Ambitions and Proposals 2025-2030 and Beyond

Better bus services will see fewer cars on the road, less congestion, quicker journey times, and will mean more journeys can be run with the same number of vehicles, making the bus a more attractive option. It will also benefit those who are unable to use the bus, as they will be able to get to their destination faster. This is particularly an issue in the Lake District, where the visitors which bring much needed revenue and employment to the area, also cause congestion for those residents going about their jobs, when visitors, especially those visiting just for the day use their cars.

To further support increased bus usage there will need to be measures to discourage car use, such as tougher parking restrictions and charges, plus giving the bus priority at the expense of delays for the motorist.

This has to be done in a cost-effective way. Routes in Cumberland are not highly profitable, so there will need to be a large initial Council investment to kick start the improvements. There will also need to be an acceptance that the bus will not always be the right solution for many rural areas. Investment instead in Demand Responsive Transport solutions, and possibly Park and Ride on the edge of town centres, with frequent bus services offering a link to traffic restricted central areas, may be required.

The Council will look to:

• Reduce the age profile of the bus fleet to offer more attractive service to passengers
• Move to an electric bus fleet
• Improve bus station facilities in Carlisle and Workington
• Improve waiting facilities at Keswick; Whitehaven; Wigton
• Provide more information on next services and any delays or disruption, at key locations

Additional Council proposals

On main routes in Carlisle, provide services:

• 05:00 to 23:00 Monday to Saturday
• 09:00 to 20:00 on Sundays
• At least every 10 minutes in the daytime on Monday to Saturday
• At least every 30 minutes early morning / late evening / Sundays

Whitehaven / Workington / other routes in Carlisle, provide services:

• 07:00 to 22:00 Monday to Saturday
• 09:00 to 18:00 on Sundays
• At least every 20 minutes in the daytime on Monday to Saturday
• At least every 30 minutes early morning / evenings Monday to Saturday
• At least every hour on Sundays

Main routes between larger towns, provide services:

• At least every 30 minutes daytime Monday to Saturday
• With first arrival no later than 08:00 and last return no earlier than 18:00
• Evening services with last arrival no earlier than 23:00
• At least hourly 09:00 to 19:00 Sundays
• Faster journey times with a mix of direct Express services and slower services serving more villages

Rural Areas off main roads, provide services:

• Mix of Monday to Saturday, daytime Demand Responsive, and weekly bus services, as appropriate for demand.