EAST Lancashire bus operator Transdev is to start running many more buses as many timetables return to normal this weekend.

Its Blackburn and Burnley Bus Companies and Rosso have confirmed most of their routes will return to pre-coronavirus schedules next week with more buses added to ensure everyone can to travel safely.

The move by the firm, which also operates the Witch Way and Red Express services, comes as children prepare to return to school .

The company says increasing number of customers are also returning to its services for work and leisure trips.

Normal services will run mainly at unchanged times, while a Sunday service will run on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Blackburn Bus Company’s General Manager Tony Fiocca said: “With increased and thorough cleaning of each bus, clear safety guidance on board and a warm welcome from our amazing team, the time is right to welcome more of our customers back to the bus.

“Recognising that working patterns for many have changed, we’re now offering flexible ticket bundles as part-time home working has risen in popularity.”

From Sunday the following changes will be introduced by the Blackburn Bus Company:

• 1: Blackburn to Darwen then Bolton – normal timetable resumed, with minor changes around school times

• 4: Blackburn to Leyburn Road – normal timetable resumed

• 6: Blackburn to Great Harwood then Accrington – normal timetable resumed on service 6, with buses on service 6B reserved for school students only

• 7: Blackburn to Accrington then Great Harwood – normal timetable resumed on service 7, with buses on service 7B reserved for school students only

• 24: Blackburn to Chorley – normal timetable resumed

• Hotline: Preston to Blackburn then Burnley – revised timetable introduced, with journeys serving Altham Business Park at weekday rush hours only

• Red Express: Accrington, Haslingden and Ramsbottom to Manchester – normal timetable resumed

• Valleyline 22: Clitheroe to Blackburn then Shadsworth – normal timetable resumed, with minor changes around school times.

Burnley Bus Company changes include:

• 1: Burnley to Stoops Estate – normal timetable resumed

• 2: Burnley to Nelson and Higherford – normal timetable resumed

• 3 and 4: Burnley to Pike Hill then Worsthorne – normal timetable resumed

• 5: Harle Syke to Burnley then Rosegrove – normal timetable resumed

• Pendle Wizz: Burnley to Skipton – hourly timetable every day of the week

• 112, 120, 121 and 852: these special services will return to being available to college students only

• Mainline M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5: the 7.38am M1 bus from Accrington will be open to everyone, while the 7.29am journey from Accrington will be available to school students only. The 7.45am M2 bus from Burnley will be open to everyone, while the 7.25am service 802 will be for school students only, and will extend to serve Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

• Witchway: Burnley to Rawtenstall and Manchester: late night buses will not run for the time being, including the 12 midnight, 1am, 2am and 3am departures from Manchester, and the 10.45pm and 11.45pm departures from Burnley

Rosso changes include:

• 8: Burnley to Bacup then Todmorden – new timetable introduced, with some journeys reserved for school students only

• 464: Accrington to Rawtenstall, then Bacup and Rochdale: normal timetable resumed with minor timing changes. The 7.43am journey from Bacup to Rochdale and the 7.43am bus from Rochdale to Whitworth will be reserved for school students only

• Irwell Line: Burnley or Blackburn to Rawtenstall, then Bury: normal timetable resumed on Monday to Saturday, except for special service 883 which will be reserved for school students only

• Lakeline: Rochdale to Littleborough – normal timetable resumed

• Tottington Line: Tottington to Bury – normal timetable resumed, with special service 969 at 8.07am from Bury to Tottington High School, returning at 3.10pm, reserved for school students only

• Trax: Bury to Rochdale – Normal timetable resumed, but no FAST journeys will operate. Additional school day only journeys will run at 7.43am from Fairfield Hospital to Bury, and at 4.10pm from Bury to Fairfield