Bus Reform

Share Bus Reform on Facebook Share Bus Reform on Twitter Share Bus Reform on Linkedin Email Bus Reform link

Thank you to all those who took part in our recent consultation on the way buses are run in West Yorkshire.

Our full Consultation Response report is now available to view, including the consultation summary provided by external agency, DJS Research.

The information below was presented during the public consultation between 10 October 2023 and 7 January 2024.

On 14 March 2024, the Mayor of West Yorkshire took the decision to bring buses back under local control by introducing the Proposed Franchising Scheme. You can read the full story here.


Have your say on how buses are run in West Yorkshire

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (the Combined Authority) believes it needs to change the way local buses are run to achieve our ambitions for better buses in West Yorkshire. This webpage gives you details about our proposals and how you can get involved.


This consultation runs from 10 October 2023 to 7 January 2024


Buses are the most used form of public transport in West Yorkshire, with over 1.7 million bus journeys taken each week – but the number of passenger journeys are in long term decline and the industry faces many challenges with the way buses are currently run.

The Combined Authority believes that the way local buses are run needs to change to improve the local bus system for our communities who rely on it. The information in this consultation explains why the Combined Authority recommends bus franchising is the right way to do this, based on its assessment of the Proposed Franchising Scheme.

The Consultation Document sets out our plan for franchising in West Yorkshire and how this could be introduced. It also explores an alternative option we assessed, the Enhanced Partnership Plus (EP+), which details what else the Combined Authority and bus operators could do to improve local buses through the current legal framework. These two bus reform options are compared to the way buses are currently run, the Enhanced Partnership Reference Case (EP Reference Case).


This consultation will inform a decision by the Mayor of West Yorkshire on whether or not to introduce the Proposed Franchising Scheme in March 2024.


Should the Mayor make the decision to introduce franchising then buses in the region would be under the control of the Combined Authority. That means we would set the routes, frequency, fares and overall standards of buses in our region.

The Combined Authority wants to hear your views.

All information can be found in The Consultation Document (Link, opens in new tab)

To answer some of your questions and queries, please read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). You will also find the legal requirements for this consultation within our FAQs.

Have your say

This consultation is open to all individuals or organisations. We want your views, whether you currently use the bus or not.

We are asking for your feedback and suggest two steps.

To help answer any initial queries you have, you can read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). The FAQs also tell you where you can find paper reference copies of the Consultation Document in your local area.

  • Step 2: Tell us what you think by completing our online consultation questionnaire or alternatively sending us your response by email or letter.

The consultation is open between 10 October 2023 and 7 January 2024.

The consultation questions

There are two versions of the consultation questionnaire:

  • The short version contains 10 questions which are set out throughout the Executive Summary (see section 1) and are focussed on key areas discussed in the Consultation Document. A full list of these questions is also available in the printable section on this page. If you choose to answer this short version you should find all the information you need included in the Executive Summary.

  • The long version contains 47 questions which are set out throughout the Consultation Document following the Executive Summary. A full list of these questions is also available in the printable section on this page. The long version may be more appropriate for respondents who have a good level of knowledge and interest in the bus market and how it runs, as it contains more questions, some of which are more complex in nature.

You are welcome to fill out whichever questionnaire you wish, and you don’t have to answer all the questions.


Have your say on how West Yorkshire's buses are run- image

Sharing feedback about specific bus journeys or services

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.

Events

We hosted a series of face-to-face events as part of this consultation. At the events, you had the opportunity to ask your own questions to the project team and pick up copies of the consultation questionnaire.

Drop in events:

All our drop in events have now finished. The locations and dates we visited can be found in our FAQs.

We are hosting five presentation events where you can learn more about the proposals for bus reform, how to have your say on how you think buses should be run, and ask us any questions.

The events will run for 90 minutes and include:

  • Welcome by a local Councillor responsible for transport engagement.

  • Video presentation from the Combined Authority’s Executive Director of Transport – providing an overview of the Bus Reform consultation.

  • Q&As with Combined Authority officers – facilitated by DJS Research

Presentation events dates and times:

LocationDateTimeRegistration Link
Bradford City Hall23 November 202314:00- 15:30This event has already happened
Bradford City Hall23 November 202317:30- 19:00This event has already happened
Halifax Town Hall27 November 202314:00- 15:30This event has already happened
Halifax Town Hall27 November 202317:30- 19:00This event has already happened
Leeds Central Library4 December 202314:00- 15:30This event has already happened
Leeds Central Library4 December 202317:30- 19:00This event has already happened
Huddersfield Hudawi Centre5 December 202314:00- 15:30This event has already happened
Huddersfield Hudawi Centre5 December 202317:30- 19:00This event has already happened
Wakefield Town Hall8 December 202314:00- 15:30This event has already happened
Wakefield Town Hall8 December 202317:30- 19:00This event has already happened


Please confirm your attendance as soon as possible. Registration is essential, and spaces are available on a first-come first-served basis.

Webinars

We will also be hosting some online webinars as part of this consultation. During the webinars you will have the opportunity to hear about the consultation and ask your own questions to the project team.

Webinar dates and times:

  • Wednesday 8 November; 5pm- 6pm; Already taken place
  • Tuesday 5 December; 5pm- 6pm; Already taken place


If you are unable to access our events and would like to chat to a member of the project team, please contact us using the contact information below.

Contact us

To give your feedback on the proposals, please take part in the consultation questionnaire via the link above. If you have any questions, need to respond in a different way or require consultation materials in a different format, you can get in touch with us via:


We look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments.

What happens next:

All responses will be received and processed by the Combined Authority and shared with DJS Research to be analysed as part of the consultation process.

All feedback will be considered by the Combined Authority and the Mayor. The Mayor’s decision on whether or not to make the Proposed Franchising Scheme is currently expected in March 2024.

Please see our FAQ: What happens next for more information.

Thank you to all those who took part in our recent consultation on the way buses are run in West Yorkshire.

Our full Consultation Response report is now available to view, including the consultation summary provided by external agency, DJS Research.

The information below was presented during the public consultation between 10 October 2023 and 7 January 2024.

On 14 March 2024, the Mayor of West Yorkshire took the decision to bring buses back under local control by introducing the Proposed Franchising Scheme. You can read the full story here.


Have your say on how buses are run in West Yorkshire

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (the Combined Authority) believes it needs to change the way local buses are run to achieve our ambitions for better buses in West Yorkshire. This webpage gives you details about our proposals and how you can get involved.


This consultation runs from 10 October 2023 to 7 January 2024


Buses are the most used form of public transport in West Yorkshire, with over 1.7 million bus journeys taken each week – but the number of passenger journeys are in long term decline and the industry faces many challenges with the way buses are currently run.

The Combined Authority believes that the way local buses are run needs to change to improve the local bus system for our communities who rely on it. The information in this consultation explains why the Combined Authority recommends bus franchising is the right way to do this, based on its assessment of the Proposed Franchising Scheme.

The Consultation Document sets out our plan for franchising in West Yorkshire and how this could be introduced. It also explores an alternative option we assessed, the Enhanced Partnership Plus (EP+), which details what else the Combined Authority and bus operators could do to improve local buses through the current legal framework. These two bus reform options are compared to the way buses are currently run, the Enhanced Partnership Reference Case (EP Reference Case).


This consultation will inform a decision by the Mayor of West Yorkshire on whether or not to introduce the Proposed Franchising Scheme in March 2024.


Should the Mayor make the decision to introduce franchising then buses in the region would be under the control of the Combined Authority. That means we would set the routes, frequency, fares and overall standards of buses in our region.

The Combined Authority wants to hear your views.

All information can be found in The Consultation Document (Link, opens in new tab)

To answer some of your questions and queries, please read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). You will also find the legal requirements for this consultation within our FAQs.

Have your say

This consultation is open to all individuals or organisations. We want your views, whether you currently use the bus or not.

We are asking for your feedback and suggest two steps.

To help answer any initial queries you have, you can read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). The FAQs also tell you where you can find paper reference copies of the Consultation Document in your local area.

  • Step 2: Tell us what you think by completing our online consultation questionnaire or alternatively sending us your response by email or letter.

The consultation is open between 10 October 2023 and 7 January 2024.

The consultation questions

There are two versions of the consultation questionnaire:

  • The short version contains 10 questions which are set out throughout the Executive Summary (see section 1) and are focussed on key areas discussed in the Consultation Document. A full list of these questions is also available in the printable section on this page. If you choose to answer this short version you should find all the information you need included in the Executive Summary.

  • The long version contains 47 questions which are set out throughout the Consultation Document following the Executive Summary. A full list of these questions is also available in the printable section on this page. The long version may be more appropriate for respondents who have a good level of knowledge and interest in the bus market and how it runs, as it contains more questions, some of which are more complex in nature.

You are welcome to fill out whichever questionnaire you wish, and you don’t have to answer all the questions.


Have your say on how West Yorkshire's buses are run- image

Sharing feedback about specific bus journeys or services

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.

Events

We hosted a series of face-to-face events as part of this consultation. At the events, you had the opportunity to ask your own questions to the project team and pick up copies of the consultation questionnaire.

Drop in events:

All our drop in events have now finished. The locations and dates we visited can be found in our FAQs.

We are hosting five presentation events where you can learn more about the proposals for bus reform, how to have your say on how you think buses should be run, and ask us any questions.

The events will run for 90 minutes and include:

  • Welcome by a local Councillor responsible for transport engagement.

  • Video presentation from the Combined Authority’s Executive Director of Transport – providing an overview of the Bus Reform consultation.

  • Q&As with Combined Authority officers – facilitated by DJS Research

Presentation events dates and times:

LocationDateTimeRegistration Link
Bradford City Hall23 November 202314:00- 15:30This event has already happened
Bradford City Hall23 November 202317:30- 19:00This event has already happened
Halifax Town Hall27 November 202314:00- 15:30This event has already happened
Halifax Town Hall27 November 202317:30- 19:00This event has already happened
Leeds Central Library4 December 202314:00- 15:30This event has already happened
Leeds Central Library4 December 202317:30- 19:00This event has already happened
Huddersfield Hudawi Centre5 December 202314:00- 15:30This event has already happened
Huddersfield Hudawi Centre5 December 202317:30- 19:00This event has already happened
Wakefield Town Hall8 December 202314:00- 15:30This event has already happened
Wakefield Town Hall8 December 202317:30- 19:00This event has already happened


Please confirm your attendance as soon as possible. Registration is essential, and spaces are available on a first-come first-served basis.

Webinars

We will also be hosting some online webinars as part of this consultation. During the webinars you will have the opportunity to hear about the consultation and ask your own questions to the project team.

Webinar dates and times:

  • Wednesday 8 November; 5pm- 6pm; Already taken place
  • Tuesday 5 December; 5pm- 6pm; Already taken place


If you are unable to access our events and would like to chat to a member of the project team, please contact us using the contact information below.

Contact us

To give your feedback on the proposals, please take part in the consultation questionnaire via the link above. If you have any questions, need to respond in a different way or require consultation materials in a different format, you can get in touch with us via:


We look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments.

What happens next:

All responses will be received and processed by the Combined Authority and shared with DJS Research to be analysed as part of the consultation process.

All feedback will be considered by the Combined Authority and the Mayor. The Mayor’s decision on whether or not to make the Proposed Franchising Scheme is currently expected in March 2024.

Please see our FAQ: What happens next for more information.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Bus Reform

    Bus Reform Questionnaire
    Share Bus Reform on Facebook Share Bus Reform on Twitter Share Bus Reform on Linkedin Email Bus Reform link
Page last updated: 19 Mar 2024, 05:53 PM