New and improved bus services for towns and villages

The aim is to connect more communities, help people reach work, school and health services more easily.

The funding, part of the national Bus Services Improvement Plan, will support routes that are not currently profitable for commercial bus companies but are important to local residents.

Cllr Denise Rollo, Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places (Image: Cumberland Council) These new and enhanced services will focus on places where buses are limited or where links between towns and villages no longer run.

Among the improvements planned are extra journeys between Carlisle and Anthorn, including a new Sunday service, and the return of a route linking Kirkbride to Carlisle, passing through villages such as Cargo, Houghton and Rockcliffe. 

A new coastal service will run between Whitehaven and Ravenglass, and buses between Carlisle and Cockermouth will run more frequently, linking people to hospitals and job sites.

The Council has also committed to keeping several services it introduced last November, including those linking Silloth to Maryport and Maryport to Egremont.

Local town routes in Cockermouth are set to return, and services around Whitehaven and Frizington will be expanded.

Cllr Denise Rollo, Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places, said:

"I am delighted that the Highways Strategic Board endorsed this procurement. Cumberland Council and its officers have worked exceptionally hard to get us to this point engaging closely with both the public and transport operators to understand their needs and ideas.

"This is the next step in building a better future for public transport in Cumberland, one that directly reflects what our communities have told us they want. 

"While not all services may attract tenders, given market constraints such as vehicle and driver availability, Cumberland Council is committed to securing the best possible outcomes for residents within the available funding envelope."

The proposals were shaped through conversations with residents and local groups, who gave feedback on where buses were most needed and what times would be most useful.