Merseytravel is restoring standard bus and train services in Bootle, Merseyside, during the week of 8–14 February 2026 as work on the Strand shopping centre redevelopment moves to its next stage. The update means several long-running diversions will end, making it easier for residents to get to work and the shops.
The 215 bus route, which runs between Aintree University Hospital and Lavender Way, will return to its original path from 8 February 2026. According to Merseytravel, drivers will no longer need to follow detours as temporary road barriers on Delaware Road and Washington Parade are being taken down. This change comes as demolition hoardings are shifted following major demolition work at the Strand shopping centre.
Sefton Council has been overseeing the £20 million project to update the town centre and open it up toward the Leeds–Liverpool Canal. While bus stops are returning to their usual spots, the council notes that some walking routes into the shopping centre may still have temporary fences while workers begin new landscaping tasks. Phase 1 of the building project is expected to finish in March 2026.
Train passengers using the Merseyrail Northern Line will also see more regular service through Bootle New Strand station. The seasonal ‘Autumn Leaves’ timetables ended in early January 2026, allowing services to revert to the regular winter timetable from February. These timetable and routing changes are part of a wider set of updates intended to reduce travel delays for commuters across the North Liverpool area.
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