New X3 Express Puts 25,000 More Residents Within an Hour of the Airport

Hot on the heels of the recent bus franchising update for St Helens, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has confirmed the detail behind one of its headline promises for St Helens. A brand-new X3 express service will link St Helens town centre directly to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, putting more than 25,000 extra residents within a 60-minute journey of the terminal and over 100,000 within 80 minutes once onward rail and bus connections are counted.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

The X3 launches on Sunday 6th September, the same day St Helens becomes the first place in the City Region to see its bus network return to public control after more than 40 years under private operators.

What's New

The X3 offers a faster, cheaper and more direct route for holidaymakers and airport staff alike, cutting out the need to change buses or route via Liverpool city centre. It arrives alongside the wider improvements already announced for St Helens on Day One, including additional evening and weekend services, extended routes to serve hospitals and the switch from two-hourly to hourly frequencies on several routes.

Modern Bus Fleet

Passengers on the X3 will travel aboard the same brand-new fleet of publicly owned, UK-built low-emission buses being rolled out across St Helens, finished in the region's yellow and grey Metro livery. On board expect air conditioning, USB charging points, comfortable seating, level boarding, audio-visual announcements and improved accessibility throughout.

The Mayor's View

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

"When I said we were taking back control of our buses, it was never just about changing who runs them. It was about building a public transport network that works for local people.

"This new express service is a great example of what that looks like in practice. It will make it quicker and easier for thousands more people to get to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, whether they're travelling for work, jetting off on holiday or welcoming friends and family to our region.

"We're proving that when decisions are made locally, we can build a network around the needs of our communities instead of leaving them to the market. That's how we'll deliver the London-style transport system people here deserve – better connected, more affordable and giving people a genuine alternative to the car."

The Airport's View

John Irving, CEO of Liverpool John Lennon Airport, commented:

"With more flights to more destinations than ever before, improved connectivity for the airport from across the City Region is vitally important and this new express service will now make it much easier and quicker for thousands of St Helens residents to access the airport by public transport."

His comments come as the airport continues to post record passenger growth alongside strong national rankings for customer satisfaction and on-time performance.

Part of a Bigger Plan

The X3 is only one piece of Mayor Rotheram's wider push on airport connectivity. Funding has also been unlocked for a new rapid transit system that will cut journey times between Liverpool city centre, the airport and the region's football stadiums, building on the ambitions already set out for the Glider network.

It also sits within the Combined Authority's broader transport investment since Rotheram's election, which has seen more than £500m ploughed into the rail network, new stations opened at Maghull North and Headbolt Lane, four more in the pipeline and tap-and-go ticketing rolled out across Merseyrail, alongside continued investment in walking and cycling infrastructure.

Timeline

Public control of the bus network begins in St Helens on 6th September, with the X3 running from Day One. Wirral follows in October 2026, with Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton completing the rollout by the end of 2027, in line with the timetable set out when the first franchised operators were confirmed back in January.