It is a happy Monday for public transport fans in the region, with the government revealing a £995m boost for bus services nationwide and TransPennine Express upping the frequency of trains between Liverpool and Manchester and Manchester and Leeds.
Buses
Transport secretary Louise Haigh announced today that the government would be investing £995m in improving bus services across the country through 2026. Of those funds, £148.5m are earmarked for the North West.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority is set to receive the most from the funding pot, with £66.4m allocated to it. Lancashire County Council has the second highest award, receiving £27.1m. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority follows with £20.9m.
The full list of North West local authorities to receive money from the announcement is as follows:
- Blackburn with Darwen Council – £5.2m
- Blackpool Council – £4.3m
- Cheshire East Counil – £5.4m
- Cheshire West and Chester Council – £5.8m
- Cumberland Council – £5.3m
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority – £66.4m
- Lancashire County Council – £27.1m
- Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – £20.9m
- Warrington Council – £3.8m
- Westmorland and Furness Council – £4.3m
The money is to go towards maintaining and increasing the number of services, resulting in more punctual bus schedule.
Councils did not have to bid for a portion of the funding pot, instead the money was allocated based on place need, levels of deprivation, and population, according to the Department for Transport.
In announcing the funds, Haigh praised the role of buses – saying that the “value of regular and reliable bus services cannot be understated”.
She added: “For far too long, the North West has been suffering from unreliable services with buses hugely delayed, or not even turning up at all.
“This funding kickstarts the bus revolution to bring an end to the postcode lottery of bus services, drive economic growth and make sure people have proper access to jobs and opportunities.”
The £995m is in addition to the £150m the government previously announced to extend the bus cap at £3 until the end of December 2025. The government will also introduce a buses bill during this parliament to empower local authorities when it comes to managing their community bus networks.
Trains
TransPennine Express is turning the clock back, embracing its former timetable to increase the number of express trains between Manchester Victoria and Leeds and Manchester Victoria and Liverpool Lime Street.
Starting on 15 December, TPE will run four express trains an hour between Manchester and Leeds. There will also be two express trains an hour between Manchester and Liverpool Monday through Saturday, with TPE announcing it would be reducing the number of services between the two cities on Sunday.
Services between the cities had been reduced last year, with TPE managing director Chris Jackson promising to reintroduce them in 2024 if able.
In addition to restoring the old timetable, TPE announced that it would add a stop at Eaglescliffe for the first time. There would also be hourly calls at Chester-le-Street, Castleford, Normanton, and Wakefield.
The government-controlled train company also said it would introduce more evening services between Manchester and Oxenholme. Most of those travelling between Liverpool and Cleethorpes will also be on six carriage trains now to provide more seats for customers.
“We’re please to be returning to our more historic timetable, bringing back and adding new services and additional seats which will make a real difference for our customers,” Jackson said.
“We have seen great achievements across TPE in the past 12 months in particular, with cancellations reduced by 70% and, thanks to our customers old and new having confidence to travel with us, we have become the second-fastest-growing train company in the UK.”