Route History

[MTL0201]

RE: Route History
Back to the 89, the route started in the late 40s, originally proposed as a joint service between St Helens Corporation & Liverpool Corporation, however Crosville objected, as the Speke terminus was in there area, so ended up as a Crosville & St Helens joint service, although Ribble also had a small stake, route had little change until an 89A was introduced diverting to Halewood, not sure when this was withdrawn, Crosville gave up the route when there Liverpool depot moved from Edge Lane to Love Lane, Ribble took over Crosville's share, operating from Wigan depot, however dead milage was saved by interworking with the 352/362/372, so only a couple of last journies ran back dead from Speke/Halewood to Wigan.

Not sure what the changes were after d-reg, but Merseytravel tendered the evening & Sunday service, 189 Woolton-St Helens, whilst Merseybus extended the main 89 & morning tendered 189 to Garston via Liverpool Airport, the Garston extension didn't last long before being partly replaced by the 80A, 89 cut to St Helens-Speke, but Merseytravel journies still operated through for a few years afterwards.

89 was extended, to operate St Helens-Liverpool Airport in 2004, with frequency increase to 20 minutes/30 minutes evening & Sunday with the 189 being withdrawn, that's the way it's stayed since