A BUS operator has unveiled plans to return all of its services to full pre-lockdown timetables.

The Blackburn Bus Company announced the plans following the government's roadmap to reopen the economy and with non-essential shops and services preparing to return to normal.

As such, from Sunday April 11 2021 all timetables for services run by The Blackburn Bus Company, part of Lancashire and Yorkshire group Transdev, will increase back to their pre-lockdown timetables, with buses having gone through a deep clean to help protect against the spread of coronavirus.

CEO Alex Hornby said: “We’re working hard now to get everything ready for an amazing staycation summer, as we all look forward to getting out and about more often.

“We’ve always been proud to say that our buses are clean, safe and ready to go, and we know maintaining the highest standards is vital to making sure everyone who travels can do so confidently.

"Each of our buses receives an overnight deep clean, using virucidal fog proven to be highly effective, while our teams are ready at our bus stations to hop on board and clean touch points throughout the day.

“Our buses play a critical role in supporting the reopening of Lancashire’s economy, and we can’t wait to welcome our customers back to our clean and safe buses as lockdown eases, shops reopen and many of us start to return to normal.”

As well as returning to pre-lockdown schedules, extra buses will run at the busiest times of day between Blackburn, Oswaldtwistle and Accrington on the 6 and 7 routes.

The Blackburn Bus Company says that over the course of the pandemic, over 8 out of 10 journeys have continued to operate in order to provide transport services for key workers and those making permitted and essential trips, such as shopping for food or collecting medical supplies.

Returning to pre-lockdown timetables however, will allow other residents to get back to normal routines, the company hopes.

The Blackburn Bus Company say that staff are producing printed timetables and updated information at bus stops ahead of the changes, while information on timetables and tickets are available online

To find out more, go to: https://www.transdevbus.co.uk/blackburn.