A National Express coach service that stops at Stoke-on-Trent between Liverpool and London will cease to operate from Monday 13 April.

The 551 service, which runs from Liverpool One Bus Station to London Victoria Coach Station via Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham, and Heathrow, also stops in Chester and Nantwich.

The 551 currently departs Hanley Bus Station for London at 9.10am (Tuesday to Sunday), taking around five hours.

When travelling north, the coach leaves Stoke-on-Trent at 9.50pm on weekdays and 9.35pm on weekends, arriving into Liverpool just before midnight.

A National Express spokesperson said the company regularly reviews its network to ensure services operate efficiently and meet customer demand.

From April 13, they are increasing daily journeys between Liverpool and Manchester from 14 to 25, with faster, more direct journeys.

Overall journeys between Liverpool and London will remain the same, with the company saying adjustments will be made for busier periods.

The fastest journeys from Liverpool to London will still take under five and a half hours.

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A National Express spokesperson told Nub News: "National Express service number 551 from Liverpool to London via Stoke-on-Trent will cease to operate from 13 April 2026.

"This change is part of a comprehensive review of our national network and unfortunately the service is commercially unviable due to low passenger demand.

"Passengers travelling to London can use service 424 which provides an overnight journey from Stoke-on-Trent. Passengers travelling from Stoke-on-Trent to Liverpool can use service 424 to Manchester where they can then change onto service 170 or 421 to Liverpool.

"We appreciate that some people will be disappointed by this change. Although there are no immediate plans to reinstate the service, we will keep this decision under review."