Cumberland Council is thanking everyone who attended last Friday's drop-in session for the Carlisle Market Hall Bus Hub improvement project and reminding bus users of the temporary arrangements that will be in place when works begin on Tuesday 1 September.
The information session gave residents, businesses, market traders and passengers the opportunity to meet the project team, ask questions and learn more about the improvements planned for the city centre transport hub.
Funded through the Bus Services Improvement Programme, the project will deliver upgraded bus shelters, new sandstone paving, improved lighting and enhanced street furniture, creating a more welcoming and accessible environment for passengers while complementing the wider regeneration taking place across Carlisle city centre.
Temporary bus arrangements from 1 September
To allow the works to be carried out safely, the bus hub area adjacent to Carlisle Market Hall and surrounding footways will be temporarily closed to buses and pedestrians. The bus stands opposite the Market Hall will remain open.
Passengers who normally use Stand K should use Stand J on Lowther Street (near the Howard Arms). This affects services 62, 64, 79/179, 127A, X95, and 382.
Passengers who normally use Stands L and M should use the temporary stop on Drovers Lane (behind the former Debenhams building). This affects services 61, 63, 63A, 67, 71, 93, 93S, 300, 400, 553, 554, 600 and 680A.
Passengers who normally use the HW1 service should use a new temporary bus stop on Peter Lane, opposite the Old Fire Station.
To support passengers during the improvement works, Cumberland Council will temporarily move the existing benches from the bus hub to the alternative bus stop locations on Drovers Lane. Seating is already available at the Lowther Street bus stops, helping to ensure people can continue to sit and rest while waiting for their bus.
Access to Carlisle Market Hall will remain available throughout the works via the Scotch Street and Fisher Street entrances. Visitors using the Fisher Street entrance should enter via TK Maxx and use the escalator before taking the stairs down into the Market Hall.
Project timeline
Phase 1: September to November 2026
Works will include new paving, lighting columns and street furniture around the bus hub area. The bus hub is expected to reopen before Christmas 2026.
Phase 2: Early January 2027 (approximately eight weeks)
This phase will focus on refurbishing the existing bus shelters, including new roofs, upgraded LED lighting and redecoration.
Councillor Denise Rollo, Cumberland Council's Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places, said:
"I'd like to thank everyone who attended the drop-in session and took the time to speak with the project team. It was great to hear directly from bus users, residents, businesses and market traders about the scheme and the temporary arrangements that will be in place while works are carried out.
"Importantly, Carlisle Market Hall and surrounding businesses will remain open throughout the project, and we would encourage residents and visitors to continue supporting local traders while the works are taking place.
"We recognise these improvements will cause some short-term disruption and would like to thank people in advance for their patience and understanding.
"To help make the temporary arrangements as comfortable as possible, we will be relocating existing benches from the bus hub to the temporary bus stops, ensuring passengers continue to have access to seating while waiting for their bus.
"Once complete, these improvements will create a more attractive, accessible and welcoming environment for bus passengers and further enhance this important gateway to Carlisle city centre."
For more information about the project, or if you have any questions, please contact [email protected] .
For the latest updates on the works and temporary bus stop arrangements, residents and passengers are encouraged to visit Cumberland Council's website and follow the council's social media channels.
