MERSEYTRAVEL is once again offering free bus services on Christmas Day, to help people visit their loved ones in hospital or to spend time with their friends and family.
Buses will operate a limited service from around 12 noon until around 6pm on routes serving hospitals across Merseyside.
The service is one of a number of passenger friendly services over the Christmas period, including flat rate, early hours trains from Merseyrail - departing at 1.30am from Liverpool to Southport and Hooton - and night buses on certain routes.
Councillor Liam Robinson, Chair of Merseytravel said: “We are one of only a very few areas operating services on Christmas Day and we know that they can be a lifeline for people who would otherwise find it difficult and costly to visit loved ones in hospital.
“Although these services are provided mainly for hospital visiting, anyone who can use them to visit friends and family along the routes is very welcome to do so.”
BUSES
Christmas Day Services
10X between Queen Square Bus Station, Royal Liverpool Hospital, Old Swan, Whiston Hospital and St Helens.
12X between Queen Square Bus Station, Royal Liverpool Hospital, West Derby, Page Moss, Stockbridge and Huyton.
21X between Liverpool ONE Bus Station, Queen Square Bus Station, Royal Liverpool Hospital, Aintree University Hospital, Kirkby and Tower Hill.
44X between Formby, Ainsdale, Southport Hospital, Southport, Churchtown and Crossens.
62X between Crosby, Waterloo, Bootle, Black Bull and Aintree University Hospital.
102X between Broadgreen Hospital, Alder Hey Hospital and Aintree University Hospital.
110X between New Brighton, Liscard, Birkenhead, Bebington and Clatterbridge Hospital.
118X between New Brighton, Liscard, Beechwood, Arrowe Park Hospital, Bebington, Bromborough and Mill Park.
194X between St Helens, Eccleston, Whiston Hospital, Rainhill, St Helens Hospital and St Helens.
195X between St Helens, St Helens Hospital, Rainhill, Whiston Hospital, Eccleston and St Helens.
201X between Queen Square Bus Station, Royal Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool Women’s Hospital and Speke.
Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
Buses will run to a normal Wednesday timetable but will finish early. After about 1900, all services will gradually stop running, with no buses running after about 2030. Services will vary depending on route and operator – check website for details.
Boxing Day - a special limited network of buses will run on some routes between about 0900 - 1800 only.
New for this year, Routes 202 and 204 will be running during the daytime, providing a direct link between Alder Hey, Broadgreen and The Liverpool Women’s hospitals
Also, the North West Vehicle Restoration Trust (NWVRT) will be running Route 80D every 30 minutes, between Liverpool city centre and Garston. This free service will be operated by heritage
Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December - buses will run to normal timetables.
Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 December – services will vary depending on route and operator.
Late Night Services
Late Night TrainsWeekend late night bus services
Late night/early morning buses will operate in Liverpool from midnight on Sunday 14 and 21 December.
Bus services will leave approximately every half hour between midnight and 0400 from Queen Square with services to Page Moss, Croxteth, Waterloo, Garston and Allerton. There will also be a half hourly service from Allerton Library to Queen Square running similar times.
Weekend late night train services
Merseyrail are running special late trains during the early hours of Sunday 14 December, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 December, leaving Liverpool central station at 01.30
Northern Line – Liverpool Central to Southport.
The train will depart Liverpool Central at 01.30 and arrive at Southport at 02.04. The train will only stop to drop passengers off at Waterloo and Formby stations, the train will not stop at any other stations on this line. This is a drop off service only.
Wirral Line – Liverpool Central to Hooton.
The train will depart Liverpool Central at 01.30 and arrive at Hooton at 01.52. The train will only stop to drop passengers off at Birkenhead Central, Bebington and Bromborough stations and terminate at Hooton. Passengers will only be allowed to board services at Liverpool Central. This is a drop off service only.
FERRIES
Christmas Eve - the last ferry will depart Pier Head at 1500, arriving at Seacombe 1520, Woodside 1530 and finishing at Pier Head at 1550.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day - no ferries will run.
Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December - normal service.
Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 December - no Commuter services. The first River Explorer Cruise will depart Pier Head at 1100 and the last will depart Pier Head at 1600.
New Year’s Eve - no Commuter services. The first River Explorer Cruise will depart Pier Head at 1100 and the last will depart Pier Head at 1500.
New Year’s Day, Thursday 1 January - no ferries will run.
Friday 2 January 2015 - no Commuter services. The first River Explorer Cruise will depart Pier Head at 1100 and the last will depart Pier Head at 1600.
Saturday 3 January 2015 - normal service resumes.
TRAINS
Merseyrail
Christmas Eve - train services finish early.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day - services will not run
New Year's Eve - train services finish early.
Northern Rail
Christmas Eve - services will start to wind down across the network from 7pm with very few trains running after 9pm.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day - services will not run
Thursday 27 December - normal service will resume except for a few very early morning services.
New Year’s Eve - services will start to wind down across the network from 7pm with very few trains running after 9pm.
New Year’s Day - services will start a little later than usual.
Wednesday 2 January - normal service will resume.
