintroduced to nearly all areas currently without access to public transport during Monday to Saturday daytimes; and
• A replacement service is being brought in to Sefton, serving Bootle to Pendle Drive.
It is expected that the new services will begin operating on Monday 5 November, subject to successful completion of the required procurement process.
The operators of each service, along with arrangements for ticketing, will be confirmed at the same time.
Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, said: “We know how much people rely on bus services for all of their day-to-day activities, from going to school or work, shopping, or visiting the hospital or their GP.
“This swift action, to ensure that people can still get around following the collapse of a private sector operator, demonstrates the importance of the Combined Authority’s role in overseeing public transport across the city region.
“It is also a timely reminder of why we are examining the devolved powers we have around bus services to see how we might further improve bus services in the future.”
Cllr Liam Robinson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Portfolio Holder, added: “While some areas in the country outside our city region are being left with no services due to the financial challenges being faced by local authorities, we have continued our commitment to bus services across the city region.
“The closure of a bus operator at such short notice presented us with a huge challenge but, within the frameworks we have to follow and budget restrictions we have, our staff have done an excellent job to turn around these new services so quickly.”
