Cumberland Council has launched a major upgrade to public transport across the area through its Cumberland Go improvement programme, including a new and enhanced 600 hospital route connecting Carlisle - Cumberland Infirmary – Wigton – Cockermouth – Whitehaven – West Cumberland Hospital, seven‑day‑a‑week.
The strengthened network, delivered between November 2025 and January 2026, is designed to make sustainable travel easier, cheaper and more reliable for residents, NHS staff and visitors. One early success of Cumberland Go is the enhanced 600 service, created in direct response to feedback from the NHS and wider partners about the need for better connectivity between Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital.
The timetable has been developed around clinic schedules, visiting hours and NHS staff shift patterns.
With the £3 fare cap in place, the route gives residents, especially those in rural areas, a more affordable and dependable way to travel for care, work or visiting loved ones.
Other new Cumberland Go routes supporting access to health care include:
DR1 connects Carlisle City Centre, South Carlisle Health Centre, Locke Road and Carleton Clinic (Mon–Sat), running in line with surgery opening times.
22/ 22A operates Whitehaven – West Cumberland Hospital – Egremont – Cleator & Cleator Moor (Mon– Sat) morning – evening service
7X7 Ravenglass – West Cumberland Hospital – Whitehaven (Mon – Sat) 4 services through the day
Full timetables are available at www.cumberland.gov.uk/bus-timetables.
Cllr Denise Rollo, Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places, said:
“Cumberland Go is all about delivering better public transport for our communities, and the new 600 hospital service is a perfect example of that in action.
“We know how important it is for NHS staff, patients and visitors to travel reliably between our two hospital sites. By improving connections and keeping fares affordable, we’re supporting the local workforce, improving access to vital healthcare, and giving residents a genuinely convenient, sustainable travel choice.”
Conversations between Cumberland Council, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) and Avanti West Coast began in 2023 when local musicians Ukuleles Carlisle and Oompah 3 visited Cumberland Infirmary after fundraising for reusable surgical hats. The shared ambition to improve hospital connectivity helped accelerate the development of the new route under Cumberland Go.
Dr Craig Oranmore-Brown, Consultant Anaesthetist and Chair of the Medical Staffing Committee, said:
“We are very grateful to Cumberland Council for creating a direct link between the two hospitals so quickly. This has been on our wish list for a long time. The £3 fare is an excellent offer for patients living in our rural communities, and we already have staff using the 600 service.
Dr Madhusudhan Varma, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at NCIC, added:
“NCIC is committed to reducing environmental impact and improving safety by minimising road traffic. With parking capacity limited on several sites, encouraging sustainable travel is essential. We are working to integrate live public transport information into appointment letters and digital screens across our hospitals, making it easier for people to choose buses like the 600.”
The musicians’ visit also celebrated the expansion of the reusable surgical hat project, a partnership involving volunteers, charity groups and NHS teams. Through support from The Thrifty Throstles (Wigton), Goodlives (Egremont) and People First, donated shirts are upcycled into embroidered surgical hats that reduce waste, support patient communication, and create employment opportunities in local social enterprises. Surgeons including Thomas Nedumpara and Ludger Barthelmes have championed the initiative, even helping to begin early production before Goodlives’ sewing machines took over.
Ukuleles Carlisle and Oompah 3 marked their celebratory journey by returning to Carlisle Citadel Station, where representatives from Avanti West Coast welcomed them. The original grant from the Train Station Sustainability Fund has now helped inspire a wider legacy, sparking the partnership that led to creation of the 600 hospital connection under Cumberland Go.
