Bus passengers in Bootle and across Merseyside should be aware that new timetables and stop changes for several routes officially came into effect on 29 March 2026. The updates, managed by Merseytravel, impact services operated by Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire and Arriva North West / Arriva Merseyside.
For those travelling between Liverpool and Chester, there have been changes to the times for Route 1 throughout the day. Additionally, the supplementary Route X1 now runs on an hourly basis for Monday to Saturday services. Despite this reduction in frequency for the X1, passengers can still expect a combined frequency of roughly every 20 minutes between the two routes during daytime hours on those days.
Commuters using Route 56 between Liverpool and Netherton will notice a change in the location of a timing point. The stop previously located at Southport Road and Keir Hardie Avenue has been replaced by a new stop at Netherton Way and Dunningsbridge Road. This change follows the completion of Sefton Council’s Maritime Corridor Phase 1 road improvements, which were finished in February 2026. Aside from this location shift, all other timings for Route 56 remain the same.
These adjustments are part of ongoing network changes occurring throughout the region. Residents are encouraged to check the latest timetables to confirm their journey times before travelling.
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