Stagecoach [improved] Lake District summer timetable

[AndrewE]

Lake District: Bus company announces summer 2025 timetable

Stagecoach has announced its summer timetable for the Lake District, set to launch March 31.

www.timesandstar.co.uk

The timetable, which takes effect March 31, sees greater bus frequencies and the return of some seasonal routes.
With single fares capped at £3, Stagecoach hopes that motorists will leave their cars at home and opt for a more leisurely and environmentally-friendly mode of travel.
...

"Traffic congestion and inconsiderate parking are real problems. "By taking the bus, you’re helping to alleviate these issues, reduce harmful CO2 emissions and, with the £3 fare cap, you’re saving money too.
...

The new timetable includes extra journeys on the 555 between Lancaster, Kendal, and Keswick, which runs at least hourly every day and twice per hour at the busiest times.
Open-top double-deckers will run every half hour on the 78 between Keswick and Borrowdale and every 20 minutes on the 599 between Bowness and Grasmere, with additional later journeys on the 599.
The 77/77A Honister Rambler circular will return, running hourly between Keswick and Buttermere via Whinlatter and Honister, plus the 77C service from Cockermouth to Buttermere between May and August.
There will be buses up to every hour from Penrith to Patterdale – some open-top services – with certain journeys continuing over Kirkstone Pass to Windermere, including a new early-morning northbound departure.
The 509 will return at weekends from Keswick to Patterdale and from Keswick to Penrith via Lowther Castle, with buses now serving Threlkeld, and the UB1 Ullswater Hopper serving sites around the lake.
There will be up to eight buses a day between Keswick and Carlisle, some weekend journeys via Caldbeck, and a later last bus from Keswick at 8.25pm.
Hourly buses will run from Ambleside to Great Langdale and from Ambleside to Hawkshead and Coniston.
Buses will run every half hour, hourly on Sundays, on the X4/X5 between Workington and Penrith via Cockermouth and Keswick.
There will be improvements to the 755 between Heysham, Morecambe, and Bowness, including an additional peak-time journey to and from Kendal.

Which all sounds like lots of good news.

 

[markymark2000]

Is this not just them returning to the normal Summer timetables or are they doing something different this year compared to previous?

 

[RELL6L]

It’s much the same. On the 555 there’s a fast departure from Lancaster at 8.10 all through the summer period- all the others are high summer and Saturdays only. This goes to Keswick, back to Kendal and later back to Keswick and fast to Lancaster. There’s another am round trip from Kendal to Keswick too but the open top journeys are gone, presumably the 78 will be worked from Lillyhall in the summer again. I think a couple of extra Sunday journeys too.

I think the 78 has been thinned out slightly in the evening peak. The first 77C has gone from the timetable but otherwise the changes seem to be small positive tweaks. There’s an additional journey from Keswick to Carlisle at 20.25, I can’t see where this comes from.

Good to see so much public transport here.

 

[WibbleWobble]

The book is online at:

https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/Cumbria/Lakes%20Connection/Summer%2025/Lakes%20by%20Bus%20Summer%202025%20WEB.pdf

 

[Andyh82]

The end of day times on the 599 are now much cleaner

Previously the Kendal journeys would run a mismatch of 3 different routings and it was needlessly complicated, some going all the way to Braithwaite Fold before returning to Bowness, Windermere and onward to Kendal. Some going to Bowness Pier before returning to Windermere and going to Kendal and some going direct from Windermere not serving Bowness at all

There also used to be some short journeys that only went as far as Ambleside, whereas now all journeys go all the way to Grasmere and there are now much later journeys into the early evening. Often by this time of night traffic might have messed up the timetable, so it was always bad for tourists when a 599 eventually appeared and it was running short.

The 755 is much improved from 3 Windermere journeys to 5

The 516 looks to be pretty much identical to last year, the 505 is similar but the journey that starts in Kendal now runs 7 days a week rather than just on weekdays

 

[Strathtay 260]

Also noticed improvements to 599 & 755. I love visiting the Lake District, so I'm excited for the summer timetable!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Feb 2025 ==

(P.S. when will the X8 Chorley - Keswick be back in service? - edit: nevermind, found it. 5th April)

 

[cjhollyway]

Some operational changes to the 508 as well - if I’m reading it right it looks like Penrith depot will no longer operate on the route, except the SaSuSchHol open toppers. Both the buses for the main service will be from Kendal.

This is quite a major reduction in work for Penrith, which has previously provided one bus all day on the route in summer (plus the open toppers as above ) and also operate the route exclusively (Penrith – Patterdale only) in winter.

The first northbound journey now starting back from Kendal is a bonus – will provide new connections for visitors, walkers et cetera to get over Kirkstone to Ullswater. The downside is the first southbound out of Penrith to Patterdale is no longer there (has run all year round for decades) and I wonder what then happens in the winter, does the return at 0745 Patterdale to Penrith meet the same fate?

With both buses operating from Kendal, the late journey southbound, formerly only extending to Pooley Bridge - and only introduced a couple of years ago - now returns all the way over the Pass to Kendal, again a great new connection. That journey is only Monday to Saturday though, which in turn means that there is one less journey from Windermere to Penrith on Sunday evenings than previously.

 

[dsjs1990]

It looks like the 567 has been extended to Ingleton all day on a Saturday.

There are few interesting things on the map. It shows a 105 and 106 service which are currently once a weekish services out of Penrith run by Fellrunner and Cumbria Classic Coaches. I wonder if they are getting a service increase from BSIP?

The 563 on the map doesn't show as going all the way to Kendal. I wonder if the BSIP funding for the extension from Appleby is stopping?

 

[RELL6L]

Several things I hadn’t picked up. I agree that the end of service of the 599 looks much cleaner. It does sometimes suffer from late running which particularly affected Grasmere so this is good.

The 508 having both boards from Kendal in an interesting one. It couldn’t work in the winter as the road gets blocked too often. So is it part of a continued decline of Penrith? Penrith seems to have 2 boards on the 104, one on the X4/X5, two on contracts, one of which also does the 563, plus the 508. This summer just the weekend open topper on the 508. Could it perhaps be taking on some or all of the 78 during the summer timetable?

Or the 105 and 106 which have mysteriously appeared on the map. Odd that the 563 isn’t showing on the map at the Kendal end but I thought the BSIP funding was for at least a couple of years. Great route!

 

[Jimmi]

There's a few changes within Cumbria:

Find a bus | Westmorland and Furness Council

Search for bus timetables in our area.

www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

New timetables are under "starting soon" on the Location drop down menu.

42/42A - these services are merged into one [42], no longer serving Castle Grove & Castle Walk stops, due to larger vehicles being used (and will interwork with the 44 service)

105 - new Stagecoach journeys running with BSIP funding between Penrith & Greystoke (Fellrunner 105 journeys continue unchanged)

106 - Stagecoach running 2 round trips from Penrith to Shap, Monday to Saturdays (Cumbria Classic Coaches 106 journeys continue unchanged).

563 - will run Penrith to Kirkby Stephen Station only with earlier/later journeys introduced on weekdays. Service S1 partially replaces the Kirkby Stephen to Kendal section on Tuesdays & Thursdays at least.

646 - extra journeys at start & end of the day on the Penrith Town Service operated by Stagecoach using BSIP funding (NBM 646 journeys unchanged).

 

[JKP]

There's a few changes within Cumbria:

Find a bus | Westmorland and Furness Council

Search for bus timetables in our area.

www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

New timetables are under "starting soon" on the Location drop down menu.

42/42A - these services are merged into one [42], no longer serving Castle Grove & Castle Walk stops, due to larger vehicles being used (and will interwork with the 44 service)

105 - new Stagecoach journeys running with BSIP funding between Penrith & Greystoke (Fellrunner 105 journeys continue unchanged)

106 - Stagecoach running 2 round trips from Penrith to Shap, Monday to Saturdays (Cumbria Classic Coaches 106 journeys continue unchanged).

563 - will run Penrith to Kirkby Stephen Station only with earlier/later journeys introduced on weekdays. Service S1 partially replaces the Kirkby Stephen to Kendal section on Tuesdays & Thursdays at least.

646 - extra journeys at start & end of the day on the Penrith Town Service operated by Stagecoach using BSIP funding (NBM 646 journeys unchanged).

I see that the S1 timetable says that there will be a new Monday and Friday service announced soon.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I'm going to assume they found some more open tops from somewhere as the Volvos won't be enough for all the runs promised by the sound of it, what's running the X4 and X5 these days as I don't think they've had anything new for a while unless I'm out of touch

 

[richardderby]

They should send some open toppers down to Cornwall as it seems First are not operating them there anymore this summer.

 

[Strathtay 260]

what's running the X4 and X5 these days

Usually 65 plate Scania E400s.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Feb 2025 ==

They should send some open toppers down to Cornwall as it seems First are not operating them there anymore this summer.

I was appreciating Stagecoach yesterday for keeping these open top runs going after hearing about this!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Feb 2025 ==

I'm going to assume they found some more open tops from somewhere as the Volvos won't be enough for all the runs promised by the sound of it

The PVR for the 599 is 6 and there is 7 Volvos.

The 78 is operated out of Lillyhall not Kendal on the summer timetable. It will be ran by 19161 and 19574.
Not too sure about the 508 as it is now Kendal operated. Potentially the other Volvo Gemini. But could be 17490 or 17692 if they transfer to Kendal.

 

[Andyh82]

I'm going to assume they found some more open tops from somewhere as the Volvos won't be enough for all the runs promised by the sound of it, what's running the X4 and X5 these days as I don't think they've had anything new for a while unless I'm out of touch

The open top requirement looks the same as normal

The 599 run from Kendal using the Gemini 3s. The 78 and 508 needs 3 buses in the north lakes and they have a selection of older Tridents/Enviro 400s for this

 

[ADB125]

There’s an additional journey from Keswick to Carlisle at 20.25, I can’t see where this comes from.

The last 600 journey back to Carlisle from Cockermouth is being removed from the same date so I assume that bus will run empty from Cockermouth to Keswick then return to Carlisle from there instead.

The 69 service in Carlisle is also being removed on Saturdays - not sure if this is to free up a vehicle for the 553.

 

[AlastairFraser]

106 - Stagecoach running 2 round trips from Penrith to Shap, Monday to Saturdays (Cumbria Classic Coaches 106 journeys continue unchanged).

This is good news. The Cumbria Classic journeys were really hard to connect into.

 

[mangad]

The 78 is operated out of Lillyhall not Kendal on the summer timetable. It will be ran by 19161 and 19574.
Not too sure about the 508 as it is now Kendal operated. Potentially the other Volvo Gemini. But could be 17490 or 17692 if they transfer to Kendal.

There's also 19161 which is a ADL Enviro400

But frankly they really need some newer buses for the 78. I regularly go to the Lakes in October, and you'll be lucky if even one of the open top buses is out by that point. Reliability has been getting worse and worse the last few years. The number of times I've seen buses limping off to the depot... One day last year when I was there a supposed half hour open top service was being run hourly with an Optare Solo.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Feb 2025 ==

Looking at the timetable, I see the last bus on the 516 back from Dungeon Ghyll is now 2010. That'll be really good for the pubs in Langdale. People can do a walk, pop to the pub for some food after and still get back to Ambleside.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Perhaps two observations, and I confess I don't know the ops well nowadays...

Moving the 508 to Kendal might be a reflection of concentrating open top ops at just two depots and so perhaps better able to cover any vehicle failures/servicing etc?

Secondly, the fleet on the 78/79/508 is pretty peachy now - Stagecoach could do with converting some 2011-ish vintage e400s. Spend the money on the conversion and get another 5 years out of them

 

[RELL6L]

I presume the change in the 508 is to cater for the extra work gained from the new services at Penrith - the 105/106/646 and the 563 peak service, which seems to require another couple of PVR at Penrith. Not sure how it will work in the winter when it isn't practical to have Kendal run the 508. I don't think the open top working will be from Kendal though!

The improvement to the 563 including a peak service into Penrith, as far as Kirkby Stephen, is good. It looks like there are intended train connections at Kirkby Stephen as some of the timings work well, but this does mean a couple of journeys sit at Kirkby Stephen station for over half an hour. Bet that's cold in winter!

However it is a shame to lose the Kendal end of the 563. I don't know whether this was all a compromise to keep the peace with Western Dales as their S1 will now be the only bus between Sedbergh and Kendal. The S1 will go to Kirkby Stephen and connect with the 563, but only on Tuesdays and Thursdays and not with the first northbound journey as currently operated. I am very pleased that I did this route last September - its very scenic - use it before it goes!

The last 600 journey back to Carlisle from Cockermouth is being removed from the same date so I assume that bus will run empty from Cockermouth to Keswick then return to Carlisle from there instead.

That makes sense. hadn't spotted that one.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I guess the increased (hourly) Langdale Rambler last year didn't work out so it's back to two hourly this year? I think that route would do loads better if most if not all services extended to Windermere station.

 

[Russel]

The 78 timetable is a bit of mess compared to previous years where it's been uniform throughout the day.

 

[AlastairFraser]

However it is a shame to lose the Kendal end of the 563. I don't know whether this was all a compromise to keep the peace with Western Dales as their S1 will now be the only bus between Sedbergh and Kendal. The S1 will go to Kirkby Stephen and connect with the 563, but only on Tuesdays and Thursdays and not with the first northbound journey as currently operated. I am very pleased that I did this route last September - its very scenic - use it before it goes!

Agreed. The complete route takes such a long time that I guess it was impractical to do, despite the amazing scenery.

 

[cjhollyway]

I guess the increased (hourly) Langdale Rambler last year didn't work out so it's back to two hourly this year? I think that route would do loads better if most if not all services extended to Windermere station.

The 516 is still hourly this year - in fact there’s an extra journey. Last year was hourly from Ambleside till 1635 then 1835; this summer it’s hourly till 1735, then 1935.

So I’m guessing that the later running was deemed a success, and is being tried an hour later.

In principle I agree with you about connecting with Windermere and the 516 does do that in the winter months.

However I suppose the counter argument is congestion between Ambleside & Windermere which can be bad particularly on sunny days, affecting reliability on the Langdale section in turn.

The current arrangement allows an hourly 516 plus an hourly 505 Ambleside – Hawkshead – Coniston to be worked on a cycle by three vehicles in total; hourly on each to Windermere couldn’t be accommodated.

We stayed a few days in Elterwater last summer, and took the first journey out of the valley which was well patronised . Quite a number of those passengers joined us in changing onto a Windermere-bound bus in Ambleside so the demand is certainly there.

However I think given the choice, I’d take the need to change plus the hourly Langdale service in preference to the two hourly service of a few years back..

 

[mangad]

However I suppose the counter argument is congestion between Ambleside & Windermere which can be bad particularly on sunny days, affecting reliability on the Langdale section in turn.

The current arrangement allows an hourly 516 plus an hourly 505 Ambleside – Hawkshead – Coniston to be worked on a cycle by three vehicles in total; hourly on each to Windermere couldn’t be accommodated.

We stayed a few days in Elterwater last summer, and took the first journey out of the valley which was well patronised . Quite a number of those passengers joined us in changing onto a Windermere-bound bus in Ambleside so the demand is certainly there.

In the summer there's already four buses an hour between Ambleside and Windermere(three 599 and one 555 - plus an extra one on Saturdays). And yes, congestion is a big problem between Ambleside and Windermere. It can be bad enough going Ambleside to Langdale at times! Reliability would likely go right down the pan.

Also have to ask, where are those people going from Ambleside? Are they just stopping at Windermere? Going to Kendal? Somewhere else? Many may already have a Central Lakes Dayrider.

 

[mangad]

Looking at the timetable, I see the last bus on the 516 back from Dungeon Ghyll is now 2010. That'll be really good for the pubs in Langdale. People can do a walk, pop to the pub for some food after and still get back to Ambleside.

Just looking at the Lakes Connection timetable ahead of a trip, and spotted they've changed the timetable for the 516 since February. On Fridays and Saturdays the last bus is now going to be 22:30 thanks to some financial support. Hope that is a successful addition that becomes long term, because that's a massive improvement for the buses to Langdale. Allows people to get down to Langdale on a Friday evening, and people to travel back to Ambleside after an evening in Elterwater or Dungeon Ghyll.

Alas I'm not going to Langdale soon so can't take advantage of it!

 

[Russel]

Are they struggling for open toppers this year, looking at the 78 on bus times, it seems to be a real mixed bag...

 

[mangad]

Are they struggling for open toppers this year, looking at the 78 on bus times, it seems to be a real mixed bag...

I regularly go that way in September and October, and frankly the last few years the 78's been really hit and miss as to whether it's open top or not. Sometimes they'd be there at the start of the day, but disappear later on. Saw one last October limping off back (presumably) to the depot. Seems if you want the 78 to be open top, you have to go in the winter as they put one of the 599 vehicles on it.

Given both the 78 and 508 are advertised as open top buses in the latest timetable, it's not good that they've barely been seen.

 

[gingerheid]

Noticed while I was there that some journeys are missing from some timetables in the printed booklet.

0642 505 from Kendal to Coniston is one, and a fairly significant proportion of the 516 is also missing.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Just looking at the Lakes Connection timetable ahead of a trip, and spotted they've changed the timetable for the 516 since February. On Fridays and Saturdays the last bus is now going to be 22:30 thanks to some financial support. Hope that is a successful addition that becomes long term, because that's a massive improvement for the buses to Langdale. Allows people to get down to Langdale on a Friday evening, and people to travel back to Ambleside after an evening in Elterwater or Dungeon Ghyll.

Alas I'm not going to Langdale soon so can't take advantage of it!

It would be really, really good if funds could be found to extend one of those late Friday evening Langdale runs back to Windermere station timed to meet a train. Few will I suspect do the double change in the late evening as it's risky and taxis in the Lakes aren't exactly plentiful, but the potential market into Langdale from places like Manchester on a Friday evening, while not huge, is definitely nonzero.