A NEW bus service has been launched in Halton, designed specifically for people who live in rural areas.

Taking its name from one of the most famous roads through America, Route 66, the bus service will be operated for the Council by Halton Community Transport and operates six days a week – Monday to Saturday.

It has been designed to serve the rural communities of Moore, Daresbury, Preston Brook and Preston on the Hill and provides two types of service.

The first aspect of the service is a fixed route timetabled journey and will offer:

• Return journeys linking Moore, Daresbury and Preston Brook to Runcorn and Widnes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays;
• Return journeys linking Moore, Daresbury and Preston Brook to Frodsham on Thursdays and
• Return journeys linking Preston Brook, Daresbury and Moore to Warrington on Fridays.

The second part of the service – which makes the initiative unique – operates out of the timetabled hours and enables rural residents to book door-to-door journeys. The Route 66 demand responsive service is available by calling the booking line (0151 257 2410) in advance of a journey.
All drivers are trained in Customer Care and leaflets are available to explain the service in more detail.

Route 66 is part of Halton Borough Council’s strategy to improve access and links with public transport for all residents in the borough.

Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board member for Transport, Councillor Rob Polhill said: “This service will be incredibly useful for people within these rural areas who perhaps do not have access to their own transport. By providing these villages with a reliable public transport service we have offered the rural community an important link with towns.”

For further information and a comprehensive leaflet about the service please call either Halton Borough Council on 0151 424 2061 or Halton Community Transport on 0151 257 2410