Cumberland Council has confirmed that the MD1 bus service between Maryport and Dearham will continue until the end of December 2026, helping residents stay connected and supporting local businesses throughout the busy winter and Christmas period.
The service provides a local connection between Maryport and Dearham, helping people travel into the town for shopping, appointments and other everyday journeys.
The MD1 had previously been identified as one of the services the council could no longer support due to the reduced funding available for allocation this year. Difficult decisions were required to prioritise services based on passenger demand, value for money and the level of council subsidy required. However, following further work to explore the options available, the council is pleased to have secured funding to keep the MD1 running until the end of December.
The additional support means passengers can continue to use the MD1 throughout November and December 2026.
The council is now encouraging residents to use the bus where they can and make the most of the service, whether that is for Christmas shopping, meeting friends and family, attending appointments or getting out and about during the winter months.
Passengers travelling into Maryport are also being encouraged to shop locally and support the town’s businesses in the run-up to Christmas.
Cumberland Councillor Denise Rollo, Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places, said:
“We know how important the MD1 is to people in Maryport and Dearham, so I’m really pleased that we have been able to secure support to keep the service running until the end of December.
“This will help residents stay connected throughout the winter and, importantly, across the busy Christmas period. It also gives people another way to travel into Maryport to shop locally and support the fantastic businesses we have in the town.
“We will continue to explore the options available, but in the meantime I would encourage residents to make the most of the service and help us support both local transport and local businesses.”
