THE only late-night bus crossing the River Mersey from Liverpool to Wirral is set to be axed because Stagecoach says it’s operating at a loss.

The bus firm has launched a consultation on its early hours of the morning Night Service 1, and said it is intending to scrap it on April 28.

Stagecoach currently operates three journeys on Friday and Saturday nights, serving stations from Liverpool to Chester via Wirral and Ellesmere Port until 3am. It is the only form of public transportation for many residents wanting to get home after a night out in either city.

People have already voiced their opposition to the plans, with community Facebook page Bromborough and Eastham posting: “We think this service should continue. It ensures that people enjoy the wonderful nightlife of our vibrant cities of Liverpool and Chester have to offer can get home cheaply and safely, not hanging around on the streets waiting to get overpriced taxis.”

The Merseytravel website says: “Stagecoach are consulting on their intention to withdraw certain evening journeys on Service 1 which operates in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday mornings (three journeys operating on a Friday and Saturday night only) between Liverpool and Chester.

“These night services currently operate at a loss and are unsustainable to operate going forwards and therefore Stagecoach are intending to withdraw the service from April 28 and would like to give the public the opportunity to comment about how you use the service and/or may be affected by this change for their consideration.”

The latest bus home on the route is currently 3.05am, but if it’s scrapped, it would mean times more aligned with that of the trains – with most leaving at around midnight.

The Merseytravel consultation asks customers a range of questions from how often they use the service to what they use it for.

It will close on March 3, before feedback is considered by the operator and a decision made.

Areas covered by the service are Liverpool, Birkenhead, Rock Ferry, New Ferry, Bromborough Cross, Eastham Bridle Road, Little Sutton, Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire Oaks, Bache and Chester.

If the decision up for consultation is approved, there will be no late-night public transport running across the Mersey.

Night Service 1 was introduced in 2016, just a year after the 500 and 501 buses run by Ace Travel between the city centre, Hamilton Square and New Brighton, were axed.

And less than a year before that, the night service run by Arriva from Liverpool to Moreton, West Kirby and New Brighton was scrapped in July 2014, with the firm saying it was too expensive to run due to falling passenger numbers.

Rob Jones, managing director of Stagecoach Merseyside, Cheshire and South Lancashire, said: “The consultation process offers people a valuable opportunity to share their thoughts and feedback on local services. We always welcome the chance to hear from our passengers and ensure we are meeting their travel needs and providing the best possible service across the region.”