Wakefield bus passengers to see extra services on eight routes

19 February 2024

Mayor Tracy Brabin was in Wakefield this morning to launch the West Yorkshire bus boost.

The Mayor has worked with local councils and regional transport operators to introduce a host of improvements.

Wakefield in particular benefits from the latest changes, with eight services seeing evening frequencies uplifted from one bus an hour to one every 30 minutes, in partnership with operator Arriva.

And new links have been created between Huddersfield and Halifax town centres, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital, in partnership with operator First.

Improving bus services has been a top priority for the Mayor, who wants to see a reliable and affordable public transport system as the first choice for travel.

Last month, it was confirmed that the Mayor’s Fares pricing scheme – which guarantees that nobody pays more than £2 for a single journey across West Yorkshire – will continue until at least March 2025.

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “I’m on a mission to build a better-connected West Yorkshire.

“These new and improved services will make bus travel across the region more convenient, helping passengers travelling to and from hospital and those catching buses in the evening.

“And we’re not stopping there – passengers can expect to see more new services in the summer.”

Cllr Matthew Morley, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Highways, said: “One of the top issues right across our district is having a regular and reliable bus service for local passengers.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be in the heart of Wakefield today helping our Mayor Tracy Brabin launch eight upgraded services. This is a vital boost for residents accessing work, social and leisure opportunities.

“The enhanced frequencies will make a real difference, especially for passengers who rely on the network to get about during evenings. Thousands of people, in places right across the district, will benefit from these extra services.

“The improvements are something the Council has been working intensively with our partners on. But they are just the start. We need to aim for a public transport network that works for every passenger, wherever they live.”

 Kim Cain, area director for Arriva North East and Yorkshire said: “We’re really pleased to be improving our bus network in Wakefield and North Kirklees as part of our commitment to our customers.

“We’ve listened to feedback about when customers want to use our buses, as well as looking at emerging and changing travel trends, and we feel we can make a positive difference.

“These changes have been made possible by working in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Wakefield Council.”

The changes have been funded through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Bus Service Improvement Programme (BSIP).

A further round of service enhancements is also planned to be delivered across West Yorkshire in July 2024 - subject to the approval of further funding and procurement.

Notes to editors

Increased frequencies

Halifax to Huddersfield service

Service 503 will be withdrawn and replaced with:

• Service X1 which will operate more direct (Huddersfield – one stop in Elland – Halifax). There will be scope to also link this into the new Elland station when open. This service will operate every 15 minutes daytime, 30 minutes evenings and Sundays.
• Service 501 (Huddersfield – Lindley HRI – Elland – West Vale – CRH – Halifax) will operate every 15 minutes daytime/ 30 minutes evenings and Sundays. This service will provide a new direct link between HRI and CRH and also provide the Weatherhill Road area of Huddersfield with a new service.
• Both services will coordinate between Halifax and CRH to provide a service every 7/8 minutes.
• Please note that service 501 will replace the 372 service between Huddersfield and Lindley

The Combined Authority will fund the new services at a reducing rate for the first three years, with First agreeing to take the commercial risk in years four and five, with the aim of making them financially sustainable in the longer term.