Stagecoach’s Summer 2024 Lakes Guide timetable sees a number of improvements to services in and to the Lakes from 23 March.
Better Sunday buses
Following a suggestion by the Bus Users’ Group to the Lancashire Enhanced Partnership (of bus operators and the county council) there will be improvements to the Sunday service on the 555 between Lancaster, Kendal and Keswick. The Sunday frequency remains two-hourly, but will be improved by the addition of new journeys that operate via the M6 Motorway. Two extra buses will leave Lancaster at 0814 and 1014 and, running fast to Kendal, will offer arrivals at Kendal (0901 and 1101), Windermere (0925 and 1125), Ambleside (0947 and 1147) and Keswick (1038 and 1238) up to 90 minutes earlier than at present.
Extra return buses will leave Keswick at 1600 and 1800; Ambleside at 1649 and 1847; Windermere at 1708 and 1905 and Kendal at 1735 and 1930 to arrive in Lancaster at 1816 and 2011. These buses will continue until the end of the summer timetable on 3rd November.
By using the first and last of the new journeys Lancaster passengers can spend over 7 hours in Keswick (previously just 2½ hrs) or 9 hours in Ambleside (instead of just under five) on Sundays.
Weekday changes
Changes to the weekdays timetable will see most buses leaving Lancaster five minutes earlier than at present, at 05 past the hour (with “motorway” journeys at 14 past the hour), although late afternoon and early evening times are unchanged. The first few southbound buses of the day run at different times (up to the 1015 from Kendal) but unfortunately co-ordination with the 55 between Carnforth and Lancaster is no better – just different!
Service 755 (Heysham (Ocean Edge) to Bowness-on-Windermere remains unchanged.
Changes in the Lakes
Other significant changes in the Lakes include:
- Additional journeys for hospitality workers between Windermere and Barrow, thanks to funding support from Westmorland & Furness Council
- Advance confirmation of the Buttermere shuttle service 77C on peak weekends thanks to funding by the Strategic Visitor Management Group
- Enhanced Ullswater Hopper (UB1) timetable with new service 509 thanks to financial support from SITU.
- Increase in frequency on service 516 between Ambleside and Langdale to every 60 minutes
- Extra journeys on service 554 between Carlisle and Keswick
- Increase of frequency on services X4/X5 to every 30 minutes between Penrith and Keswick thanks to funding from Westmorland & Furness Council
The Summer 2024 Guide to The Lakes by Bus can be read or downloaded from Stagecoach’s website via this link: Lakes by Bus Summer 2024.
Printed copies will also be available from many outlets, including Lancaster bus station and Lancaster Library as well as on most buses in the Lakes.
The new 555 timetable is here: 555 Summer 2024 timetable
Lancaster Bus Users' Group 