Ben Wakerley
A SERIES of revisions are to be made to Warrington’s bus network this spring – including new services to and from Bank Quay Station and the introduction of the Cheshire Cat service in the south of the borough.
Network Warrington is says it is making the changes in response to customer feedback, including the views of passengers who attended a special roadshow in Stockton Heath on February 28.
Improvements to be made from Sunday, April 8 include:
•High frequency buses, up to every 10 minutes, in south Warrington to Stockton Heath via Priestly College
•A new, frequent link to Warrington Bank Quay
•A new 360 connection to Wigan under contract to TfGM
•Revisions to a small number of other services
Network Warrington’s managing director, Ben Wakerley, said: “We’re delighted to introduce these latest service improvements.
“We are grateful to all the residents who braved the elements to come along to the Cheshire Cat roadshow at Stockton Heath and we were pleased to hear some really positive feedback about the proposed changes.”
The brand new Cheshire Cat-branded bus fleet – which includes improved seating, Wi-Fi and USB charging – will provide a 10-minute frequency service between Warrington Interchange and Stockton Heath, as follows:
•Cat 5: Warrington – Lymm – Altrincham via Dunham Massey
•Cat 5A: Warrington – Lymm – Altrincham via Partington
These services will combine to provide two buses an hour to Lymm and Thelwall.
Other new services as part of the Cheshire Cat network are:
•Cat 6: Warrington – Cobbs Estate – Grappenhall every 30 minutes giving four buses an hour to Knutsford Road and Ackers Road but will no longer operate via Stockport Road and All Saints Drive.
•Cat 7 and Cat 8: operating as the current 7 and 8 services to Appleton Thorn.
•Cat 9 and Cat 9A: operating as the current services 45 and 46 to Northwich.
Bank Quay Station is an important gateway to the town but currently doesn’t have a regular bus service. From April 8, all Cheshire Cat services will serve station every 10 minutes for journeys to and from the town centre.
Rail passengers can also ask for a Warrington Plus Bus add-on when they book their rail ticket and the cost of this will be added to the train fare. Bus stops are situated close to the station.
Network Warrington is making revisions to other services, as part of the changes. In some areas, they operate loss-making routes. This is to ensure that as many of Warrington’s communities continue to be connected and are not left isolated.
The company’s bus network is constantly reviewed and, due to a fall in demand on some routes, revisions to some existing routes have been necessary. Further changes to be introduced on April 8 are:
•Service 23 will be changed to a revised Service 25, which will be diverted via Cinnamon Brow.
•Service 25 will have a revised timetable, with peak journeys being retimed.
•The 11 and 12 services will continue to operate at off peak times, with peak time services available via the new Cheshire Cat on Wilderspool Causeway.
Mr Wakerley added: “We’d love for people to leave their cars in the garage and try out our improving bus network.
“We are determined to improve your bus service in all its aspects and we will have more news to come.”
