The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) has awarded further bus franchise contracts, with Huyton Travel and Warrington’s Own Buses the beneficiaries of those in the smaller Category 2 segment.
Huyton Travel – which was purchased by Tower Transit in February 2025 – will deliver 94 routes that largely serve schools and colleges in Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, and Wirral.
It will require 73 vehicles for that against a current roster of around 30 smaller buses for contracted local bus services. The Tower Transit subsidiary advises that it will use depots in Huyton and on Wirral for the franchise contracts.
Meanwhile, Warrington’s Own Buses will handle service 322 between Warrington and Ashton-in-Makerfield via Haydock. The municipal already runs a 22 route on that axis.
Managing Director Ben Wakerley says that the operator is “extremely proud to be part of the Liverpool City Region’s transformation of its bus services” and that his team looks forward to delivering route 322 on LCRCA’s behalf.
LCRCA has not given start dates for the contracts awarded to Huyton Travel or Warrington’s Own Buses, but in the former case they extend across more than one franchising tranche area.
Large Category 1 contracts for the first tranche locations of St Helens and Wirral will start this autumn, having been awarded to Stagecoach and Go North West respectively. Knowsley, Liverpool and Sefton will see franchising in 2027 to complete the region’s rollout.
LCRCA says a further round of procurement for the remainder of services under Category 2 bus franchise contracts will be undertaken later in 2026. Those awarded to Huyton Travel and Warrington’s Own Buses have been made via competitive tender.
A previous tender document for the Category 2 passport system noted how for those contracts, services will be delivered from the successful operator’s own depot, with the party concerned also responsible for providing the necessary vehicles.
LCRCA Director of Transport Jamie Ross observes how the latest awards represent “another key step forward in our franchising programme.” He adds that the Combined Authority “will work with these operators to ensure that the services they provide meet the standards for reliability and frequency.”
Huyton Travel Manager Mary Carruthers has welcomed that business’s awards. “For over 40 years, Huyton Travel has been proud to service communities across the LCRCA region, and we are excited to carry that local legacy into the region’s new franchising era,” she says.
“By combining our deep roots in the city with over 30 years of franchising experience from Tower Transit and [its parent] Kelsian Group, we will help to deliver a reliable, high-quality service that truly works for local people.”
Tower Transit Managing Director Samuel Ribeiro has congratulated the Huyton Travel team on the success, describing it as “impressive and transformational” for the operator.
“I am confident that Tower Transit’s franchise experience, combined with Huyton Travel’s local knowledge, will be key to delivering a smooth mobilisation and successful services,” Mr Ribeiro adds.
