Revised Winsford circular bus service to improve connections across the town and beyond

Residents will benefit from longer operating hours, new Saturday journeys and improved links to the wider bus and rail network when the timetable changes are introduced for the Winsford circular bus service W7 operated by D&G Bus from 1st September.

Recent improvements to the Service 37 timetable have created an opportunity to introduce a revised Winsford Circular service on a 12-month trial basis.

The revised service will operate hourly, passengers will benefit from a full range of enhancements including:

• Extended operating hours from 7.17am to 5.38pm, compared with the current service operating between 9.40am and 2.15pm
• Additional weekday journeys
• The introduction of a Saturday service
• Direct links to Winsford and Sandbach railway stations
• Direct access to Sandbach and Middlewich town centres
• Integrated daily, weekly and monthly tickets that can be used across D&G Bus services operating through Winsford, making it easier to connect with the wider bus network

The changes will provide residents with improved access to employment, shops, healthcare services and leisure opportunities throughout the day, while maintaining an important local bus service within the town.

The W7 service was previously operated by Stagecoach alongside a local school transport contract. Following changes to those arrangements, Cheshire West and Chester Council has been exploring alternative options to ensure residents continue to have access to a reliable local bus service.

Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, said:

"We know how important good local bus services are to residents, helping people access work, education, healthcare, shops and leisure opportunities.

“The revised  service will operate hourly, with much longer operating hours, the new Saturday journey destinations will allow longer dwell times in Winsford Town Centre and provides better connections across the wider area including rail stations for onward travel.

"By working closely with D&G Bus, we've identified a practical and cost-effective way to maintain and enhance a circular bus service for Winsford while delivering additional benefits for passengers. This approach makes better use of existing resources, provides improved links to rail services and neighbouring towns, and represents good value for money.

"We're committed to supporting sustainable and accessible public transport, and this 12-month trial will help us understand how residents use the enhanced service while ensuring Winsford remains connected to the wider bus network."

The service will deliver a number of wider benefits, including better integration with the existing bus network, easier-to-understand timetables and improved connections through Service 37 and the wider D&G Bus network.

More information regarding the new service is available on the Council’s website.

• The Winsford Circular service will operate as a 12-month trial.
• The revised service will be integrated with the enhanced Service 37 timetable operated by D&G Bus.
• Service 37 operates between Northwich and Crewe and serves Winsford, Sandbach and Middlewich.
• The new service will maintain local bus provision within Winsford while providing a more sustainable and cost-effective service.