Bus services across the Potteries in Staffordshire will operate on revised timetables throughout the festive period, from 23 December 2024 to 2 January 2025. Passengers should note several significant changes to normal service patterns during this time.
Regular Monday service will run on 23 December, whilst Sunday 29 December will maintain normal Sunday scheduling. Standard service patterns will resume from Thursday 2 January 2025.
Several days will operate on Saturday service schedules, including Friday 27 December, Saturday 28 December, and Monday 30 December, with Service 8 following Monday to Friday timetables on these days except for Saturday 28 December, which will run a standard Saturday service.
Both Christmas Eve (24 December) and New Year’s Eve (31 December) will operate on Saturday service schedules, with early finish times. Service 8 will follow the Monday to Friday timetable on these days. For passengers travelling from Hanley on these days, the last Service 6 departs at 17:40 for Coalville, Parkhall, and Blyth Bridge routes, while Service 6A’s final departure to Blythe Bridge is at 18:00. Service 7 makes its last journey to Kidsgrove at 17:32, and Service 7A concludes with a 17:00 departure to Biddulph. The final Service 8 leaves for Ball Green at 18:05.
Additional key evening services from Hanley include Service 11’s last departures at 17:35 to Newcastle and 18:40 to Dividy Road. Service 18’s final journey to Leek departs at 17:47, while Service 21’s last bus to Man in Space leaves at 17:52. Service 23 concludes with an 18:02 departure to Wimbourne Avenue, and Service 25 offers final journeys at 17:51 to Keele and 18:07 to Newcastle.
For passengers using Services 38 and 38A from Butt Lane, the last departures are scheduled between 16:34 and 16:50. The final Service 39/39A from Kidsgrove to Hanley runs at 17:23. From Newcastle, Services 98 and 99 conclude their operations at 17:43 and 17:59 respectively. Regional connections conclude with Service 101’s last departure to Stafford at 17:07 and Service 103’s final journey to Crewe at 17:18.
There will be no services operating on Christmas Day (25 December) or New Year’s Day (1 January). Boxing Day (26 December) will also see no regular services running, though special buses will operate for the Stoke City FC match.
Passengers are advised to plan journeys in advance, particularly noting the early finish times on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. For the most up-to-date service information, visitors can use a journey planner tool or contact customer service.
Merseytravel has announced its arrangements for public transport across Merseyside during the festive period, with special provisions to maintain essential connectivity throughout the Christmas and New Year season.
Christmas Day Special Services
This year, Merseytravel is providing free bus services across Merseyside on Christmas Day, operated by Stagecoach. Ten dedicated routes will maintain vital connections between key locations, including hospitals, town centres, and residential areas. These services will operate approximately hourly, with most routes running from around midday until early evening.
The network includes essential connections such as the 10A between Liverpool and St Helens, serving communities via Page Moss and Whiston, and the 201 linking Liverpool with Speke via the Royal Liverpool Hospital. Hospital access has been prioritised, with dedicated services like the 102 connecting Broadgreen Hospital to Aintree University Hospital, and routes H2 and H3 providing circular services around St Helens and Whiston Hospital.
Boxing Day Services
Public transport returns on Boxing Day with limited operations. Train services will resume with special timetables on both Northern and Wirral lines, though with reduced stopping patterns. Bus operators will run modified schedules across the region.
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
Regular services will operate on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, though with earlier final departures than usual. Train services will conclude between 20:00 and 21:00 on both evenings. The Mersey Tunnels will remain operational throughout the period, with toll charges suspended from 22:00 on December 24 until 06:00 on December 26.
New Year’s Day
On January 1, 2025, most public transport will operate Sunday service levels across the network. This includes both bus and rail services throughout Merseyside.
Mersey Ferries
River transport services will be suspended on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. However, River Explorer Cruises will operate between December 28 and 31, with departures from Pier Head between 11:00 and 15:00. Passengers should note that Woodside Ferry Terminal remains closed for refurbishment during this period.
Customer Support
The Merseytravel Customer Contact Centre will maintain modified hours throughout the festive period. The service will be closed on Christmas Day, with reduced hours (08:00-18:00) on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. Regular service hours resume from January 2.
Transport users are advised to check the Merseytravel website for any last-minute alterations to scheduled services during the festive period. All Merseytravel Travel Centres will be closed on Christmas Day, and passengers should note that no regular bus or rail services will operate on December 25.
Lothian has announced its comprehensive service arrangements for the festive period, covering operations for Lothian Buses, East Coast Buses, and Lothian Country from December 22, 2024 through January 8, 2025, serving Edinburgh and the surrounding regions.
Normal Service Period
All Lothian operations will maintain regular service patterns through December 23. Lothian Buses, East Coast Buses, and Lothian Country will provide normal Sunday service on December 22 and regular weekday service on December 23.
Christmas Period
On Christmas Eve (December 24), all services across the Lothian network will operate on Saturday timetables, with last journeys running earlier than usual. Christmas Day (December 25) will see special services operating on selected Lothian Buses routes, including Services X18, X27, X28, X40, 43, 72 and 74. East Coast Buses and Lothian Country will operate modified services on Christmas Day with financial support from East Lothian Council and West Lothian Council respectively.
Boxing Day (December 26) will see modified service levels across the subsidiaries. Lothian Buses will operate special timetables on various routes, while East Coast Buses and Lothian Country will maintain special timetables with council support. Eve Coaches services (120, 121, 123 and 130) will operate separately, with Service 120 following Sunday timetables while Services 121, 123 and 130 will not operate.
Between Christmas and New Year
The period between Christmas and New Year will follow weekend patterns across all subsidiaries. All services will operate Saturday schedules on December 27, normal Saturday service on December 28, and normal Sunday service on December 29. December 30 and 31 will operate on Saturday timetables throughout the network.
For Hogmanay celebrations on December 31, Lothian will provide extended ‘H’ night bus services running from midnight until 0400 on January 1. A special Hogmanay ticket, valid across all subsidiaries, will be available at £5 for travel within one fare zone or £10 for two zones, covering both regular services after 1800 on December 31 and the night bus network.
New Year Period
Regular Lothian services will be suspended on New Year’s Day (January 1), though East Coast Buses and Lothian Country will maintain council-supported operations. January 2 will see modified timetables across the network, with Eve Coaches maintaining the same arrangements as Boxing Day. All operations will follow Saturday service patterns on January 3, returning to normal weekend services on January 4 and 5.
Return to Normal Service
The entire network will resume regular weekday service patterns from Monday, January 6, 2025, aligning with the reopening of schools after the holiday period.
Travel Information
Passengers across all services are encouraged to check specific journey times before travelling, as seasonal traffic conditions may affect schedules. Real-time bus information will remain available via Lothian’s digital platforms throughout the festive period. The company’s travel shops will operate modified opening hours, and passengers should consult Lothian’s website and mobile apps for the most current service information and updates.
Scottish Citylink has released its schedule of services for the 2024-25 festive period, covering operations from December 24 through January 3.
Christmas Eve services will operate to normal timetables during the day, with early evening finishes on most routes. The flagship Glasgow-Edinburgh service will conclude with final departures at 20:30 from Glasgow and 22:15 from Edinburgh.
On Christmas Day, a special service will operate on the Glasgow-Edinburgh route 900, with hourly departures from Glasgow between 08:30 and 20:30, and from Edinburgh between 10:15 and 22:15. No other routes will operate on Christmas Day.
Boxing Day sees the resumption of services across the network, though with modified schedules. The Glasgow-Edinburgh service begins early, with first departures at 04:00 from Glasgow and 05:45 from Edinburgh. Highland services include two return journeys between Glasgow and Fort William/Skye, departing Glasgow at 10:30 and 15:30. A special Glasgow-Oban service operates with one return journey, leaving Glasgow at 12:15 and returning from Oban at 18:15.
Regular service patterns resume between December 27 and December 30. There are early evening finishes on December 31, similar to Christmas Eve arrangements.
New Year’s Day features an enhanced service on the Glasgow-Edinburgh corridor, with route 900 operating every 30 minutes in both directions throughout most of the day. The first departures are at 01:00 from Glasgow and 00:45 from Edinburgh, with final services at 20:30 and 22:15 respectively. Airport services run hourly on New Year’s Day, with buses from Glasgow to Edinburgh Airport operating between 09:15 and 18:15, and return services from 10:25 to 19:25.
The intercity network maintains significant coverage on New Year’s Day, with regular services connecting Glasgow and Edinburgh with Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, and Inverness. From Glasgow, services to Aberdeen operate between 08:20 and 20:20, while Inverness connections run throughout the day from 09:40. Edinburgh is provided with frequent departures to both destinations between 07:50 and 19:35.
Special fare conditions apply on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Standard concessionary travel passes, open return tickets, and multi-journey products are not valid. Regular child, student, and other promotional discounts do not apply on these days.
Normal service patterns resume from January 2, though some early morning exceptions may apply on this date. Full regular scheduling returns across all routes from January 3.
Passengers are advised to check specific timetables for their intended journeys, as timings and stopping patterns may vary from regular service. This is particularly important for connections and onward travel arrangements during the festive period.
As the year winds down and festivities ramp up, navigating public transport can become that bit more challenging, especially with altered schedules and early finishes. Thus, here’s a breakdown of D&G Bus arrangements this festive season, starting from Monday 23rd December 2024 and guiding you into the New Year.
Monday 23rd December 2024: A Balancing Act
The start of the festive schedule sees a mix of normal and adjusted services. Most routes, including the 11, 22, 33, and more, will run on normal service levels. However, other services, such as lines 2, 3, and 19/A, will follow a Saturday timetable. Travellers should note that a handful of trips will be suspended; notably, service 6 will not operate at all. Other adjustments are in place for services like 1/A, 5, 32, and 82, where select early morning trips are paused.
Christmas Eve - Tuesday 24th December 2024: Winding Down Early
Christmas Eve mirrors the previous day but anticipates early finishes on several routes to accommodate festive celebrations. While most services maintain regular operations, expect reduced activities post-7 pm. Notably, Service 11 and 22 will not run, and the last service for many lines, such as 8 from Wistaston Green or 12 from Leighton Hospital, will conclude their routes early.
Christmas Day & Boxing Day: A Pause in Operations
On both Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th December 2024, D&G Bus will take a break. Travellers are advised to plan accordingly, as no services will operate on these days.
Friday 27th December 2024: Returning to Routine
With Christmas festivities over, services resume with slight modifications. Most routes, like the 5 and 82, will operate on their usual schedules, albeit with some minor trip suspensions similar to those observed on the 23rd. Service 6 and a few iterations of 32 remain non-operational.
Weekend of 28th-29th December 2024: Status Quo
Saturday and Sunday travel throughout Cheshire and nearby areas will follow the regular weekend timetables. Passengers can expect continuity in service as the larger schedule remains undisturbed over the weekend.
Monday 30th December 2024: Festive Runs Continue
As December draws to a close, the operation continues in much the same manner as previous post-Christmas days, providing a mix of normal and Saturday services, maintaining those early morning trip suspensions where previously indicated.
New Year’s Eve - Tuesday 31st December 2024: The Last Ride of the Year
Reprising the schedule of the 30th, New Year’s Eve also sees early finishes on select routes. Travellers should pay attention to the last trips of the day, particularly those on services 8, 24, and 38, ensuring urgent travels are completed without getting stranded along the way.
New Year’s Day - Wednesday 1st January 2025: Welcome the New Year with a Rest
As is traditional, New Year’s Day will see D&G Bus taking a day of rest, with no services scheduled.
Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd January 2025: Resuming Regularity
The public transport service eases back into its typical rhythm for the new year. Slight deviations remain, notably the persistent absence of early journeys on specific lines like the 1/A, 5, and 82, but otherwise, regular service resumes.
Saturday 4th January 2025: A Return to Normal
By the first Saturday of the new year, D&G Bus returns to normal service, with all routes anticipated to follow their regular schedules. As the seasonal alterations phase out, passengers can expect business as usual.
Expressway, Bus Éireann’s long distance coach service, announces an improved timetable for Route 30 from 26th
January 2025. With thirteen trips each-way daily, the updated schedule offers more frequent and punctual travel. Significant benefits include consistent arrival and departure times, a 10-minute comfort break in Cavan and increased service frequency for Beleek, Bellanaleck, Derrylin and Belturbet, moving from a three-hourly frequency to an hourly one. Passengers will see changes to departure times, with all services operating under the Route 30 pattern, eliminating the X30 route and Butlersbridge being served. The new timetable accommodates varying traffic conditions and operates on a different basis from Monday to Friday versus what happens during weekends and public holidays.
17:15, January 6th, 2025
Due to a road closure on the R477 in County Clare, service 350 is temporarily diverted onto the N67 until 14th
March 2025 between Ballyvaughan and Lisdoonvarna. During the diversion, an additional route, numbered 350C, will provide a shuttle service up to four times a day along the R477 between these locations.
