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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Remy Greasley

'Extra funding' needed for 'essential' night bus to return, says Stagecoach

Stagecoach has responded to people's concerns about their lack of plans to reintroduce an "essential" nightbus service.

Last week, Stagecoach told the ECHO they had "no plans" to reintroduce the Wirral night bus service that was initially closed due to "low demand." The Wirral night bus service ended in 2019 and has not since returned.

The night bus was considered something of a rite of passage for partygoers, though it ended as the service was operating at a loss. At the time Stagecoach said: "The night buses are not operating for the time being during the coronavirus restrictions, but we hope to resume them later in 2021."

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Stagecoach has now revealed what it would take for the service, considered "essential" for people from Wirral working or partying late in the city, to return. The response came after the ECHO took people's concerns to the company, including one man's frustrations that "not everyone can afford taxis" which, along with other ride-hailing services like Uber, are currently the only way to get across the water without personal transport after midnight.

A spokesperson for Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire told the ECHO : "The previous night bus service was aimed at the leisure market and only operated on Friday and Saturday nights. It was withdrawn prior to the pandemic as it was losing an increasing level of money that we could not continue to sustain.

"Unfortunately, since the pandemic, the leisure market has not increased to the levels it once was and therefore we have no plans to reintroduce this service.

"We understand Wirral residents disappointment, however it remains the case that we cannot sustain such a service commercially without extra funding."

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