Cheshire and Wirral buses

County advice overview

Bus services in Cheshire are provided by a number of companies, chiefly Arriva, First Bus and Stagecoach. You can visit their websites for route planning and accessible travel advice.

On the Wirral, services are also provided by various operators; however, Merseytravel acts as a ‘one-stop shop’ for bus and other travel queries.

Key Tips

When planning a journey by bus, things to consider might be, ‘Where is my nearest bus stop?’ and ‘What bus number do I need?’. You may also want to think about buying your ticket, what it will cost, are you entitled to reduced fares, can you pay by cash or card, and can you buy online in advance. Be aware that online tickets for buses are often non-refundable if you cannot make your journey.

Buses can only stop at marked bus stops, so you need to be sure where you are getting off in advance. If you are not sure, the bus driver should be happy to help you. Ask the driver to let you know when your stop is coming up. You may need to consider if the nearest bus stop is accessible if you are travelling with a scooter or wheelchair.

For general advice and information for disabled travellers, visit the everyone’s journey website.

Cheshire West and Chester residents can download the iTravel App via the App Store or Play Store, for further journey planning.

Operators

Arriva

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/buy-tickets/region/north-west

First Bus

https://www.firstbus.co.uk/journey-planner/

Stagecoach

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/plan-a-journey

For bus journeys on the Wirral, visit the Merseytravel website:

https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/timetables/#bus

Help with the Cost

Older Person’s Bus Pass

To apply for an Older Person’s Bus Pass, you must be of state pension age. You can apply to the local authority where you are a resident. However, Wirral residents should apply via Merseytravel. 

The Older Person’s Bus Pass can be used throughout England between 9:30am and 11:00pm on weekdays and all day on Saturday and Sunday. Note that different rules apply for travel companions.

Further information:

• Cheshire West and Chester
• Cheshire East
• Merseytravel (Wirral residents)

Disabled Person’s Bus Pass

Disabled residents can apply to their local authority for a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass, if they meet the eligibility criteria. There is no age restriction.

Detailed information can be found via the relevant local authority websites below. (For Wirral choose Merseytravel.)

• Cheshire West and Chester
• Cheshire East
• Wirral

Special Assistance

All major bus companies have produced Assistance Cards. These are for travellers who have extra needs but who prefer to alert the driver in a discrete manner.

Assistance Cards can be downloaded via the links below:

• Arriva
• First Bus
• Stagecoach

Travelling with Mobility Equipment

Wheelchairs and Mobility Scooters

It is a legal requirement that buses are accessible to users with limited mobility who use a wheelchair. Most buses in Cheshire and Wirral have low floors, which allows them to be accessed by wheelchair and mobility scooter users. Wheelchair users are given priority to access the designated wheelchair space.

Only Class 2 scooters (which are lighter than the Class 3 road scooters) can be used on a bus. Users are required to obtain a permit, prior to travel, through their bus company. Information can be found on the relevant bus operator’s website.

Assistance Dogs

Guide dogs and assistance dogs are legally entitled to travel on public transport.

Routes and timetable links

There is no single portal for planning bus journeys in Cheshire. However, you can use the relevant bus operator’s website to plan your journey.

Traveline also provides national travel advice and route planning. 

You can phone 0871 2002233 (12p per minute from mobiles and landlines) or use the journey planner on the Traveline website.

On the Wirral, bus journeys can be planned via the Merseytravel website.

Or call 0151 3301000 for travel guidance.