A BUS service will run from St Helens to Widnes from Monday (March 30) that will aim to offer greater value to passengers.

Merseytravel is introducing the route under Merseyside’s Quality Bus Network with operators Halton Transport and Arriva.

Instead of the two services functioning independently, the operators will work together to run the 17 and 33 services.

The daytime services will operate Monday to Saturday, running a 10-minute service between St Helens and Sutton Manor and a 20-minute service through to Widnes.

Tickets issued by either company will be valid on all buses on the 17 and 33 services. In addition, Arriva and Halton Transport tickets will also be valid on the evening and Sunday 17B supported service, which will be operated by Huyton Transport but funded by Merseytravel and Halton Council.

The 17 and 17B services will run through the Liverpool City Region Better Bus Area, and to support the introduction of the new service, improved bus shelters and bus priority measures, designed to speed up the buses, have also been introduced.

Howard Farrall, managing director Arriva Merseyside added: “We are looking forward to working with Merseytravel and Halton Transport to provide the very best in bus travel between St Helens and Widnes through partnership working.

“Quality Bus Networks are a real opportunity to encourage more people to consider making more journeys by bus.”