Notification has been received from First Bus regarding changes they are introducing from Sunday 27 October to improve connectivity along the Otley/Yeadon corridor and the X84.
Details of the communication are below.
X84 Leeds – Headingley – Bramhope – Otley – Ilkley
Operational cost pressures have led us to look at other options to improve the viability of the service, whilst still maintaining the two daytime buses per hour to both Otley and Ilkley.
The main change is that we will be removing the stopping restrictions on the X84 service, such that we will pick up/set down on the section of route between Leeds city centre and Weetwood. To mitigate any concerns regarding short hop passengers displacing longer distance travellers, we have retimed the Headingley corridor of services such that there is no more than a 4-minute gap from the preceding bus. We anticipate there will not be a build-up of customers on any particular trip, but an even flow of customers across all trips. We have also specifically timed the replacement services for the X84 such that outbound buses will avoid the key hotspots for use, so whilst we would expect some short hop customers to use the Otley/Ilkley service, we strategically planned these trips.
To distinguish the new operation and to allow the Headingley services to fall into a common numbering sequence to aid customer familiarity, service X84 will be renumbered to operate as service 26.
In addition, when we run a 30-minute service, alternate buses will be diverted to run via Pool-in-Wharfedale, restoring the link to Leeds from the previously withdrawn X85. These journeys will operate as service 25 to differentiate between the two routes. Buses will run slightly earlier in the mornings and slightly later in the evenings to give an improved level of service on the corridor.
As a result of the changes above, Frist Bus believe that there will be a sufficient uplift in revenue from the core network to maintain two buses per hour across the daytime as well as an hourly service in the evenings.
In the Otley & Yeadon ward changes will be made to the following services. These involve more frequency and revisions to the timetable to improve punctuality and reliability in a sustainable way.
27 Leeds – Headingley – Horsforth – Yeadon – Guiseley
Buses will be retimed with most journeys operating up to 15 minutes earlier than present but continuing to provide two buses per hour Monday to Saturday daytime and an hourly service Sunday daytime. Earlier and later journeys will operate including the restoration of the evening service on Monday to Friday and Sunday and additional early morning journeys operating into Leeds on all days of the week.
In Guiseley, there will be a minor change to the outbound route which will run via Oxford Road to terminate at the stop opposite Morrisons.
34 Leeds – Horsforth – Yeadon – Guiseley – Menston – Otley
Buses will be retimed but will continue to provide two buses per hour Monday to Saturday daytime but on Sunday daytime, the service will operate once per hour throughout, with the short journeys to Guiseley being removed.
Earlier and later journeys will operate on all days of the week, with the pre-06:00 arrival into Leeds now starting from Menston, along with later evening journeys including a bus from Leeds through to Otley at 23:53 Monday to Saturday and 23:31 Sunday.
Full details of the changes will be published on the First Bus website and customers are being informed. Customers wishing to comment on the changes should contact First Bus.