MERSEYTRAVEL is again running free Christmas Day buses along routes serving hospitals.

The services will operate from noon until around 6pm will run.

Cllr Liam Robinson, chair of Merseytravel said: “We are one of only a very few areas operating a service on Christmas Day, we know that they can be a lifeline for people who would otherwise not be able to see their loved ones in hospital on this very special day and I would urge those who can make use of them to do so.”

On Monday and Tuesday, December 23 and 24 most services will operate to normal weekday timetables except for some Arriva, Halton Transport and Stagecoach services, which will run to Saturday timetables. But on December 24 services will finish by 8.30pm.

In the St Helens area on Christmas Day services the only services operating will be the 10X between Liverpool and St Helens, 194X between St Helens and St Helens Hospital and the 195X between St Helens and St Helens Hospital.

On Thursday, December 26 a special network of bus services will run between approximately 8am and 8pm.

Most services will run to their normal weekday timetables on Friday, December 27 except for some Arriva, Halton Transport and Stagecoach services, which will run to Saturday schedules.

On Saturday and Sunday, December 28 and 29 services will run as normal.

On Monday and Tuesday, December 30 and 31 most services as on normal weekdays except for some Arriva, Halton Transport and Stagecoach services, but on New Year’s Eve services will finish by 8.30pm.

On New Year’s Day a special network of bus services will run between approximately 10am and 6pm and normal services will resume on Thursday, January 2.

Trains will run to normal timetable on Christmas Eve but will finish early.

Trains will not operate on Christmas Day or Boxing Day and services may vary from the usual schedule between Friday, December 27 and Monday, December 30.

On New year’s Eve trains will run to Saturday timetables with an early finish and will operate to a Sunday timetable on New Year’s Day.

The normal timetable will resume on Thursday, January 2.

Travellers are reminded that major engineering work at Manchester Victoria station means City Line trains between Liverpool – Earlestown, Newton-le-Willows, Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester will be running to special timetables from December 27 until January 1.

If you need help call Traveline on 0151 236 7676 from 7am to 8pm Mondays to Fridays and from 8am to 8pm on Saturdays, Sundays, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Traveline will be open from 7am to 6pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

A booklet listing all services is now available from Travel Centres.