In this crossover bus station and busway adventure in Runcorn, I explore both the town’s bus station and its bus routes, as well as the famous and rather quirky busways operating around the town. Opening in 1971 as part of the wider regeneration of the town, these segregated roads provide a unique Bus Rapid Transit system just outside of Merseyside.

We start our trip on the train from Liverpool Lime Street to Warrington Central station on the old Cheshire Line’s line to Manchester. From there I decided to catch the 110 from Warrington Bus Station to Runcorn, however I did not realise it actually covered part of the Busway but I decided to first hop off at the towns bus station to then grab my self a festive Greggs lunch.

I absolutely love these spontaneous bus and train adventures, from the thrill of speeding along tracks to the leisurely pace of bus rides along A and B roads, swiftly connecting towns and cities. Honestly, I couldn’t imagine a better adventure day for myself; it’s almost perfect. Starting from Warrington, I took the 110 bus, which took about 40 minutes to travel between Warrington and Runcorn Bus Station. If I had chosen the train, I would have used Warrington Bank Quay instead.

I arrive at Runcorn Bus Station around 12:30, giving me enough time to head to the nearby Greggs for a bite to eat and to charge my phone. However, the USB ports on the Pulsar 2 buses appear to be non-functional or not switched on. It is quite frustrating when buses lack working USB A/C ports when you desperately need to charge your phone.

Before making my way towards the Busway, I decided to spend a short time doing some research and also taking some photos of the buses coming in and out of the Bus Station in Runcorn town centre. The majority of buses were operated by Arriva North West as they also have a depot nearby just off the busway its self. The 79C Which I rode on takes you past the Bus Depot on its way to Murdishaw.

Another operator I noticed, which I hadn’t heard of before, is a small bus company called Ashcroft’s. They seem to provide hopper buses for commuting to and from work, such as B&M and other locations around town. I observed two of their vehicles operating the 200 and 52 services, which also use the Busway. I managed to capture one of their buses on it near Runcorn East.

In addition to the buses from Liverpool to Runcorn/Murdishaw, there are circular bus services that travel around the Busway and into the town centre, offering a frequent service for both residents and visitors. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to try this route. However I was able to sample the 79C again towards Murdishaw which I rather enjoyed and I eventually decided to hop off near Runcorn East Station.

Being close to a railway station made it convenient for me to return to Chester. I had a friend in Liverpool and planned to meet them later that evening. I spent about 25 minutes taking photos and trying out Warrington’s Own bus company’s route 62. It was pleasant to see a variety of bus operators in Runcorn, which is not something you often encounter in small towns or cities.

I have also visited Runcorn East station in a post for my Every Station series, which will be coming out in a couple of weeks. I was there to sample some of the bus services, such as Arriva, Warrington’s Own, and Ashcroft’s. It was nice to see buses navigating the bend and using the Busway. Interestingly, it doesn’t have guides like the Leigh Guided Busway.

It’s quite exciting to explore and visit various towns and cities, experiencing their bus networks and transport systems, like the one in Runcorn. I’m hoping to head to Skelmersdale next, which means I’ve now visited every bus station in the Mersey Travel region, as Runcorn is part of Mersey Travel and also offers services linking to Liverpool Queen Square and Liverpool One Bus Stations.

If you know of any quirky bus stations or towns with rapid transport systems that you would like me to visit, explore, and experience, I would really appreciate your ideas. I am planning to visit Skelmersdale soon as part of my Bus Station series, along with various others around England, Scotland, and Wales. I look forward to reading your lovely comments.