Continued improvements are transforming bus travel to entice people of all ages back onto buses for their journeys – whether they are heading into town to catch a film or grab a meal, meeting up with friends, or visiting the new Youth Zone – bus travel in Warrington is better than ever.

There are enhanced timetables, with more frequent buses every day throughout the evening, making the bus a much better, easier, and convenient choice for people looking to explore Warrington.

From January 2023, services will also have cheaper fares, with a single ticket to any destination within Warrington – on any Warrington’s Own Buses, Arriva, or Go North West bus – costing a maximum £2 on any route.

There are also no restrictions on when concessionary pass holders can use their pass. People who catch the bus from a Warrington bus stop do not have to wait until 9.30am for their pass to be valid, they can get on-board and travel for free at any time of day, seven days a week.

The improvements, which form part of the council’s roadmap to a better bus service for Warrington, include:

• From Winter 2022 – a rolling programme to install improved bus shelters across the whole bus network started
• From January 2023 – cheaper fares with any single fare capped at a maximum £2 across the entire network, on any Warrington’s Own Buses, Arriva or Go North West bus
• From Winter 2023 – the roll-out of an all-electric, more reliable, and cheaper Warrington’s Own Buses fleet, following a successful Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) funding application

Funded by Local Transport Fund money allocated to the council by the Department for Transport, the ‘Better By Bus’ improvements are the latest examples of our investment in the borough’s bus network, delivering an attractive, modern service, which is affordable, reliable, and responsive to people’s needs.

Cllr Hans Mundry, cabinet member for transportation, highways and public realm, said: “I’m delighted to see that the improvements to transform our bus network have continued, especially following the success of the Super Summer Service.

“It’s now easier and cheaper to explore Warrington and get into the town centre, especially over the festive period, when driving and parking can be particularly difficult. These improvements make it more convenient and attractive for everyone to travel by bus throughout Christmas and into 2023.

“This initiative is one of many that we will be delivering in the coming months and years, as part of our Bus Service Improvement Plan to encourage many more people to consider swapping the car for the bus. We all know the huge environmental benefits increased bus usage brings – we now want to deliver a first-class bus service that people can count on. If you have never really used buses in Warrington before – or have stopped using them, there’s never been a better time to get on-board.”

Cllr Cathy Mitchell, deputy council leader and chair of Warrington’s Own Buses, said: “Building on the Super Summer Service and feedback from residents, these bus improvements are another great incentive to leave the car at home and take the bus instead.

“People can look forward to better connectivity to key town centre locations, plus the many wonderful places to visit in Warrington outside of the town centre, where passengers can take advantage of enhanced timetables, cheaper fares, and big benefits for concessionary pass holders.

“Existing bus users will also see big benefits that will help them save money, while getting a better experience, so there’s more reasons to continue to travel by bus.”

“We hope the enhanced evening timetables and cheaper fares will prove to be an attractive proposition to anyone looking to explore everything Warrington has to offer this festive season, and into the New Year.”

The ‘Better By Bus’ initiative also complements ongoing work to speed up bus journeys by adding capacity and efficiency to some of the town’s key routes for public transport. Further information on planned improvement schemes around the town centre will be available in the New Year.

For more information, visit warrington.gov.uk/better-by-bus.