Proposed changes to bus services in Blackburn with Darwen

This consultation has now closed. Thank you to everyone who shared their views. Your feedback will help us review the proposals before any changes are introduced from 29 November 2026.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Lancashire County Council have funding from the Department for Transport and the Lancashire Combined County Authority to improve bus services in Blackburn with Darwen, including routes to Rossendale and Greater Manchester.

The aim is to make it easier for people to get to work, school or college, doctors and hospitals, shops, and other important places by bus. The plans include new bus routes, more buses on some services, and better connections between different routes.

We would like to hear what you think about these plans. If you use the bus, please tell us how any changes to bus times or routes might affect you.

What are the main changes?

The proposed improvements include:

new bus routes serving areas that currently have limited or no bus service
more frequent buses on several routes
better connections between services
more consistent and easier-to-understand timetables
improved access to key destinations including Blackburn, Darwen, Royal Blackburn Hospital and surrounding communities

Changes by service

Service 3: Blackburn to Sunnybower

Service will continue to run between Blackburn and Sunnybower via Little Harwood.
Weekend services will be improved.
Buses will generally run hourly Monday to Saturday and every two hours on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Service 25: Blackburn to Clitheroe

The route through Blackburn will change and buses will use East Park Road instead of Shear Brow.
Shear Brow will continue to be served by Service 45.
The service frequency will remain broadly unchanged.

Service 33: Blackburn to Darwen

This service will be withdrawn.
It will be replaced by new Service 233.

Service TA8

The route between Darwen town centre and Spring Vale will change.

Some roads currently served by TA8 will instead be served by the new Service 232. The return journey into Darwen will remain unchanged.

Services being withdrawn

The following services are proposed to be withdrawn and replaced by new routes:

Service 10 Blackburn - Lammack replaced by new Service 225 and revised Service 25
Services 12A and 12C Blackburn - Higher Croft Circular replaced by new Services 231 and 232
Service 33 Blackburn - Darwen replaced by new Service 233
Service M9 Blackburn - Bank Top Griffin Circular replaced by new Service 224
Service M10 Blackburn - Openshaw - Wilpshire replaced by new Service 245
Service M11 Blackburn - Belmont replaced by new Service 535
Service R2 Rawtenstall - Balladen Circular replaced by new Service 236
Service TA1 Darwen - Edgworth - Bromley Cross replaced by new Service 235
Services TA5 and TA7 Darwen - Edgworth - Bromley Cross replaced by new Services 232 and 235

Replacement services will continue to provide travel options for affected communities.

New services

Service 221: Blackburn to Bank Hey

A new route linking:

Blackburn
Ewood
Jack Walker Way
Bank Hey housing developments

The service is planned to run hourly Monday to Saturday and every two hours on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Service 224: Blackburn to Moorgate

A new service replacing Service M9 and part of Service M11.

Benefits include:

direct journeys in both directions
links between Blackburn, Wensley Fold, Bank Top and Mill Hill

Buses are planned to run every two hours on weekdays.

Service 225: Blackburn to Lammack

A new service replacing Service 10.

Benefits include:

buses running in both directions rather than as a circular route
links through Wensley Fold, Revidge and Beardwood
hourly daytime service Monday to Saturday

Service 231: Blackburn to Higher Croft Circular

A new clockwise circular service replacing Services 12A and 12C.

The route will serve:

Grimshaw Park
Blackamoor
Higher Croft

Buses are planned to run hourly Monday to Saturday daytime and two-hourly Sunday and Bank Holiday daytime.

Services 5A, 5C, 55A and 55C will continue to provide a link to Royal Blackburn Hospital

Connections will also be available via new Service 232.

Service 232: Blackburn, Darwen and Hoddlesden

A new route linking:

Blackburn
Higher Croft
Darwen
Hoddlesden

Services will be coordinated with other routes to improve connections.

Service 233: Blackburn to Darwen via Royal Blackburn Hospital

A new service replacing Service 33.

The route will connect:

Blackburn
Audley
Shadsworth
Royal Blackburn Hospital
Lower Darwen
Darwen

Buses are planned to run hourly Monday to Saturday daytime and two-hourly Sunday and Bank Holiday daytime.

This service will help maintain access to the hospital and support school travel.

Service 235: Darwen to Bolton

A new service linking:

Darwen
Hoddlesden
Edgworth
Bolton

Planned to run every two hours Monday to Saturday.

Service 236: Rawtenstall to Bolton

A new route restoring public transport links between:

Rawtenstall
Ramsbottom
Edgworth
Bolton

Buses are planned to run two-hourly Monday to Saturday daytime between Rawtenstall and Bolton, with additional journeys between Rawtenstall and Balladen to maintain hourly frequency.

This service will replace the current R2 service.

Service 245: Blackburn to Wilpshire

A new service replacing Service M10.

The route will continue to connect Blackburn and Wilpshire via Openshaw Drive and Pleckgate.

Service 535: Blackburn to Bolton

A new service replacing parts of Service M11 and the current 535.