Stagecoach is embracing the Christmas spirit by launching a series of festive buses.
The buses – which have been decorated with Santa, children, presents and a Christmas tree – are based at Stagecoach’s depots in Kendal, Barrow, Carlisle and Workington, operate different routes each day.
Passengers are also being given advanced notice of timetable changes over Christmas and New Year, which include dedicated services for the Boxing Day sales and, for the first time, New Year’s Day buses from Kendal to Keswick.
Tom Waterhouse, Managing Director of Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire, said: “I would say, ‘keep a look out for them’, but they’re so colourful you can’t really miss them. We hope they put a smile on everyone’s face and get people in the mood for Christmas.
“Our customers’ needs and travel habits are different over the holiday period so we change our timetables to respond to that.”
Buses operate to a Saturday timetable on Monday December 23, Tuesday 24, Friday 27, Monday 30, Tuesday 31, Thursday January 2 and Friday 3. The only exception is the 530 Kendal to Cartmel, which has a normal weekday service.
On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve buses wind-down early with most services finishing by 7pm. However, some later journeys operate on the 79/179 from Carlisle to Dumfries and the 104 Carlisle to Penrith and Center Parcs.
There are no buses on Christmas Day.
On Boxing Day, special timetables apply on the 61, 67 and 104 in Carlisle, the 30, 300 and X5 in West Cumbria, the 555 and 599 in the Lakes, the 1 and 3 in Barrow and the 1A, 2X, 6A, 41, 55 and 100 in Lancaster. No other routes run.
The only services on New Year’s Day are the 555 between Kendal and Keswick and the 599 Bowness to Grasmere, which operate special timetables.
Normal Saturday and Sunday times apply over the weekend December 28/29.
