West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin has confirmed that she will take forward proposals for bus franchising from 2027 onwards in 'the biggest shake up to public transport in the region for decades'.
Routes, frequencies, fares and overall standards for buses in the region will be set by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), with private operators contracted to run services on the authority’s behalf.
The WYCA said that despite the action it has taken through its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), bus services in the region remain too infrequent and unreliable to meet passengers’ needs, with West Yorkshire ranking bottom for customer satisfaction according to a survey released by Transport Focus this week.
It added that to ensure a smooth transition franchising will be introduced in phases, with the first buses up and running in parts of Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield from March 2027.
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