Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire has enjoyed a strong start to the first quarter following record passenger numbers over the festive season.

The company saw passenger numbers in December grow by almost 4 per cent year on year while Boxing Day figures were up a massive 18.4 per cent compared to the previous year.

The uplift follows a concerted effort by the business to boost its services over the festive period. This included rolling out additional services for shoppers and continual review of services to meet customer needs.

The company offered extended services across its routes in Cheshire, Merseyside, and Lancashire – allowing people to easily access attractions including the Christmas markets, Preston’s Winter Wonderland and shopping at Cheshire Oaks, Liverpool ONE and other destinations.

Elisabeth Tasker, Managing Director at Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire, said:

“We’ve started 2015 on a great footing following the strong festive period. This upturn in demand for our services reflects our continued focus on updating and reviewing our offering to ensure we’re predicting and meeting the needs of our passengers.

“The Christmas break is always a busy time for us and we were delighted to see so many people take advantage of our extended Boxing Day services. Our extended offering allowed people to travel easily between some of the North West’s best retail and leisure centres, pick up some great deals and have a brilliant day out with their friends and families without worrying about the long drive home or traffic jams and parking.”

Stagecoach Bus is one of the UK’s major employers, supporting around 24,000 thousand jobs across the UK and 1,209 jobs in Merseyside and South Lancashire. Over 200 hundred people completed apprenticeships with Stagecoach since 2004 and the company currently employs 150 apprentices.

The company is also one of the UK’s most sustainable bus operators and has reduced carbon emissions by 30 per cent in the last five years. All Stagecoach vehicles are fitted with eco-driving systems which lower emissions and the company has shown the biggest commitment to using 100 per cent biofuel of any UK bus operator.

For more info, visit www.stagecoachbus.com