Questions & Answers

If you have any questions about the consultation or project, let us know below.

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    I was wondering if for the last 4/5 163 buses leaving from the bus station in castleford they could leave at the end of the hour instead of quarter too to allow myself and many other passengers who board the 141 bus to from pontefract to Leeds where it arrives at around ten to so we usually have to wait around 50 mins to an hour for the 163 bus which is inconvenient to many passengers. Thank you for accepting my question and I hope you get back to me about this query.

    Elliot asked about 1 month ago

    Hello, Thank you for your comment. This consultation is not intended to capture operational West Yorkshire bus issues such as reliability, frequency, requests for new routes etc. For any general bus feedback, queries or complaints, you can contact Metro through their website or call MetroLine on 0113 245 7676. Alternatively, you can contact bus operators directly. Operator contact information can be found online here: Bus Operators | Metro (wymetro.com)

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    Currently Leeds bus services are very poor. They are unreliable, get cancelled without any warning. The other day I just missed the 33/34/A1 bus from Horsforth into Leeds. I then had to wait 45 minutes for a bus. The 3 buses all three of these buses all arrived within minutes of each other. Will there be any major improvements and can bus services return to every 20 minutes as per pre pandemic?

    Slim-man 53 asked about 1 month ago
    Hello, Thank you for your comment, we are sorry to hear about your experiences. 

    The subject of this consultation is having your say on how buses are run, and we have looked to provide that information in the Consultation Document and supporting information on YourVoice. 

    Two governance options are set out which involve differences in the roles and responsibilities of bus operators and the Combined Authority. These are the Enhanced Partnership Plus (the EP+) and the Proposed Franchising Scheme. More details on these governance models are available in the Consultation Document.

    Our ambition for better bus services under either option is set out in the Strategic Case section of the consultation document and draws on our Bus Service Improvement Plan, published in 2021. We are clear in our ambition to grow the network and improve the experience for passengers. 

    For specific operational bus issues such as reliability, frequency, requests for new routes etc. For any general bus feedback, queries or complaints, you can contact Metro through their website or call MetroLine on 0113 245 7676. Alternatively, you can contact bus operators directly. Operator contact information can be found online here: Bus Operators | Metro (wymetro.com) 
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    Why have the buses from Ilkley to Skipton been reduced from hourly to every two hours at times and why not run later?

    David Lambourne asked about 1 month ago

    Hello, Thank you for your comment. This consultation is not intended to capture operational bus issues such as reliability, frequency, requests for new routes etc. For any general bus feedback, queries or complaints, you can contact Metro through their website or call MetroLine on 0113 245 7676. Alternatively, you can contact bus operators directly. Operator contact information can be found online here: Bus Operators | Metro (wymetro.com)  

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    Will losses be underpinned by council tax? What’s the financial risk to Leeds Council Taxpayers?

    Buzz asked about 2 months ago
    Hello. Thank you for your query. 

    Content related to finances and financial risk of the bus reform options can be found in the Financial Case sections of the Consultation Document and the Assessment. 
    The Financial Case of the assessment sets out the financial impact of each option to determine affordability and fundability. It also outlines the existing sources of funding for bus and additional sources of funding that could be considered. This includes the existing contribution of local authorities, such as Leeds City Council, through the Transport Levy. 
    In the Assessment the same budget is assumed for all reform options, and the financial case then considers what level of bus service provision can be provided under each option for the same amount of funding available.  It is therefore not assumed that losses are underpinned, but that services are reduced accordingly each year if there is no further funding available. 


    A description of the financial risks for each option can be found in the consultation document and in the Financial Case. Under Franchising the Combined Authority would carry more risk, in particular as it would take on responsibility for managing budgets and farebox revenue. These are risks that would be carried by the Combined Authority. 
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    Why isn't there more information about what this 'Bus Reform' is? Will this be an improved service or more cuts?

    JacP asked about 2 months ago
    Thank you for your question on what Bus Reform is. The subject of this consultation is having your say on how buses are run, and we have looked to provide that information in the Consultation Document and supporting information on YourVoice. 

    Two governance options are set out which involve differences in the roles and responsibilities of bus operators and the Combined Authority. These are the Enhanced Partnership Plus (the EP+) and the Proposed Franchising Scheme. More details on these governance models are available in the Consultation Document.

    Our ambition for bus services under either option is set out in the Strategic Case section of the consultation document and draws on our Bus Service Improvement Plan, published in 2021. We are clear in our ambition to grow the network and improve the experience for passengers. 

    On the issue of cuts, the Bus Reform Assessment modelling shows that across all options, the challenge of ongoing bus patronage decline would remain and may require service cuts unless further investment and / or interventions are applied to significantly increase passenger demand and / or cover the cost of maintaining current service levels. A key consideration of bus reform is to increase the control and influence the Combined Authority has over decisions about network changes and other challenges facing the bus system, to work towards our ambitions.
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    We need a better local council owned busses or have OUR very own Local Run Busses for Leeds. Can it be done?

    Raj asked about 2 months ago
    Many thanks for your question regarding local council owned buses or local run buses for Leeds.

    Legally, the Combined Authority cannot own a bus company and therefore has not been included within the Assessment of options for Bus Reform.

    Our consultation sets out two options for the future governance of bus - the Enhanced Partnership Plus (the EP+) and the Proposed Franchising Scheme. Under the EP+ private operators would continue to set the majority of routes, fares, timetables and standards for services in West Yorkshire. Bus operators would continue to be responsible for providing buses and for the standards of these.

    The second option, the Proposed Franchising Scheme, would see the Combined Authority take control over the routes, fares, timetables and standards for services. Under Franchising, bus services would be operated under franchise contracts, where bus operators would bid to run the services. The Combined Authority would look to own buses and depots which would be awarded to the successful bidder for franchise contracts.

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    Is there a reason why there isn't a online web based consultation questionnaire form? By making this consultation response via a word document you are: 1. Expecting people to have access to Microsoft Office or another program capable of opening the file. 2. Expecting users to have access to a printer in order to send to your freepost address. This will mean a reduced response rate to your questionnaire.

    . asked about 2 months ago
    Thank you for getting in touch. The online questionnaire can be found on the Your Voice page here.
    The direct link to the online questionnaire is also here
    We have now added additional wording on the webpage to make it more clear that the survey is available online. 
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    Wetherby has been spelled as Weatherby on p149 of the consultation document . How did that slip through?

    Blondie asked about 2 months ago

    Thank you for your comments. The spelling mistake has been corrected now.

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    Why is there no planned face-to-face Public Consultations in Keighley, the largest town in the Bradford Metropolitan District. Is this because the bus services are clean, punctual and well-run in Keighley and you fear receiving too many positive comments regarding the current operator?

    Graham MItchell asked about 2 months ago

    Hello, thank you for providing your positive feedback about your local bus service. The current planned drop in event locations have been chosen to support inclusion and accessibility in communities that face social and economic deprivation. We have also planned 30 flyering events around high footfall areas and transport hubs across West Yorkshire - including Keighley Bus Station - to signpost individuals to the consultation in the hope we can reach as many peope as possible. We will also be planning further webinars and face-to-face events, the details of which will be advertised on this webpage.

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    Where is Heavy Woolen?

    JamesK asked about 2 months ago

    Hello,

    Thank you for your question. 

    Heavy Woolen is a name we have given to one of our proposed 10 franchising scheme lotting zones.  The name has historical origins, reflecting the textile-focused industrial development in the area, made up of parts of the modern day boroughs of Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. The area is located around the towns of Dewsbury, Batley, Heckmondwike and Ossett and extends to the towns and villages of Liversedge, Gomersal, Gildersome, Birkenshaw, Mirfield, Cleckheaton, Morley, Tingley, East Ardsley, Birstall and Horbury.