Stagecoach wins contract to operate new Liverpool City Region bus network

Stagecoach is delighted to announce it has been awarded the contract to operate the new franchised bus network serving communities across the St Helens area of the Liverpool City Region.

The contract, awarded by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA), will see the operator run bus services from St Helens to local suburbs as well as Liverpool City Centre, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Prescot and Wigan. These routes will run from September 2026 and significantly enhance connectivity and service reliability for thousands of daily passengers.

This contract award follows a comprehensive bidding process focused on operational excellence, passenger experience, and social value. The new franchised network is designed to offer a more seamless and integrated travel experience, with a focus on investment in modern vehicles, real-time information systems and enhanced passenger facilities.

Under the new contract, Stagecoach will operate 26 routes, served by a fleet of 113 buses from the Jackson Street depot. 

Steve Rotheram, the Mayor for the Liverpool City Region announced the new franchise winners today and commented:

“For hundreds of thousands of people across our region, buses aren’t a ‘nice to have’ – they’re a lifeline. They’re how people get to work, to school, to hospital appointments, to see family and friends. But for too long, too many people have been let down by a system that put shareholders before passengers.

"For more than 40 years, buses have been run without proper accountability - services turning up late or not turning up at all; fares rising year after year; routes being cut with no thought for the communities left isolated as a result. People have felt they had no voice and no control. I understand that frustration - and it must change.

"That’s why we are taking back control. Franchising gives us the power to hold operators to account, to shape routes, fares and timetables around the needs of our area and its citizens. Today marks the start of a new era for buses in St Helens and Wirral - where passengers will always come first. Alongside our publicly-owned trains, we are putting the public back into public transport.”

Rob Jones, Managing Director of Stagecoach Manchester & Merseyside said: 

“We are extremely proud to have been chosen for this crucial contract, which underlines our long-term commitment in the Liverpool City Region.

“We have a fantastic local team who have a proud history of serving communities in and around the Liverpool City Region, and we are honoured to be entrusted with the responsibility of delivering reliable and high-quality services under this new franchise. We are looking forward to working in partnership with the Mayor and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, as we have a shared goal to deliver outstanding service for a brighter future for our region.

"We would also like to express our thanks to all of our dedicated colleagues at Rock Ferry. We value their contribution and are committed to supporting them through the transition process as we move to the new operating model.”