Bus firm reinstates X1 Liverpool service

THE popular Runcorn to Liverpool X1 express bus has been reinstated.

Arriva North West announced the route’s return as it revealed the latest wave of services to be increased as pandemic lockdown eases.

The X1 will now run once every 40 minutes between Castlefields in Runcorn and Liverpool city centre and vice versa on weekdays and Saturdays.

There is no Sunday X1 service.

The X1 was dropped at the start of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown, and its absence from the last round of timetable announcements left some passengers fearing it might not return.

An attempt to scrap the service last year caused outrage and sparked fears some passengers would lose their jobs.

The latest update may well put those concerns to rest.

Arriva relaunched the X1 on Monday.

Other timetables came into effect on Sunday.

Coronavirus safety measures are in place and passengers are required by law to wear a face mask unless they have a medical exemption.

Seats within two metres of the driver are taped off, but wheelchair spaces remain available.

A no-standing policy is in place, and buses will show a ‘bus full’ sign if needed and will only stop to let passengers off.

Passengers are asked to be patient and allow others to travel ahead of them if they need to more urgently.

Phil Stone, Arriva regional managing director, said: “At Arriva we are committed to running vital services to support workers and people needing to undertake essential journeys at this time.

“Rest assured that during these times of change we are continually monitoring service levels in line with demand and will, wherever we can, adapt our services to meet this.

“We urge all those needing to travel to only use public transport if necessary and to check our website at arrivabus. co.uk/coronavirus for up-to-date advice and bus times before they travel.

“The continued effort shown by all of my colleagues, to adapt our timetables and in continuing to provide essential services for this region, is hugely appreciated.

“Our focus continues to be to keep the country moving as we fight the coronavirus together.”

Timetables can be downloaded online at arrivabus.co.uk