On Trains & Buses

Several bus route changes will take effect across Cheshire from 29^th March 2026. The 12A service will be revised to serve Grand Junction Retail Park and Hungerford Road, with improved links to Crewe Business Park, Crewe Rail Station and Leighton Hospital, while the 19 and 19A routes will be adjusted to improve reliability and reduce congestion at school times, with the McCann’s section withdrawn. The 84 service between Crewe and Chester will see peak-time timetable adjustments to improve punctuality.

On 30^th March, new Sunday journeys will be introduced on the 31 and 37 routes to improve access to essential services and leisure activities, with the 37 also gaining new Monday to Friday journeys between Sandbach and Winsford. The 88 service between Knutsford and Altrincham will receive a revised timetable for improved reliability.

Further changes arrive from 5^th April, when the 391 and 891 services between Macclesfield, Poynton and Stockport will gain a new Sunday service for similar reasons. On 13^th April, a new 86 service will be introduced as a circular route between Knutsford, Over Peover and Ollerton, alongside revisions to the 87 and 89 routes to improve reliability, with the 89 no longer serving Pickmere.

From Sunday 29^th March 2026, several bus routes in Merseyside and Cheshire are subject to timetable changes. To begin with, Routes 1 and X1, operating between Liverpool and Chester, will see revised timings throughout, with the X1 Monday to Friday and Saturday services reduced to hourly, resulting in a combined daytime frequency of approximately every 20 minutes alongside Route 1.

Meanwhile, Route 56, serving Liverpool and Netherton, will replace the Southport Road, Kier Hardie Avenue timing point with a stop at Netherton Way, Dunnings Bridge Road, with all other timings remaining the same. Turning to Warrington, Routes 329 and 360 will follow a minor reroute along Winwick Road onto Winwick Street into Warrington bus station, with Route 360 retaining its existing timings and Route 329 seeing this change applied to Arriva services only. Finally, from Monday 30^th March 2026, Route 319 between Kirkby and Skelmersdale will serve all stops along the route, with timings remaining unchanged.

The electrification of the Core Valley lines in South Wales has been completed following a six-year, £1 billion project, with the final section of overhead lines energised between Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay. The work involved installing over 3,100 steel posts, five substations and lowering tracks under 14 bridges to accommodate overhead lines. The network now supports bi- and tri-mode trains, enabling the introduction of tram services between Pontypridd and Cardiff Bay. Officials highlighted the project as a major milestone for rail infrastructure, citing improved capacity, frequency and reliability of services, along with environmental benefits, while acknowledging the challenges faced by communities during construction.

Two new stations in the West Midlands, Willenhall and Darlaston, have opened with features including sheltered platforms, accessible lifts, ticket machines and secure cycle parking, alongside dedicated car park spaces for commuters. These developments are part of a £185 million project by Transport for West Midlands to construct five new stations, with three additional stations on the Camp Hill Line in Birmingham set to open in early April. The stations aim to improve connectivity for local residents, offering direct links to major transport hubs and enhancing travel options. Service started calling at the new stations began on 19^th March, marking the start of operations for passengers based near them.

A fleet of diesel trains originally built for the Midland Main Line over two decades ago will be deployed in Scotland to replace ScotRail’s aging High Speed Trains, which have been in service since the 1970’s and are now the last of their kind in regular use across Britain. These Class 222 units, introduced in 2004 and based on the Voyager design, feature a redesigned interior and are undergoing extensive refurbishment, including new seating, lighting and improved accessibility.

A technical support contract with Alstom and a separate £80 million upgrade agreement with Beacon will ensure enhancements to comfort, reliability and facilities. The Scottish Government has contributed £67 million to the project, with the first units expected to enter service by late next year and all 22 sets operational by 2028. ScotRail’s managing director highlighted the upgrade as a step toward a more sustainable and customer-focused rail network, aiming to encourage greater use of public transport and improve overall journey quality.

Iarnród Éireann has announced plans to extend DART services to Kilcock Station in County Kildare, alongside a proposed relocation of the DART+ Depot to a site west of the town, following a public consultation process. The extension will increase train frequency to every 10 minutes during peak times, introduce upgraded station infrastructure including a second track, new platforms and accessible pedestrian bridges and fully electrify the rail network to support sustainable travel.

The depot will house up to 750 new DART carriages, create over 100 maintenance roles and include facilities such as a test track, maintenance sheds and improved staff amenities. The project, part of the broader DART+ Programme aiming to expand this rail network to over 150 km, is targeted for completion by 2031, pending approvals and seeks public input until late April to refine its design and ensure alignment with community needs.

A new bus service has been introduced to improve connectivity between Macclesfield, Alderley Park, Wilmslow and Manchester Airport, with funding from the government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan. The 150 service now links Macclesfield and Wilmslow railway stations via Alderley Park, while the 130 service now stops at Wilmslow railway station with an enhanced Saturday schedule. Together, these routes offer more frequent travel, with buses running up to every 30 minutes between Macclesfield and Alderley Park on weekdays and reduced journey times from both railway stations to Alderley Park. The 130 continues to serve Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport, providing onward connections. Local officials highlighted the benefits of these changes, including improved access to employment, healthcare and transport hubs, as well as supporting integrated public transport by enabling seamless transfers between trains and buses. The services are now operational, with details available through relevant transport providers.

Transport for Ireland has introduced two new bus routes, MU1 and MU2, in Mullingar, operating seven days a week with services every 30 minutes until late evening, connecting key locations such as Mullingar Station, the Regional Hospital and the Mullingar Business Park. Some stops, including Farranshock Park and Presentation Convent, are temporarily out of service. Fares are available for cash or via a TFI Leap Card, offering discounts for adults, young adults, students and children. Additional information on timetables, route details and events is provided, along with access to apps and other resources for passengers.

A significant investment in Welsh train services was announced, which includes the creation of seven new stations. The plans, worth almost £500 million, are part of a larger scheme to upgrade and electrify rail lines in Wales. Six of the new stations will be located in South Wales, while one will be situated on the Wrexham to Liverpool line. Work on the projects is expected to start this year, with the first station due to open later in 2026. The Welsh Government has already committed substantial funds to upgrading rail services and investing in new trains.

Work is due to start on electrifying parts of the Borders Railway in Scotland over three weekends in March. The scheme, which forms part of a £342 million investment in electrification and electric trains, will see overhead 25kV lines installed between Newcraighall and Shawfair and between Bowshank Tunnel and Tweedbank. This will allow diesel units on the line to be replaced by hybrid battery electrics. Engineers will carry out piling work over the three weekends, with further overnight work planned. The project manager has stated that the infrastructure is already suitable for electrification, allowing for less intrusive engineering than would be required on older parts of the network.