New bus service aimed at getting patience to doctors appointments to launch in North Cumbria

Staff at a Carlisle doctors’ surgery have welcomed the news that they will get a dedicated bus service to help patients attend appointments from the new year.

Members were given the news following Thursday’s (October 23) meeting of the council’s highways and transport strategic board at Carlisle’s Civic Centre.

Councillor Denise Rollo (Harrington, Labour), the sustainable, resilient and connected places portfolio holder, said it was a new chapter in public transport for local communities.

She added: "This initiative is about more than just buses. It’s about connecting communities, one journey at a time – linking people to work, education healthcare and leisure and making travel across our region easier, greener and more reliable."

Cllr Rollo said the new service would be known as Cumberland Go and added: "Cumberland Go is more than a name. It’s a bold new identity that reflects our ambition to deliver modern, accessible and community-focused transport across our towns, villages and rural areas."

Speaking after launch, councillor Mark Fryer (St Johns and Great Clifton, Labour), the leader of the council, said: "It’s a huge step forward for reconnecting our communities. Cumberland Go is right at the forefront and hopefully people see it and use it.

"As I’ve said before, we can subsidise only for so long, so people have got to use it or lose it, but this is a pretty big step forward for Cumberland Council."

Last year councillor Robert Betton (Botcherby, Independent) set up a petition to get a bus service to the surgery and councillor Justin McDermott (Harraby North, Labour), the public health and communities portfolio holder, has also been pushing to get the route since he was first elected last year.

He said: "It’s something I heard a lot about from residents. It’s very important to them to be able to access that healthcare. facility. So that’s why I’ve pushed very hard for it.

"I’ve bent Denise’s ear and officers’ ears, many, many times to make sure that we were able to deliver this and it’s great that the council has listened to residents and delivered on that and have fed into the consultation that we did, and that we’ve been able to deliver what’s going to be a really, really key route for the community.

The route to the surgery will be known as Doctor 1 (DR 1). Dr Robert Westgate, from the surgery today (Friday, October 24) welcomed the news and said: "I think it’ll be really helpful to improve access for people who don’t normally use a car to get to the surgery.

"It would be really helpful for accessing the site at Durranhill and it’s a really welcome development and thanks to everybody who’s been involved in supporting this."

The services will be operated by Reays and Stagecoach and, from November 3.

Services

Maryport – Dearham Town Service (#MD1);

Cockermouth – Maryport (#68);

Cockermouth Town Services (#C123);

Maryport – Frizington (#30);

Workington – Carlisle (#300);

Durdar to Cargo (#64), with initial service from November 3 to December 1,

after which there will be additional peak journeys and a link to Currock Community Centre (#71;93;64);

Millom Town Service (#M1 & #7), operating from November 3 to

December 1, after which it will become Whitehaven – Ravenglass / Ravenglass – Millom – Barrow (#X7 & 7);

Cleator Moor – West Cumberland Hospital (#22), operating from

November 3 to January 5, 2026, when it will be upgraded to the new Whitehaven Town Services #22/#22A and #1/#1A.

From December 1 the following services will be introduced:

Carlisle – Anthorn – Wigton (#71, #93, #64);

Whitehaven – Ravenglass / Ravenglass – Millom – Barrow and Whitehaven – St Bees – Egremont (#X7 & #7 & 32);

Carlisle – Anthorn (Sunday service) (#93Sun).

And routes due to launch on January 5, 2026:

Carlisle – Cumberland Infirmary – Cockermouth – Whitehaven – West

Cumberland Hospital (#600X);

Whitehaven Town Services (#22/#22A and #1/#1A);

Carlisle – Hadrian’s Wall (#HW1);

Locke Road Surgery & Carleton Clinic (#DR1).

During the 2025/26 phase the council received £3,315,344 in capital funding and £1,646,831 in revenue funding for the new public transport service.