New company to take over four Bradford bus routes
The 615, 616, 619 and 633 routes are going to be taken on by Go-Ahead West Yorkshire
THE bus company that will take over four Bradford routes facing the chop has been revealed.
In January First Bus announced it would be withdrawing its 615, 616, 619 and 633 services from May.
The company said the cuts were the results of a “commercial decision.”
Shortly after the announcement West Yorkshire Combined Authority – which will be taking control of bus services across the region in the coming years, said it would be stepping in to rescue the services.
The authority said it was putting a tender out to find a new operator to run the routes.
Now it has been announced that Go-Ahead West Yorkshire will be operating the services from Sunday May 17.
The company is part of the Go Ahead Group – a major public transport operator.
The routes that the group will take on are
633: Shipley Market Square – Bradford – Tyersal (Monday to Saturday, daytime services)
Evening and Sunday journeys on this route will continue to be provided by TLC Travel.
615: Bradford Interchange – Bell Dean Road – Allerton – Cottingley – Bingley – Mornington Road – Eldwick
616 & 619: Bradford Interchange – Bingley – Mornington Road – Eldwick
After First Bus announced the cuts, one of the company’s bosses was grilled by WYCA’s Transport Committee.
John Roxburgh, who leads the Operations Team at First North & West Yorkshire explained: “We understand the impact this can have on passengers. We have been discussing these services with the Combined Authority for some time and expressed our concerns.
“To be honest these services are heavily underused, they barely cover half their running costs – that’s the sort of degree they’re being underused.
“As a network we run a number of services that operate at a loss because we understand the social need and value of those, but these services were particularly extreme and we’ve had to take action.”
A spokesperson for Go Ahead West Yorkshire said: “We are incredibly proud to have been selected as the preferred operator for these services and are excited to get started, delivering reliable, high-quality transport for customers across the Bradford district.
“These services are currently operated by First West Yorkshire. Under Go-Ahead West Yorkshire, timetables will remain broadly similar, ensuring continuity for passengers, with a number of enhancements.”
Those changes include additional journeys during morning and afternoon peak times and adjustments to the 633 to better align departure times at consistent intervals each hour, with some peak-time variations
The spokesperson added: “Full timetable details will be available online and in print shortly, so customers can plan ahead before services begin.”