Liverpool City Region Awards First Bus Franchises to Stagecoach and Go North West
The shift puts fares and route decisions under the Combined Authority with a phased rollout beginning in St Helens in September 2026.
Overview
- Contracts have been signed to franchise buses in St Helens and Wirral for the first time since 1985, making the city region the second in England after Greater Manchester to regain public control.
- Stagecoach will operate the St Helens network and Go North West (Go-Ahead) will run Wirral services following a competitive tender process.
- Services begin in St Helens in autumn 2026 with Wirral to follow, and Sefton, Knowsley and Liverpool are scheduled to join by September 2027.
- The Combined Authority is buying depots and procuring up to 500 buses over the next year, including more than 100 new all‑electric double‑deckers, supported by a £1.6bn transport funding settlement.
- Planned upgrades include a St Helens express to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, extended Wirral links to hospitals and rail stations, Metro yellow and grey livery, smart ticketing, and conversion of a 20‑bus hydrogen trial to battery‑electric.