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+--- Thread: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising (/showthread.php?tid=1769)
RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising - St Helens Rider - 02/04/2026 14:39
https://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/news/bus-franchising-takes-another-step-forward-as-further-contracts-awarded-for-services-across-liverpool-city-region
So HTL have won the School services and WOB have won the 322 (the current 22 service).
RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising - Route102 - 02/04/2026 16:25
(02/04/2026 14:39)St Helens Rider Wrote: https://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/news/bus-franchising-takes-another-step-forward-as-further-contracts-awarded-for-services-across-liverpool-city-region
So HTL have won the School services and WOB have won the 322 (the current 22 service).
Message sent to drivers today saying 73 buses worth of work secured.
RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising - St Helens Rider - 03/04/2026 07:06
Bit more infornation from Route ONE:
https://www.route-one.net/news/huyton-travel-and-warrington-gain-lcrca-bus-franchise-contracts/
RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising - gka472l - 03/04/2026 09:41
(03/04/2026 07:06)St Helens Rider Wrote: Bit more infornation from Route ONE:
https://www.route-one.net/news/huyton-travel-and-warrington-gain-lcrca-bus-franchise-contracts/
E400H's from Stagecoach London look to be on their way (via Wales for repainting).
RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising - moreton407 - 03/04/2026 11:23
(03/04/2026 07:06)St Helens Rider Wrote: Bit more infornation from Route ONE:
https://www.route-one.net/news/huyton-travel-and-warrington-gain-lcrca-bus-franchise-contracts/
Where are Huyton Travel going to get a depot on the Wirral from?
And what will happen to Happy Al's if Huyton Travel are operating Wirral school buses?
RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising - SN55DVG - 03/04/2026 16:03
(03/04/2026 11:23)moreton407 Wrote: Where are Huyton Travel going to get a depot on the Wirral from?
And what will happen to Happy Al's if Huyton Travel are operating Wirral school buses?
A2B have already started to throw the towel in by the looks of things, they're cancelling services for October.... maybe that's where HTL will end up.
RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising - NathanR - 03/04/2026 16:16
(03/04/2026 11:23)moreton407 Wrote: Where are Huyton Travel going to get a depot on the Wirral from?
And what will happen to Happy Al's if Huyton Travel are operating Wirral school buses?
Al's still have the coach hire work if HTL are taking on their tenders, so I can imagine them obviously going to focus on that.
RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising - M60lad - 04/04/2026 04:57
Happy Al's/Al's Coaches still operate 22/22A Chester-West Kirby service unless that's another service planned to be replaced under franchising.
RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising - SN55DVG - 04/04/2026 05:19
(04/04/2026 04:57)M60lad Wrote: Happy Al's/Al's Coaches still operate 22/22A Chester-West Kirby service unless that's another service planned to be replaced under franchising.
The 22/22A is a CW&C County Council contract that'll run into Merseyside under permit like the 1/X1 with Stagecoach.
They've not long won the tender back so I don't think it'll be up for change anytime soon.
RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising - Valandil - 04/04/2026 11:51
I'll be interested to see how this affects Warrington's operations.
While their branding isn't that dissimilar, they'd surely still need to use Metro-branded vehicles for the 322.
It creates a second fleet which is totally distinct from the "main fleet".
That said, we'll see what happens further down the line, particularly with schools.