New bus services are being launched this summer because of work between Westmorland and Furness Council and local bus operators.
The new services are being funded by the government's Local Authority Bus Grant, previously known as the Bus Service Improvement Plan.
Already started on 20 June, the Travellers Choice Saturday service X12 from Coniston to Ulverston via Torver is operating four trips a day in each direction. This is in addition to Blueworks and the Friends of the X112's weekday services, which are unchanged. The Saturday journeys will run until 1 November.
From 4 July the 517 Little Langdale Shuttle operated by Stagecoach will return running on weekends throughout July and August, plus on August Bank Holiday Monday. It will offer five return trips a day to Little Langdale from Ambleside, and this year for the first time, from Coniston.
Starting on Sunday 19 July, there will be a new three-times-a-day Sunday timetable on the 563 service between Penrith and Kirkby Stephen via Temple Sowerby, Kirkby Thore, Appleby, Warcop (for Eden Valley Railway) and Brough, operated by Stagecoach. This follows the success of the Saturday service initiated by Kirkby Stephen Town Council, and the enhanced weekday service on the same route supported by Westmorland and Furness Council. It is the first time for very many years that a Sunday service has operated on this route. The service will run until at least the start of November.
Following requests in public consultation, a new 534 service will also operate on Monday to Saturday during the main summer school holiday period, from Grange-over-Sands to Windermere via Haven Leisure Park, Holker Hall, Haverthwaite (for the steam railway), Backbarrow (for motor museum), Fell Foot, Blackwell Arts & Crafts House and Bowness Pier (for Lakes Cruises). The new service will provide three return trips a day.
A maximum £3 single fare applies on all these new services, whilst English National Concessionary Travel passes are valid for free travel on all trips. Details are also awaited of a government-backed free travel scheme for under 16s during August.
The council has also recently secured the future of journeys on 20 services it had previously been funding, and will soon be investigating improvements to these routes and a number of other routes to start from November, including Sedbergh to Kendal; Askam to Barrow; and Bowness – Crook – Kendal. All will be subject to meeting the council's value for money criteria.
Cllr Adrian Waite, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Transport, said: "Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to supporting bus services that provide a high-quality experience for passengers, including strong connections between our towns and surrounding communities.
"These new services place a particular focus on improving access to cultural, leisure and heritage attractions for both residents and visitors. They enable people who live in rural areas to access urban services, they enable sustainable tourism and they enable people to access attractive and sustainable town centres without the use of a car.
"Supporting sustainable transport options is key to the future of Westmorland and Furness, and I am delighted that these new routes will help to achieve that ambition throughout the summer."
"Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to supporting the provision of bus services that offer a high-quality experience for users, including good connections between town centres and surrounding areas. These new services have a particular focus on accessing culture, leisure and heritage for residents and visitors.
"Supporting sustainable transport options is key to the future of Westmorland and Furness and I am delighted that these new routes will be contributing to this aim over the summer."
Timetables are not currently available on the council website, but further details of all these services, plus others throughout the region can be obtained at public.transport@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk or by calling 0333 240 6965 option 2 then option 1 (During normal office hours: local call rates apply).
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